.
British Army and Royal
Navy Run Opening Event For 2010 World Cup Telemark
The first time Britain
has run a FIS World Cup Ski Event
Maj. Huan Davies
Story and photos
provided by Pauline Aquilina - DMC PR Navy - SO2 Publications
January, 2010--
An historic event in British winter sports took place in Rauris,
Austria this January. Between 11-12 January, British Army and
Royal Navy telemarkers planned, organized and ran the opening
event for the 2010 World Cup telemark series, marking the first
occasion that Britain has run a FIS World Cup ski event. 19 female
and 49 male racers competed, from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Finland
and of course Great Britain.
For the last three years the Army
Telemark Ski Association has run the Army and Navy (and this
year GB National) Telemark championships in Rauris, so when the
opportunity arose to run a World Cup Telemark event over the
same period it was seized with little hesitation. The event offered
Service racers - the clear majority of whom have recently returned
from or are about to deploy on operations - the stimulation of
being an integral part of a top class event ahead of their own
championship races.
Telemark ski racing makes a great spectator sport. The discipline
is characterised by the graceful telemark turn and, at this top
level, by the perilous and gymnastic nature of the athlete's
descent. However the races also offer a variety of challenges,
apart from the usual race gates, which reflect Telemark's historic
roots. The Telemark Giant Slalom races, set on Monday 11th, include
a jump where racers must clear a minimum distance or take a time
penalty. The Telemark Sprint races, which were set on Tuesday
12th, include a 360° banked turn and skating section, in
addition to the gates and jump. In all races, skiers are required
to turn in a proper Telemark style or face further time penalties,
so results for each race reflect two runs down the course, with
the combined times corrected by the addition of any penalties.
The Telemark Sprint race was spectacular. Most of the course
was in sight of the finish area so, having cleared a demanding
hillside of GS gates, racers executed huge jumps in clear view
of the spectators, often recovering their balance from unfeasible
landings (or not, in the case of Matija Liska from Slovenia,
who made such an enormous jump that there was no room to recover
before he wrapped up all the safety netting, laughing like a
pirate as he did so). The course continued at breakneck speed
through the last few gates to the 360° turn, or rappelojke,
set in the heart of the finish area. Racers entered the banked
turn fast, stepping their way round and losing speed before they
exited, crossing their entry track to start the final 150m skating
section to the finish. All muscles were burning by this stage,
so it was not uncommon to see racers half collapse over the finish
line, having given it literally all that they had. There was
good spectator support from the village of Rauris, but the Telemark
race community is also small and generous-spirited enough that
most racers stay to see their fellow competitors through with
hearty applause and encouragement. Andreja Jovan, FIS Telemark
World Cup Coordinator, said afterwards "The racers were
very pleased with the start of their season: the courses gave
some great challenges and we are really satisfied with the way
in which the event was run by the British Army. We would be very
pleased if the British Army ran a World Cup race for us again
in 2011."
While the event was run by a combination of Army Telemark committee
members and volunteers from amongst the Army and Navy Telemark
skiers, the GB Telemark team were very much in the competition.
Originally drawn mainly from the Services, the GB Telemark team
has growing UK Civilian representation, and has gone from strength
to strength in the three years since its reformation under team
captain Major Andrew Clarke. International competition is strong,
but the GB team managed creditable results at this demanding
opening event. Overall, winners for the women's and men's Telemark
GS were Amelie Reymond (FRA - 2:16.84) and Chris Lau (FRA - 2:04.80),
while the Telemark Sprint winners were Amelie Reymond (FRA -
2:25.23) and Eirik Rykhus (NOR - 2:11.96).
Vorlaufer negotiating a turn.
|
This weekend sees the conclusion
of the 3rd Army, Royal Navy and GB National Telemark championship
races taking place in Rauris. Amongst the 70-odd competitors
is 10 year old Ollie Wooton, already demonstrating the talent,
composure and fearlessness that hint at future greatness and
give hope for the next generation of British Telemark racers. |
GB Team Results
Telemark Giant Slalom - Women: 14th - Sarah Hannibal (2:47.19)
Telemark Giant Slalom - Men: 29th - Chris Stewart (2:37.97),
32nd - Huan Davies (2:49.16), 33rd - Andrew Clarke (2:49.51),
34th - Matthew Turner (2:56.37), 35th - Mark Murray (3:03.87).
DNF - Chris Wooton, Richard Parrott, Phil Maddox.
Telemark Sprint - Women: 18th - Sarah Hannibal (3:29.92)
Telemark Sprint - Men: 26th - Chris Stewart (2:50.59), 28th -
Chris Wooton (2:50.59), 29th - Phil Maddox (2:51.66), 30th -
Huan Davies (2:53.27), 31st - Andrew Clarke (2:56.73), 32nd -
Matthew Turner (2:59.03), 34th - Richard Parrott (3:12.62). DNF
- Mark Murray
|
 |