Downhill on skis? too slow...too easy....

If you think downhill or super G is fast and scary, check out these guys in Rio.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZkDZG7hmFg

Race 5 - Results are out

Race 5 results click here.

Day 6 in Bormio – a fitting close to a very successful championship

    

This morning we woke up, as predicted, to some new snow, not a lot, but new anyway!
The game plan was the same; inspection, race, wait, inspection, race and then it’s all over.

Many will go back with memories of an exciting time having performed at their best and delivered all their objectives. Others will go back with a more detailed training plan for greater success and training to be implemented for next year and in time for the 15th February 2014 when the next English Alpine Championships take place.

As the racers prepared for the challenge of the FIS male and female slalom, last minute tactics and strategy are reviewed with their coaches.
Ian Findlay (SSE Talent Officer) was master of ceremonies today bringing his own style of support for our lads and lasses as they crossed the finish.


 



We are delighted to post that we have British skiers in 3rd and 4th places, well done to Robert Bullen (9) (0.91s off the lead) in 3rd and Nicholas Moynihan (17) (1.13s off the lead) in 4th place. Well done also to Nicole Richie who secured a top 10 place for the girls.











…..And so as the Pisten Bully unceremoniously carves up the slalom course which so many had trained hard to conquer, the championships came to an end.



One final point – has anyone seen these skis? (well ones just like them)..



Lee Bennett had his skis stolen from Bormio 2000 restaurant today as he was watching the final of the men’s competition. It appears someone left their old Elan skis and skied off with his. If you see or hear of anything please let me or SSE know.

Good bye from me and the Sunderland Ravens !

Day 5 in Bormio – snow has eventually fallen (and is still falling)!

    

Hi everyone and welcome to the fifth day of racing and training at Bormio. For the past 2 days we have been forecasting snow which is much needed in this quaint Italian resort. Although it was forecast to arrive last night we woke up to the same scenes as yesterday but were soon seeing snow clouds over Bormio 3000 and flurries of snow at that level.

By lunchtime the snow had made its way down the mountain and was upon us.
The racing today was the last of the junior races and consisted of the U14/U16 slalom for girls and boys and a GS on the Stelvio piste.

As usual course inspections were opened early with racers and their coaches taking the opportunity to check out the icy piste. At the bottom of the slope preparations were in place for another faultless day in the timing cabin as Gillian, Felice and Deb were organising themselves to record the times in the official manner.


Gillian Poth and Deb Manns are able to pose for the photo while Felice, who is from the Bormio race timing team, is too busy concentrating on the job in hand.
All of these folks are volunteering their services. Gillian’s son Robert is one of the top U16 GB racers, while Deb’s direct involvement with her children finished some years ago but her son David is now a coach with Evolution in Austria.


Robert came in first place today in his U16 Slalom competition, well done Robert. Congratulations also to Megan Jenkins who won for the girls U16 and to Alicja Krahelski (pic) who won for the U14 girls and Angus Wills for the boys.





With the snow still falling it looks like a powder day tomorrow so ditch those narrow slalom skis and get your wide boys on!

Fact of the day – Sochi Olympics are just 350 days away.

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Full results are at http://www.englishalpinechamps.org.uk/championships/view/1
and further reports by Racer Ready at http://racer-ready.co.uk/

Day 4 in Bormio – new race format gets thumbs up from coaches and kids.

Once again an early start was made to the day with the inspections of the U10/U12 combi race and the U14/U16 GS races happening at 9am.
Many folks, including SSE, for some time didn’t know the exact format of the minis race. But following a meeting with the Bormio team the format became clear.
The combi race is a multi facetted race to test and develop many of the aspects of the alpine disciplines. The coaches agreed that setting a course with wide gates, verticale, jumps and tunnels would mimic the various elements in slalom, GS and Super G.

Racers and coaches study the mini ‘San Pietro jump’

As usual, these events can’t take place without the aid and support of a wide range of volunteers and it was Lions Ski Club who stepped up to the mark today to offer assistance with timing gear and prizes – many thanks to them.
Mums and dads waited eagerly to see their little loved ones come over the last jump and into the finish area. For one skier, George Fisher (22), the temptation to spray the whole crowd with icy snow was too great a temptation – thanks George .

All great fun!

Meanwhile on the same slope, just 30m away, our U14 and U16 boys and girls were testing their mettle against Stella Alpina. While the course was challenging and the snow conditions very icy, it seems the majority of racers had a safe run and enjoyed the experience.

Three racers from Ravens Ski Racing Club were very happy with their performances. For Laurence Beer (left) and Roddy Weir (right) it was their first Giant Slalom and they posted best times of around 51s while Rory Farren (centre)managed around 47s, well done to you all.

Full race results are available from Snowsports England.


…and finally the weather – we are expecting some snow overnight with temperatures around freezing at 1200m. With today’s great weather and fantastic visibility once the sun was over Cima Piazzi, it would be a shame to see a change for the final two days of racing.

Good luck to all tomorrow.



Fact of the day – this is Bormio’s town flag.





More details of the racing at http://racer-ready.co.uk/