24/02/2013 Ski Sunday

Hello and welcome to Ski Sunday. I'm afraid to say it's the last of

the series. It's been an incredible year. We have travelled up mountain

ranges, had our ups and downs, and it's safe to say, Gra, I've had

about enough of you. So that's it, then? Yes. I'm in Meribel, it's the

women's downhill. Are you coming? No, thanks - I'm going to go to

Laax to cover some snowboarding. Welcome to Meribel, where it's all

about speed. Welcome to Laax, where It's the women's downhill, where

the fastest women fly down this beautiful mountain. It's Slopestyle,

where we turn snow sports on their BOTH: Welcome to Ski Sunday. Who

needs Ed anyway, because I've got someone even better?! Stacey Cook,

you are currently lying second in the downhill. Lindsey is out for

the rest of the season with injury, it's a massive opportunity to take

$:/ENDFEED.Yes, it's a position I How many racers do you think have

the opportunity to win it? Five can realistically do it, but Lindsey's

also still that far ahead that it will take three good races from any

to overtake her, so it's not a given that Lindsey's out of this

What is it like competing in a sport where one slip, one crash can

leave you injured for the rest of the season? We definitely know the

consequences of our sport, but it's those consequences that make it so

much more fun. The risks you take is part of the thrill and being

aggressive is what it takes to overcome the consequences. If you

keep it positive and keep the aggressive attitude, for the most

part you are likely to stay safe. If you back off scared that bad

things will happen, you try to keep it in the right mindset and not

worry about what could be. What is the best thing about being a

downhill racer? Well, the thrill is obviously the best thing, but I

also really like that we get two to three runs in this event. It allows

you to bring out your best skiing on race day. For the spectators,

they get to see the absolute best skiing from us. What are the

conditions like in Meribel and what's the course like? It's a

really difficult course to remember. There is so much training and you

have to memorise it really well. It takes a few times through. You will

find that out when you get up there. moved the start of this course to

the rock fair piste. Beautiful conditions and I'll have a look at

it now and do my best to stay online. Into the tuck. Trying to

stay smooth and relaxed. It's the first jump of the course. Now I'm

approaching the tunnel. It's a big, right-footed turn that brings you

on to this spine where you have to make a quick move one side. Then

the other. And set up high for this turn. A lot of pressure on the ski

as you power down through here. Now, this is the terrain that Stacey was

talking about. Having to work the ski through these turns. Long,

sweeping left-footer. Then this part of the course. They've changed

the flags to blue so you can pick them up against the red fencing.

Almost in sight of the finish now. You can see the town of Meribel as

you attack these sweeping turns. A little bumpy. Compared to

Schladming, snow conditions couldn't be better here. Over to

Matt for the commentary and my money's on Matt Chilton.

We have a glorious Alpine morning in the heart of the French alps for

the women's sixth World Cup downhill of the season. Nadia Kamer

on her way for Switzerland. Tall, powerful racer. And she's

accelerated quickly at the top of this course. 1700ths faster than

Sejersted of Norway. And the next split is even better for Kamer. A

lot of work on this course for her during the summer. Meribel will

host the World Cup finals in 2015. A big event for which they're

preparing over the next couple of years. Kamer in good shape on the

Olympic course. 0.41. This is really solid in the mid section and

she stays inside the blue racing corridor there. Last time the women

raced in the World Cup here was back in 1994. It's been a long wait.

This is only area of the course which is in shade. The rest of it

is in glorious Alpine sunshine. And Sejersted's lead is in danger as

Nadia Kamer comes to the final section. Just leaning into that

control to send her on to the steep. A tricky section coming up. This

big sweeping left-footed turn. She's got that right. And Kamer

will lead for Switzerland. Good run. It was minus 15 this morning but

it's warmed up nicely now. Not sure if it warrants a full face mask.

Nadia Kamer seemed to be a bit hard on her edges on the left-footer as

you come on to the finished pitch. That could cost her later on in the

race, but Kamer's in the lead. Mardschand-Avier is into the red

line. Very, very close on that control gate. Now she dives down on

to this flat section. She'll be looking for speed across this

traverse which sends her on one side of the mountain over to the

other. This is a key turn, the left-footed turn coming up here, a

long, sweeping angular turn which she must get right. Brilliantly

done from Mardschand-Avier. A little hop with her right ski, got

a little bit of daylight between the ski and the snow for a split

second. No real mistakes. Now Mardschand-Avier's faster. Hence

they've turned up the volume in the finish area. They're expecting

great things from the new world champion. Maybe Mardschand-Avier

can give France the lead here in Meribel and she does! 0.41. A fine

run. Mardschand-Avier, not particularly

that fast at the top part of the course, but once you get down into

the trees on to the finish pitch, she was very, very good,

accelerating out of each turn. Brilliant skiing but still early

American felt she had her best ever season last year with five top ten

finishes. At the end of this year, she may look back and think this is

the best season ever. Two wins and she can take the downhill crown.

Can she start that charge here today?

Makes sure she has a good grip with the ski poles and she has a look

ahead and gets ready to race. Powerful start. Really driving for

speed at the top as she comes on to the Olympic downhill course. Gold

medal here in '92 was won by Kerry Garrtner from Canada. She's 300ths

faster than Mardschand-Avier. She's a good glider and should be able to

generate good speed on the flatter section of this course. Slightly

low there. She had to react to make sure of the next gate. Comes from

Mammoth Mountain in California, has twice been a runner-up. Both times,

the races were won by Lindsey Vonn. Dead level with Mardschand-Avier.

That could be a key mistake that, from Stacey Cook, outside of the

blue racing corridor, and she's drifting again. Her composure's

been lost. The next bit, she's bound to be behind Mardschand-Avier

whose time is 123.08 and Cook is now nearly four seconds adrift.

A couple of mistakes. And another. She's having to try and adjust her

ski racing line. She's now all over the place. Looking tentative over

her skis. She'll be happy to finish in one piece. It started well, it

finished poorly for the American and she's only 13th at the moment.

A massive disappointment for Stacey Cook. She was quick on the top part

of the course and carrying speed well through that chicane and on to

the big, sweeping right hand of the carousel turn. Just as she went

from the intermediate time, she got late to the line, got pushed out on

to the softer snow of the course, running such a wider line on a

couple of gates that she had to be a lot slower. Massive

Lichtenstein. For those of you who've been watching, you will know

her name because her father won a few World Cup downhills for Austria.

Her mother another legend, an Olympic champion for Lichtenstein

and a solid established ski racing pedigree. Her uncle, Andy, was a

double Olympic medallist as well, picked up 14 World Cup wins. She's

been very close to winning in the last couple of seasons, Tina. She

lacks a bit of bulk, but technically is a very strong skier.

She's in touch. 1600ths of a second behind the time of Marie

Mardschand-Avier who still leads for France. This big left-hander

sends Weirather upwards. She landed a little lower than she might have

liked. A couple of training runs earlier in the week and a detailed

course inspection this morning. Weirather I think knows that she

needed to be higher on landing there and she's paid the price near

mistake, 0.38 behind. Lots of noise again from the French supporters.

It looks as if Maria Mardschand- Avier's lead will remain intact.

Last turn for Tina Weirather. 142.77 to beat and she's missed it

and goes third for the moment. have the power and bodyweight for

Merighetti. She was second in the downhill at St Anton just a few

weeks ago. She did not feature among the top places there, where

the gold went to Marion Rolland. She is in good shape here. Dead

level at the second intermediate with Marie Marchand-Arvier. Hands

thrust forward, looking for good speed, as she cuts her way through

the air. At the next split, she is still equal with the French racer.

Nothing to choose between them. This left footed turn could be

key... Oh, it did not look quite so smooth from Daniela Merighetti, she

was leaning backwards for a fraction of a second. That might

have cost her the chance to take the lead. Let's see. At the next

split, she is into the red zone. Another mistake on that chicane

section. It looks as if Marie Marchand-Arvier's lead is safe for

France. And they have still got the downhill champion of the world to

come. Daniela Merighetti is down in are old friends and bitter rivals.

Maria has had an impressive all- round World Championships, so this

might be the moment for her to step out of the American's shadow.

Number 20, for Germany, Maria Hoefl-Riesch. She has not had a

great season at World Cup level, by her standards. But she had a very

good Schladming World Championships, where she took the gold in the

Super Combined and the bronze in this event, the downhill. She comes

to Meribel full of confidence. She has got fast skis and all the

resources of the German team behind her. She is behind at the first

intermediate by six hundredths of a second. That was a super jump.

0.13, she is hot on the heels of Marie Marchand-Arvier. Nothing

wrong with this so far. She was very fast in training on Thursday

and Friday. Can she use that experience now to get a solid

performance on downhill day? It looks good for Maria Hoefl-Riesch.

Confidence has been lacking, but that is now restored, following her

two medals in Schladming. And she is getting closer! Nine hundredths

of a second behind. This turn is key. The exit is solid. She does

not lose too much speed, and she sets up now to go through the

forest, and the run for the line. It has gone a little quiet at the

foot of the Roc de Fer, as Maria Hoefl-Riesch switches on the green

light, seven hundredths of a second faster. The German, skiing to deny

Marie Marchand-Arvier potentially her first World Cup win. How close

can she go? She is fastest! Maria Hoefl-Riesch leads the way in

Meribel. Well, Maria Hoefl-Riesch, one

hundredth of a second, she silences the French crowd. Her downhill has

not been going that well this season, but she won gold in the

combined in the World Championships, and it has given her a whole new

lease of confidence, together with brilliant skiing, particularly

through the shady parts of the course. The big, tall, powerful

German is in the lead. Next to go is the dominant force in

women's skiing this season, Tina Maze, who has got twice as many

points as her nearest rival in the overall standings. She left the

World Championships with one gold and two silvers, as well as getting

to perform her hit single in traditional Austrian dress. The

stand-out skier of the season, Tina Maze. She has won in Super-G, giant

slalom and slalom this season. The only discipline she has not

conquered is downhill. Maybe today in Meribel. She was quickest in

training on Thursday, second fastest in training on Friday. She

loves this course. Seventh in the World Championship downhill in

Schladming. Tina Maze, looking solid at the top. How close is she

to the time of Maria Hoefl-Riesch? Very close. 15 hundredths of a

second adrift. Oh, a little low in the line there. A slight skid from

Tina Maze. She comes into the shaded area in the forest. She

opens her hands out wide, which will slow her down a bit. And Tina

Maze is now back in the red, a quarter of a second behind. She

took that gate really tight, that was a brave turn. On to the last

section. It has been a good run, but I do not think it is going to

be good enough to win in Meribel. And it is not.

This is going to be one of those really, really tight races. Tina

Maze managed to make up an awful lot of time on the last four turns.

She came within sight of the finish and clattered that control gate. In

downhill, you are not wearing much padding, and that would have hurt.

And she clattered the next one as well. Great skiing from Tina Maze.

Next to race will be the French skier Marion Rolland. She won the

downhill at the World Championships this month. That gold represents

quite a comeback after her from France. Will this be a

glorious homecoming? She is out of the gate. Her story is one of zero

to hero. In the Olympic downhill, in Whistler Mountain, for the

Vancouver Games, in 2010, she came straight out of the gate and fell

flat on her face. It was a comical moment, almost, but she blew her

knee and was out for the rest of the season. And she leads the way!

Two hundredths faster than Maria Hoefl-Riesch. Now, the noise levels

are rising at the foot of the Roc de Fer. Hands forward, totally

focused. This right footed turn is beginning to chew up a bit. She is

having to stand tall and absorb the lumps and bumps of the hill.

A little skid on landing. Has that cost her the chance to lead the

way? The French, still with Marie Marchand-Arvier in second, but they

would love Marion Rolland to back up her World Championship gold with

victory here in Meribel. I think it is unlikely now, following a couple

of mistakes. And she stood tall again. She is getting chucked

around, as the course starts to deteriorate. Maria Hoefl-Riesch's

lead is safe, and that is only eighth for Marion Rolland, which is

disappointing. The first three splits had the

crowd cheering. She was in touch until halfway down, when she went

into the shade, and she got bounced and hit quite hard by the bumps.

And then, on that final, big turn, coming in towards the finish, she

went round a bit too straight so had to get hard on the edges.

That's where her time was lost. Next, from Spain, Carolina Ruiz

Castillo. She is from the south of Spain. Actually, she was originally

from Chile, but she races for Spain. She trains up on the hills of the

Sierra Nevada. Great top section here from Ruiz Castillo, who has

never won a World Cup race. Sometimes, she puts down really

good performances in pre-race training runs, and then lets the

nerves get the better of her on race day. But things are going

smoothly so far. The next gate gives us a really good idea. And

Ruiz Castillo is flying down the Roc de Fer. What a good top

section! No Spanish racer has ever won a World Cup downhill. Can she

deny Maria Hoefl-Riesch the victory? It has been green all the

way for the Spaniard, who is coached by Mark Tilston, from

Scotland. Yes, it is getting better and better. Vastly experienced,

Carolina Ruiz Castillo, but has she got the stamina to see this one

through to the end? She is getting a little bounced around. But that

was a good turn. Ruiz Castillo goes for the line, and takes it! What a

run from the Spaniard! Fantastic! Well, to say that was a shock would

be a bit of an understatement. Carolina Ruiz Castillo can hardly

believe it herself. A superb run. Very, very fast on the top section

of the course, but then she was able to keep the speed through all

of those technical sections. She is actually coached by a British coach,

Mark Tilston, Chemmy Alcott's old coach, so there is some little bit

of British celebration to be going on tonight in Meribel.

Regina Sterz, for Austria. She got married in June of last year. She

was quickest in the second training run. Ruiz Castillo watching

nervously now, because she knows that Regina Sterz had a good day on

this hill in training yesterday. But on race day, it is not quite so

good, and she is 0.65 off the pace. Regina Sterz is in good shape, no

real mistakes. I'm not sure if she is quite as quick across the snow.

Maybe there is a problem with ski preparation, compared to yesterday.

Half a second behind! The best she could hope for here is a place in

the top five. Into the shaded area. The Spaniard Ruiz Castillo,

watching at the bottom of the course, is now beginning to believe.

Regina Sterz has found a tenth. Can she find a couple more, and get

herself on the podium in Meribel? The final turn - this is where Ruiz

Castillo was so strong. Regina Sterz goes a bit wide, and she

finishes in fifth at the end. That is a bit disappointing, after such

a strong training run. So, she could not match Ruiz

Castillo on the top part of the course, perhaps the skis not

running quite so well. But she got a very respectable fifth place.

Well, what a shock result for Carolina Ruiz Castillo, who wins

the downhill in Meribel. We tried to make some changes from

the training run yesterday, going for the win, and maybe we tried to

take a bit too much risk, but as a team, we all messed up in exactly

the same spot. That is not a good day as a team. But we did what we

could, there is no lack of effort. Sometimes it just does not pay off.

A bit of a surprise winner. Yes, it is awesome. She is such a friendly

person, so positive, and it is so exciting to see her get that win.

It is a perfect day, something I have been looking for for such a

long time. A lot of work behind this, a lot of good and bad days. I

am just happy. And you are coached by a British coach, Mark Tilston -

what is he like to work with? good. Since we have been working

together, I have changed a lot of things. In the end, it is something

special. We work a lot on the technique, also on the mental and

on the physical. I have improved every year a little bit. How does

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

this day rate in all of your days snowboard slope style, pushing

athleticism to jaw-dropping limits. Challenging their creativity,

examining the minutiae of their technique. A mind-blowing spectacle,

the newest, most anticipated event at the Winter Olympics. And from a

British perspective, things are British perspective, things are

looking very promising. Here in Laax, it's the European Open,

everyone from 12-year-olds to retired Olympic gold medallists

come here to compete, meaning some of the British faces will be seen

in Sochi next year and they're also here now.

I really, really want to go. I'm hoping I'll qualify. Never thought

what I'm doing now would be a possibility, travelling all over

the world and competing. It's a bit of a dream come true, really.

Olympics is like the big one that everybody does and wants to win.

That's basically the dream. It gets you in the eye of the public and

instead of the X Games and stuff. What do you need to do to get

there? To get to Sochi, you need to do the World Cup circuit. I've made

the quarter spot now. To qualify, you need two top 20s, now I need to

stay in the top 30. Provided you are fit, that's relatively

straightforward? Yes, yes. Jamie should be joining the men's

team by Billy Morgan who came from gymnastics quite recently. His fast

development as a skier has been extraordinary. Billy's come from a

different background, gymnastic, same as my cousin, Katy. He has a

great awareness of when he's in the air, especially when he's doing

doubles, it seems too easy for him. The pace of snowboarding is moving

phenomenally, why is that? Everything's so secretive. People

go off and you're like, where the heck did he learn that and you have

got to do with it. It was all about the double cork, suddenly almost on

cue, the year before the Olympics, the triple cork arrives. Are you

actively working on them now? It's something I'm going to let

build up. I'm going to keep my head down, keep having fun, riding jumps

and see how it goes. At the moment, I am kind of working on one. I've

not really said much about it, but, to be honest, I'm going to try go

for it at some point. We'll see what happens.

Jamie and Billy will continue to push themselves in preparation for

Sochi. And, on the women's side, the GB team have an unprecedented,

the GB team have an unprecedented, but very welcome selection headache.

We've got Master Jones and then Katy and I'm the one in the middle.

There are three of you in the running. Is it possible all three

of you can qualify? We've each got to get two top 12 results which I

think all three of us are perfectly capable of. It will be an awesome

experience for all three of us to go, three Brits, three snowboarders

there. I started doing the World Cups to

qualify for the Olympics and I'm not trying to put too much pressure

on myself because I know that could be bad. You are only 15 now, but it

feels like I've heard your name for nine or ten years? Yes, I've been

snowboarding a long time. I'd say my main inspiration is Jamie

because he's my cousin and he does really well. But also Jenny Jones

because she won the X Games three times which was amazing to see.

We have a massively exciting young team at the moment, especially in

free ski and freestyle snowboard. It's a legacy that's been

developing over a number of years, very much led by Jenny Jones and

her huge successors in the X Games, the fact that she's British opened

up a huge store for freestyle snowboarding which has created a

lot of momentum that the young riders can jump on the back of.

Literally, the last year or two, it's noticeable that we have this

amazing team. Great coaches and the support, also the funding now. It

has exploded, it's like, wow, what's going on. It seems there is

more people coming through now and the sport is more well-known to

people in the UK. I hope more younger people will follow in our

footsteps. It's such a good opportunity to be able to go to the

Olympics, get that experience and hopefully get other people

interested in snowboarding. It's such a fun sport so why not share

What are your goals for Sochi, looking at the whole British theme?

We'll only have had support for a couple of seasons. There is only so

much you can do in a certain amount of time. But I would love to see

all the riders that we have competing in the stage, reaching

their potential. We have riders who have potential to be up there in

the top five. We have hopes and are quietly confident.

Looking forward to Sochi, let's say slow start finals, ten best riders

in the world, you are one of them. Are you going to turn it on?

Oh, yes, mate, I'd do it anything. I don't care. It would be like all-

or-nothing. I'm competitive so any pressure I feel is pressure I

literally put on myself, but it's a good kind of pressure. I'm really

motivated to succeed. Desire and talent - two qualities

the GB snowboard slope star riders have in abundance. Success in Sochi

will encourage even more youngsters into the sport. And with the levels

and depth of talent already so high, the future is looking very bright

for British snowboarding. That is it from Laax. Now, you may

have noticed that Olympic skeleton goal medallist Aimee Williams

joined the team and showed us the ins and outs of the St Moritz bob

track. We decided to give her a lesson on the piste, returning the

favour. This is Ski Sunday after Olympic winter gold medallists

who've never set foot on skis. We have found one in the shape of

Great Britain's gold medallist Aimee Williams. What do you know

about skiing? I know nothing. I know this is a pair of skis and

that's the top and that's where I put my feet, but I've never done it.

We've got a couple of hours and I hope to have you snowploughing,

doing turns and skiing blue runs. I don't even know what a blue run

First of all, we are going to put one ski on, just to feel how it

slides and we are going to scooter along. Sounds really stupid, but

it's way more slidey than I thought. Yes, snow is slidey.

Shall we get the other ski on? Let's. Lift your poles up and keep

the pressure in front of your boots and just slide with it. Let's go

for it. Slide along. First impressions? I can already feel

when you lean your angle a bit more, you can feel the edge of the ski. I

think I've got a lot to learn. think we are getting there pretty

quick. There are three ways of stopping. One is the snowplough for

low speeds, the other is the hockey stop you see racers doing. And the

third is to throw yourself on the ground. Final option! Yes, the

final option! OK, I'll go for the first option first. Straight

running. And then just push out into a snowplough. There's another

way of going uphill. I think she's one of the fastest

learners I've ever had. Turning is very, very important, so we are

going to move on to snowplough turns. Snowplough turns! Straight

down and the other hand down. Push your legs out, snowplough,

snowplough, snowplough... We are going to ditch the nursery

slopes and tackle our first blue run. OK. So put your weight here

and you are going to come across the hill like this. That's it.

Nice, nice. Argh... Snowplough does not work. I broke the barrier

instead! Shh... Turn back. Brilliant. We are going to try and

get parallel turns done. What's a parallel turn? Turning when your

ski's not in snowplough. That's it. Nice. That's one parallel turn.

Turn the other way. And turn the other way. Brilliant. I can

honestly say hand on heart I don't think I've ever taught anyone who's

picked it up quicker. Normally, that would take at least a week

before you are skiing parallel so it's all good, well done. OK, thank

you, I can ski, I'm happy. Want another run? Yes, don't want to

another run? Yes, don't want to So you are back like a bad penny.

Truth is, I missed ya! Only shame of it is, I'm not back for that

long. It's the end of the series, but the good news is that we are

back next winter with Ski Sunday and the Winter Olympics, so plenty

of winter sport action to keep you warm on those cold nights. From all

of us, that's it for 2013. Did you know that Ski Sunday's been running

for 35 years, and if this programme was a marriage it would be

celebrating its coral. Do you think you will still be able to do the

Hahnekamm when you are 80? they'll let me! See you next winter.

Hello to Ski Sunday. Hello to Ski Sunday.

This certainly isn't the kind of welcome I expected to give you.

Makes a bit of history. Good morning. There we go...