By Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin
Most people who head to the mountains to ski and snowboard don’t see themselves as the next Olympic downhill champion or snowboard cross medallist. Their ambitions are far more modest, and they are happy on groomed pistes and enjoying time with friends and family in the snow.
However, elite ski racing and snowboard competition are far more relevant to their holiday than they might realise. It’s much like Formula One and everyday driving. Few motorists will ever drive at 200mph around Silverstone, but the sport inspires millions, showcases the excitement of motoring and accelerates the development of technology that then filters down.
Photo by Daniel Stiel on Unsplash
Competitive skiing and snowboarding play exactly the same role. The world’s best skiers and snowboarders create moments that capture the public’s imagination. At the same time, advances in skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, helmets, goggles and technical clothing are often pioneered at the highest level before filtering down to recreational users.
Therefore, the UK ski industry will be disappointed that UK Sport has confirmed it will no longer channel approximately £12.5million of funding for Britain’s elite skiers and snowboarders through GB Snowsport, the national governing body, during the build-up to the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
UK Sport has announced it is exploring an alternative model for delivering funds directly to athletes and coaches over the next Olympic cycle.
The announcement comes just months after Team GB enjoyed its most successful Winter Olympics on snow at the Milan-Cortina Games where they claimed five medals, including an unprecedented three gold medals.
In a statement, GB Snowsport said it was disappointed by UK Sport’s decision to pursue an alternative investment route. The statement said: “We remain fully committed to supporting our athletes in their performance endeavours.”
Britain’s ‘greatest ever Olympic Winter Games on snow’
Highlighting recent achievements, the governing body added: “We are hugely proud of everything that we have achieved over the past four years, not least the remarkable medal successes on the international stage culminating in Britain’s greatest ever Olympic Winter Games on snow in Milan-Cortina.
“Our athletes, staff and sports have achieved incredible things on and off snow over recent years, and we firmly believe the system we have built together remains the most effective way to continue to support Britain’s snowsport athletes.”
Although disappointed by the decision, GB Snowsport indicated it intends to continue discussions with UK Sport while making clear it is prepared to defend its position.
The decision leaves UK Sport with the task of designing a new performance structure capable of maintaining Britain’s recent momentum in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding while ensuring athletes continue to receive uninterrupted support on their journey to the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
How the new funding model will operate, who will administer it, and what role – if any – GB Snowsport will play remain unclear. Those questions are expected to dominate discussions over the coming months as athletes and coaches seek reassurance that Britain’s record-breaking success at Milan-Cortina can be built upon rather than disrupted.
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