After an Olympic games which saw several absences and near-absences in the alpine skiing disciplines, FIS has begun looking into how to make the sport safer.

The University of Salzburg has begun a three year study in to all the dangers involved in Alpine ski racing at the behest of the International Ski Federation (FIS). The move follows an initiative by the world’s leading ski racers to highlight some of the dangers they think exist and could be reduced in their sport.

In the 2008-2009 season, 43 per cent of all alpine World Cup skiers sustained some kind of injury, and 23 of them were ruled out for at least eight days, according to FIS statistics. This season has seen similar stats on injured racers, with the Canadian team particularly hard hit ahead of the Vancouver games.

Continue reading ‘FIS comissions study into ski racing safey’

Through three events, Alcott has yet to reach the podium.

After British Olympic ski coaches made a plea to the local travel industry for funds to travel to Vancouver, Inghams was among several companies that responded.

Emergency funds raised to support the fourteen British Ski and Snowboard athletes competing at the Vancouver Olympics passed the £10,000 mark thanks to a donation from the major tour operator. The company has joined other leading British snowsports companies in donating to a fund set up following the sudden demise of the British Ski & Snowboard Federation (aka Snowsport GB) which went into administration earlier this month.

Continue reading ‘Inghams gave British ski team a push’

Chemmy Alcott, Britain's top female skier.

Fourteen British ski and snowboard athletes nearly departed for the Winter Olympics without the two most important members of their team, the two Coaches.

Because of the sudden demise of the British Ski & Snowboard Federation (aka Snowsport GB) which went into administration earlier this month, the funds to send the coaches simply weren’t there.

Having worked tirelessly with their squads for several years, this was a huge blow to the athletes, who include world ranking Chemmy Alcott and Zoe Gillings amongst their group.

Continue reading ‘Brit ski coaches needed desperate plea to get to Vancouver’

On this third day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the host country got a huge monkey lifted off its back when moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada’s first ever gold on home soil.

Bilodeau won with a score of 26.75 points, narrowly beating Canadian-born defending champion Dale Begg-Smith of Australia who scored 26.58. Bryon Wilson of the United States took bronze with 26.08 points during the competition at Cypress Mountain.

Canadians gathered in the thousands in sites all over Vancouver and Whistler erupted in celebration as Bilodeau became an instant national hero.

Continue reading ‘Olympic Update: Canadian gold, Cypress tickets cancelled, Vonn ready’

On this second day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, a disappointed Canadian crowd saw American female moguls team have a huge day, winning gold and bronze at Cypress Mountain.

Defending gold medalist and Canadian Jennifer Heil got a roar from the crowd when she finished with the top score with only American Hannah Kearney left to go. But Kearney’s near-perfect run earned her the gold, giving Heil the silver and denying Canada it’s first ever gold medal on home soil. American Shannon Bahrke took the bronze.

Continuing rain and fog at Whistler meant the rescheduling of both Saturday’s men’s downhill and Sunday’s women’s super combined to Monday and Thursday, respectively. The juggled lineup keeps the men’s super-combined on Tuesday, and the women’s downhill, American star Lindsey Vonn’s signature event, on Wednesday.

Continue reading ‘Olympic Update: US mogul medals, alpine rescheduling, Slovakian shocker’

On this first day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, American star skier Lindsey Vonn, the weather at Cypress Mountain and Whistler, and the tragic death of a luge athlete are making the headlines.

Thanks to painkillers, Vonn tested her badly bruised right shin Thursday by skiing for the first time since suffering an injury last week. She’s optimistic now about her chances of participating.

The opening women’s Olympic downhill training session was called off after only two racers because of thick fog and low visibility, but Vonn did get in a run.

Continue reading ‘Olympic update: Vonn to compete, bad weather continues, luger dies’

The town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado gave the US Olympic ski team a rousing sendoff before the Vancouver Olympics begin Friday.

Nearly 6,000 fans showed up in Steamboat Springs last Friday for the sendoff. They got a chance to lend their support to about thirty Olympians, including the moguls team and the nordic combined team.

The traditional Olympic sendoff from the community that has more Winter Olympians, about 75, than any other in America literally closed down Steamboat Springs. The town’s main street, Lincoln Avenue, was closed with a huge stage, big screen TV and trampoline show.

Continue reading ‘An Olympic-style sendoff for US ski team’