Preparation
It has been a while since my last blog, so I thought I would start with a brief summary of what we have been doing! The summer was spent in Ipswich, England, catching up on my studies at the University of Suffolk and preparing physically for the World Cup season.
Women of Sport: The Real Me – A photography project by Nick Webster
The GB Telemark training kicked off in a different style this year, we decided to have a team building camp in Brittany, surfing and learning new skills.
Jack Emsley enjoying the waves in Penhors, France Bonnie Price, Joe Gosling, Jack Emsley, Ben Emsley, Jasmin Taylor
We soon returned to the slopes to start technical training, as always, the team is based in Hintertux, Austria, staying at Tux Diamant in Lanersbach.
An international training camp in Hintertux! Photo credits to Laly Chaucheprat Warming up! Thank you to Dare 2B for our kit this season Free skiing in Hintertux, Austria
This season is slightly different for me as it is the first year I have my boyfriend, Will, with me for the winter. He can telemark now (just so you know).
Will, and his telemark skis!
FIS Cup
The first races of the season were FIS Cup events (a series of races running alongside the World Cup) with day-one, a Sprint, held in Villars sur Ollons, Switzerland. I finished in 5th and British new-comer, Bonnie Price finished 16th in her first international race. The British boys were also on good form with Louis Hatchwell in 16th, Sion Bingham in 17th, Alec Dixon in 23rd, Ben Emsley in 25th, and Colin Dixon in 26th place.
Alec Dixon, Louis Hatchwell, Jasmin Taylor, Sion Bingham, Louis Blyth, Colin, Dixon, Ben Emsley
That same weekend, on day-two, we raced another Sprint held in Les Houches, France which was a British hosted organisation. That day I finished in 2nd, and Bonnie Price finished in 17th place. The field was incredibly strong, with many World Cup athletes present, including the Germans, Swiss, British, French, Russians and Czechs. Louis Hatchwell placed 14th, with Sion Bingham in 19th, Ben Emsley in 21st, Alec Dixon in 22nd, Colin Dixon in 25th and Jack Emsley in 28th place.
Thank you to Leggett Immobilier for supporting us this season! Photo credits to Leggett Immobilier
Louis Blyth, one of our Development Team athletes finished 8th in the overall French Cup ranking, the results I have presented are based on the FIS Cup ranking (it was a dual purpose event to allow all ages to compete).
Photo credits to Guillaume Borga
It was also great to have Leggett Immobilier, GB Telemark, sponsor on place to support us.
British Championships
The British (Army, and Navy) Championships were held in Pralognan-La-Vanoise, France. The organisation was impeccable and the standard of skiing was higher than ever. Thank you so much to the British Army for putting on such a great event. The first race kicked off with the Giant Slalom (GS), a discipline now extinct from World Cup competition. This was followed by the Sprint, and then the Classic discipline.
The overall results for the women were as follows;
- Jasmin Taylor
- Bonnie Price
- Dominique Symons
The overall results for the men were as follows;
- Jasper Taylor
- Louis Hatchwell
- Sion Bingham
If you would like more information or to see the full results, click here. The team is bigger than ever, there is a lot of young talent coming through with the likes of Harry Fletcher, Louis Blyth, Sissi Compton and many more!
Ready to skate! Photo credits to ATSA The men’s Sprint podium (L to R) Alec Dixon, Jasper Taylor, Sion Bingham – Photo credits to Max Screawn Jasper Taylor through the finish – Photo credits to Max Screawn The women’s Sprint podium (L to R) Bonnie Price, Jasmin Taylor, Dominique Symons – Photo credits to Max Screawn Louis Hatchwell on course – Photo credits to Max Screawn Sion Bingham skating to the finish – Photo credits to Max Screawn
British Champion 2020
World Cup
Pralognan-La-Vanoise
The British hosted event was the opening World Cup race of the season. It was amazing to have so many Brits in town supporting us, including my parents and god-parents! The two-days were both Sprint events and on day-one I finished in 4th, Louis Hatchwell in 20th, Ben Emsley in 22nd, Sion Bingham in 24th, Jack Emsley in 26th, Colin Dixon in 28th with DNF (did not finish) from Jasper Taylor and Alec Dixon. New-comers, Bonnie Price and Max Carnegie were the race forerunners.
The opening World Cup in Pralognan-La-Vanoise, France – Photo credits to Agence Zoom
Day-two of competition I found myself on the World Cup podium in 3rd place, this took my World Cup medal tally to 30 which means I now hold a British record. You can read an article with Planet Ski here and News Chain here. Bonnie Price finished 19th in her first World Cup event, Sion Bingham in 22nd, Jasper Taylor in 23rd, Alec Dixon in 24th, Louis Hatchwell in 26th, Ben Emsley in 29th, Jack Emsley in 32nd and Colin Dixon in 33rd place.
The women’s Sprint podium with (L to R) Amelie Wenger Reymond (SUI), Johanna Holzmann (GER), Jasmin Taylor (GBR) – Photo credits to Agence Zoom The Opening Ceremony – Photo credits to Agence Zoom
First podium of the season, and the British record – Photo credits to FIS Telemark
Samoens
We then moved on to Samoens, France for the French hosted leg of the tour. There we skied two back-to-back Classic events, followed by a Sprint. I placed 6th, Jasper Taylor scored his first top-20 of the season with 18th, Sion Bingham 24th, Jack Emsley finished 25th, Colin Dixon 27th and DNF Ben Emsley who suffered a huge crash on course.
Checking the clock – Photo credits to Maely Vb Colin Dixon across the finish line – Photo credits to Maely Vb Sion Bingham in the finish area – Photo credits to Maely Vb Ben Emsley searching for oxygen after a tough race – Photo credits to Maely Vb
In day-two of Classic racing, I had more success finishing 2nd, always good to be back on the podium. Jasper Taylor placed 19th, Sion Bingham 22nd, Ben Emsley 23rd, Jack Emsley 24th with Colin Dixon in 26th position.
The women’s Classic podium with (L to R) Jasmin Taylor (GBR), Amelie Wenger Reymond (SUI), Beatrice Zimmermann (SUI)
In the final race, I finished 5th, Jasper Taylor skied very well into 17th, Jack Emsley scored a personal best (PB) of 21st place. Unfortunately it was a DNF for Ben Emsley, Colin Dixon, Sion Bingham who all happened to fall on the same gate, all boys walked away injury free.
Leaving it all on the hill – Photo credits to Maely Vb The finish area – Photo credits to Leggett Immobilier
Thank you to Leggett Immobilier, team sponsor, for coming along to support us on location. It was also great to have Irish athlete; Max Screawn, join us for the duration of these races as one of our own! He made an awesome World Cup debut with 21st, 28th and 19th place finishes, very respectable.
Now the tour travels on to Rjukan, Norway for the next round of competitions!