Ryding And Musgrave Lead British World Cup Charge This Weekend
Slalom specialist Dave Ryding and Cross Country ace Andrew Musgrave headline the British charge into a series of World Cup events this weekend.
There are also a pair of siblings making their World Cup debut in moguls and Alpine skiers heading to a range of events in Europe and North America
FIS Alpine World Cup – Sunday 10 December – Val d’Isere FRA
Dave Ryding was bitterly disappointed after his first event of the season four weeks ago in Levi, Finland when he led going into the second run only to ski out with a second World Cup podium up for grabs.
Ryding’s career-best at Val d’Isere is 12th, but he heads to the French resort as one of the favourites not only due to his six World Cup top-tens in 2016/17, but also from the genuine speed he showed in Levi.
The victor at that event, German Felix Neureuther, has been ruled out for the season – including the Olympic Winter Games – after tearing a knee ligament in training which opens the door for other skiers, including Ryding, to capitalise.
Elsewhere, the British Alpine Team has been in more action this week and will continue to do so over the coming days:
- Jack Gower made his comeback from injuries sustained at his World Cup at Lake Louise, returning to the Canadian track in a Nor-Am Cup Downhill race on Monday where he finished 18th out of more than 65 starters
- More members of the Alpine team will join Gower at Panorama, Canada for a series of Nor-Am Cup races in most categories from Saturday.
- Charlie Guest (placing 23rd) and Cara Brown (placing 29th) were racing in a Europa Cup Giant Slalom over the last two days in Kvitfjell, Norway
FIS Cross Country World Cup – Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December – Davos SUI
Men’s Sprint and 15km Free – Andrew Musgrave, Andrew Young
The British Nordic Team is right in the middle of a heavy block of elite competition with the third World Cup in as many weeks taking place in Davos, Switzerland.
Andrew Musgrave’s best result this season came in last week’s 30km Skiathlon where he moved up significantly in the 15km free (skate) at the back end of the race to finish 13th overall. This weekend he takes on the Sprint on Saturday and the 15km Free on Sunday with hopes of continuing the strong form he has shown over recent weeks in Norway and Finland.
He is joined by Andrew Young who will also take on both events after a strong showing in the Sprint in Lillehammer last week. Young finished 43rd but was less than two seconds away from moving through from qualification to the knockout stage.
In France, James Clugnet will this week take part in an OPA race in Premanon-Les Tuffes, alongside Sam Cairns.
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Saturday 9 December – Ruka FIN
Ladies’ Moguls – Makayla Gerken-Schofield
Men’s Moguls – Thomas Gerken-Schofield, Max Willis
This week marks a significant point for British Moguls with the first World Cup event since the appointment of Bertrand Couette in August.
Siblings Makayla and Thomas Gerken-Schofield will take to the track in Ruka alongside Max Willis.
Makayla (4th) and Thomas (2nd) showed their talent at the Junior World Championships earlier this year, and while both are experienced on the Europa Cup circuit, this will be a big step in their progression.
Twenty-four year old Willis has been on the senior scene for much longer but rejoins the World Cup circuit this weekend nearly three years after his last major competition.
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 December – Val Thorens FRA
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Tuesday 12 to Wednesday 13 December – Arosa SUI
Emily Sarsfield and Pamela Thorburn failed to progress to the knockout stage of the opening World Cup in Val Thorens, however the Cross Alps Tour provides a quick opportunity for redemption.
The athletes will make their way to Arosa, Switzerland this weekend for the second leg of the Tour which will take the form of a night-sprint event. Following Arosa, two more World Cups will take place in the next nine days.
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 December – Copper Mountain USA
The Ski Halfpipe World Cup returned after a three-month hiatus at Copper Mountain this week.
Murray Buchan finished 16th to be the best-performed GB Park and Pipe skier in the men’s competition while Madi Rowlands recorded the pick of the ladies’ results to finish with a top-20.
Ski Jumping FIS and Continental Cup – Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 December – Whistler Olympic Park CAN
Sam Bolton (70th) and Robert Lock (74th) didn’t qualify for the final round of the opening FIS Cup event at Whistler. They will be back competing at the venue over the next three
