Seven British Ski And Snowboard Athletes Head For World Cups This Weekend

The competitive snowsports season moves into full swing this weekend with seven British athletes set to compete at two FIS World Cup events.

Following a disrupted start two weeks ago in Austria, the Alpine World Cup moves on to Levi in Finland with Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor, Alex Tilley and Charlie Guest in action, whilst the Snowboard Big Air World Cup season gets underway in Milan, Italy after the event scheduled for Copenhagen last weekend was cancelled. Competing for GB Park and Pipe will be Katie Ormerod, Aimee Fuller and Matt McCormick.

FIS Alpine World Cup – Levi, Finland

Saturday 11 November: Ladies Slalom – Charlie Guest & Alex Tilley
Sunday 12 November: Men’s Slalom – Dave Ryding & Laurie Taylor

The British Alpine Ski Team will have four athletes taking on the Slalom course in Levi, headlined by Dave Ryding who produced a breakout performance at the same race twelve months ago.

While Ryding’s 2016/17 campaign will be remembered by most for his second place finish at Kitzbühel in January, a sixth-place finish in Finland set up his career-best season from the opening event.

With a current world ranking of 10, the two-time Olympian has his sights set on PyeongChang 2018 with that journey taking a significant step forward this weekend.

"As ever the start of the season is always pretty nervy with the anticipation and excitement, but I know I have put the hard work in,” said Ryding. “I know I am giving myself every chance by putting in the hours this summer in both Europe and Argentina. I am looking forward to this weekend to see what is in store and what everyone else is bringing to the table."

Ryding will be joined in the Men’s event by Laurie Taylor who is getting his second taste of World Cup action. The 21-year-old showed his promise by finishing 33rd in the Slalom at the World Championships this year and hopes are high for a successful season.

The Ladies event on Saturday will feature another pair of Delancey British Alpine Ski Team members in Alex Tilley and Charlie Guest.

Tilley started her season a fortnight ago at Sölden in the Giant Slalom, and while she did not complete her first run in what proved to be challenging conditions for all competitors, she did clock impressive times through the first two splits.

The two-time National Slalom Champion will also take confidence from an impressive finish to last season where she took five top-five finishes in FIS and Nor-Am Cup races in March and April.

Guest did not line up in Austria, however she is now looking for a strong result to launch her season into top gear. Reflecting one of her best off-season’s in years, the 23-year-old is hoping to start her season in style.

"This summer has been one of the best I have had for a long time,” said Guest. “We've done a lot of training in so many different conditions that I am feeling really ready for the season to get started. As for Levi, I am going in with everything I have and will go 100% at it."

Both events are scheduled for broadcast on Eurosport 1 from 9:45am on Saturday and Sunday.

FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup – Milan, Italy

Saturday 11 November: Ladies Big Air – Aimee Fuller & Katie Ormerod
Saturday 11 November: Men’s Big Air – Matt McCormick

With Snowboard Big Air being introduced to the Olympic Winter Games for the first time in 2018, this season’s World Cup is primed to be the best yet with athletes from all over the globe vying to qualify for PyeongChang 2018.

GB Park & Pipe will have two ladies and one man competing in Saturday’s season-opener in Milan and expectations will be high following strong results in Italy last year.

Aimee Fuller and Katie Ormerod both return to Milan after top 10 finishes in 2016, with Fuller finishing just off the podium in what remains a career-best fourth position in Big Air.

Ormerod has high hopes this year after a stellar 2016/17 season where she finished second overall on the World Cup standings following three podium finishes including a January victory in Moscow.

The 20-year-old comes into the event back in full fitness after an off-season of rehabilitation following a back injury in the lead-up to the World Championships.

After qualifying for Sochi 2014 in Slopestyle, Fuller is looking towards a second Olympic Winter Games and she currently sits inside the top 20 on the Big Air rankings.

“Summer training has gone well in both New Zealand and on the European glaciers”, said Fuller. “I am feeling strong, on top of my board, and excited to get my first Big Air contest of the season underway this weekend. Last Winter Milan was one of my favourite events, finishing in the final Top 5. My main focus between now and February is building up the best momentum ready for the Games, using the contests to build my competition experience and focusing on best preparing the tricks I want to perform in February ready for then.

The men’s event is expected to be highly competitive with Matt McCormick the sole British representative.

McCormick will be looking to make his mark after debuting on the World Cup scene last year. The 20-year-old’s standout results in Big Air last season came with a top 20 in Moscow and 27th at the World Championships.

The FIS Big Air World Cup Finals are scheduled for broadcast on Eurosport 2 from 5:45pm on Saturday.