For a country lacking the loftiest of summits or the most snow-sure seasons, we have an impressive roll call of winter athletes now making their mark in ski and snowboard history.
In their first ever major competition skiing together, Neil Simpson and Robert Poth took gold, silver and bronze in the Super-G, Slalom, and Giant Slalom at the FIS Para Snowsports Alpine World Champs. While Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest took Silver and Bronze in the Slalom and Giant Slalom.
Mia Brookes made history at the Freestyle Snowboard Big Air World Cup as the first woman to land a flat-spin cab 1260 in a World Cup Comp, adding a fifth place to her healthy tally of results this season. The 16-year-old went on to compete at the X Games and came away with a respectable 6th place at her first time at this prestigious event. Meanwhile, Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin delivered jaw-dropping X Games performances in the women’s ski events. Kirsty took bronze in the Slopestyle and Big Air, while Zoe was in for the win, taking gold in the Super Pipe.
Finally, Dave Ryding was back on the podium exactly a year to the day after his stunning victory at the at the Kitzbuehel Slalom World Cup. Ryding rose through the ranks from 16th to 2nd place after a phenomenal second run that was the fastest in the field.
Not a bad haul for the start of 2023.