:00:51. > :01:04.Every once in a while someone truly outstanding comes along. A
:01:05. > :01:07.trailblazer, a pioneer breaking new ground, breaking consequence,
:01:08. > :01:15.breaking records. And for every leader there are followers. Striving
:01:16. > :01:18.to close the gap. A really good run from Lara Gut. Dreaming, believing
:01:19. > :01:23.that one day they'll no longer be in the shadows. Continues to show
:01:24. > :01:29.confidence. To blaze a trail themselves. A dominant force,
:01:30. > :01:35.seemingly unstoppable, untouchable. The chasing pack continues its
:01:36. > :01:44.pursuit undeterred, unrelent ing will. Some fall away, but for the
:01:45. > :01:46.rest there is no giving up. An endless game of cat and mouse. The
:01:47. > :01:55.chase is on. We're in Switzerland this week
:01:56. > :01:59.for the women's World Cup races, where everyone is trying to catch
:02:00. > :02:03.the amazing Lindsey Vonn. But their pursuit has been put
:02:04. > :02:06.on hold for now ? heavy snow and high winds have put
:02:07. > :02:09.paid to the racing here, probably to Lindsey's disappointment
:02:10. > :02:13.more than anyone else's, as she was eyeing up
:02:14. > :02:15.another victory. Instead, we're going to bring
:02:16. > :02:17.you highlights from last week's Wherever she races, Lindsey
:02:18. > :02:25.is the star attraction and the girl everyone has to beat,
:02:26. > :02:27.but despite stacking up the records and unbelievable levels
:02:28. > :02:37.of expectation on her, I am never afraid to go fast. That's
:02:38. > :02:40.what I love about ski racing. Really it is just you and the mountain. You
:02:41. > :02:44.can go as fast as you want to go. Later in the show, we bring
:02:45. > :02:47.you an epic mountain adventure from Alaska, with a courageous team
:02:48. > :02:49.attempting to push the boundaries of what's possible in the remotest
:02:50. > :02:55.and most challenging terrain. I'm excited about this trip because
:02:56. > :02:58.it is different. It is something that no-one has done. The
:02:59. > :03:00.possibilities are huge. Stay tuned for that -
:03:01. > :03:03.I promise you, it's one not to miss. First though, we have
:03:04. > :03:05.racing to bring you. The piste in Garmisch is a challenge
:03:06. > :03:08.as tough as they get in downhill. If anyone was going to beat
:03:09. > :03:11.Lindsey Vonn, they knew they would have to be
:03:12. > :03:22.at their very, very best. The winter resort of Garmisch,
:03:23. > :03:26.steeped in alpine history. In 1936, the Olympics were held here, the
:03:27. > :03:31.first time alpine skiing was included in the Olympic programme.
:03:32. > :03:36.They've twice held the World Championships, in 1978 and five
:03:37. > :03:45.years ago in 2011. Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The host of
:03:46. > :03:53.downhill number six of nine of the 2015-2016 ski World Cup. The
:03:54. > :04:00.Austrian, 24 years old, Tamara Tippler. A handful of World Cup
:04:01. > :04:12.starts. The best this year, the best of her career, 11th in the sprint
:04:13. > :04:17.downhill. 0.71. This is fantastic skiing from Tippler into this key
:04:18. > :04:27.part of the track. Gets thrown out of shape by the compression. Over a
:04:28. > :04:32.second faster, but late in the line. This could cost her. Hard on the
:04:33. > :04:40.right ski. Just makes it inside the gate. But that's a lot of speed
:04:41. > :04:49.scrubbed off. I will be amazed if it's the anything like 1.28. It is
:04:50. > :05:00.still green. She lost a whole second but is 5Ks slower. This might not be
:05:01. > :05:04.green. Falls one gate from home. This is an incident-packed ladies
:05:05. > :05:11.downhill. We've only got one finisher from four starters. This is
:05:12. > :05:17.the error. Higher up. Look at her fighting to get back across into the
:05:18. > :05:34.compression, into the back seat. Can't fight it back to make the last
:05:35. > :05:42.gate. And Tippler is another DNF. Alice will be the next to go. Her
:05:43. > :05:55.best result of the season was 12th in the Val d'Isere back in December.
:05:56. > :06:07.Her compatriot Jacqueline Wiles is the only finisher. McKennis has the
:06:08. > :06:14.green light by two tenths. What is in store for her? Four tenths now.
:06:15. > :06:20.She has doubled her lead. She's out of shape and I think she must be
:06:21. > :06:26.skied out that. Top body was all twisted. She is indeed out of the
:06:27. > :06:33.track. Another one bites the dust here in Garmisch. Just here, runs
:06:34. > :06:38.wide. Gets in the soft stuff. Gets twisted. With the right shoulder
:06:39. > :06:44.going behind her there is no way she's going to carve that right ski
:06:45. > :06:51.back to make that gate. It is miles away. There is the hot favourite,
:06:52. > :07:03.Lindsey Vonn. Relaxed enough to be on her smartphone. Next up, Nadia
:07:04. > :07:19.Fanchini. Fourth in the second downhill of the season. Time is
:07:20. > :07:23.fine. But will she come into these pattern of gates too hot. She's run
:07:24. > :07:28.wide and is hit by the compression. She's out of shape, out of line.
:07:29. > :07:34.Drive it forward, on to that left ski. She's got the speed. Hard on
:07:35. > :07:42.that right ski to come across the hill. No problems for Fanchini. Can
:07:43. > :07:47.she keep it together here she's going be faster you would assume.
:07:48. > :07:56.Over a second faster! It is the line that's quick, because she's three Ks
:07:57. > :08:04.slower on the clock than Wiles. If she can negotiate these two gates we
:08:05. > :08:11.have a new leader, Nadia Fanchini! 1.46, that's a brilliant time.
:08:12. > :08:20.1.43.13 the time to beat. It was worth waiting for. Next is Lauren
:08:21. > :08:27.Ross. All the travel that comes with racing the World Cup is a blessing
:08:28. > :08:31.for Laurenne Ross. She will be focusing on the downhill and hopes
:08:32. > :08:36.to be snapped on the podium. Laurenne Ross of the United States
:08:37. > :08:44.the next to go. One World Cup podium to her name and that was on this
:08:45. > :08:48.hill, back in 2013, when she was second. Ross trying to keep those
:08:49. > :08:58.hands in front of her face as much as possible and it pays off. Finds
:08:59. > :09:04.nearly four tenths. She goes work in these tricky gates. Into the
:09:05. > :09:10.compression. Driving the weight forward. Slides them in. Now tries
:09:11. > :09:18.to make them bite. Does well, adds more to her advantage. 0. .47, the
:09:19. > :09:22.right side of the clock. The feed-back from the coaches on the
:09:23. > :09:28.side of the piste is working as the skiers get the right line in the
:09:29. > :09:34.hobble. 1.15.9. She runs little wide. That 0.3 might be under
:09:35. > :09:42.threat. Laurenne Ross trying to take the lead from Fanchini. Gets out of
:09:43. > :09:49.shape but she's OK. 0.36. 1.42.77 the total. Fanchini hasn't had a
:09:50. > :09:59.chance to make into it the leaders's enclosure but Laurenne Ross gets the
:10:00. > :10:04.applause from Jacqueline Wiles. Next is the Principality of
:10:05. > :10:09.Liechtenstein's Weirather wire. She is from ski-racing royalty. Her
:10:10. > :10:15.mother won two Olympic golds and her father was 1982 downhill world
:10:16. > :10:23.champion. Can she rule here and be crowned the victor? It's the winner
:10:24. > :10:31.from last year, Tina Weirather, who also podiumed here in 2013, when she
:10:32. > :10:42.was third. She is quick on the top, but this needs to be clean. It needs
:10:43. > :10:46.to be direct. Needs to be smooth. Weirather, hard on that left ski.
:10:47. > :10:51.Just about stays inside the blue line. She runs little wide and has
:10:52. > :10:57.to ski a few more metres, but she's got the green light before that
:10:58. > :11:03.little mistake. What is it going be like if she comes across the
:11:04. > :11:12.traverse before plunging down the finish. She has lost a little bit.
:11:13. > :11:19.Has to ski extra metres on that gate. 1.42.77 is under threat, but,
:11:20. > :11:24.no, that mistake cost her. Half a metre. 200ths the wrong side of the
:11:25. > :11:31.clock. She knows it was that gate four from home. A couple of small
:11:32. > :11:37.errors. That was the one that cost her the lead. Lara Gut of
:11:38. > :11:42.Switzerland, the next to go. The only skier other than Vonn to have
:11:43. > :11:48.won a downhill this season. She won in Val d'Isere when Vonn skied out.
:11:49. > :11:57.She is level peg ing with Laurenne Ross, our leader. What can Lara Gut
:11:58. > :12:03.do here through this tricky section? Never on the podium here. Never
:12:04. > :12:10.better than fourth. Gut hard on that left ski. She lost half a second
:12:11. > :12:14.between intermediate three and four. Can she get that back? Well, it is
:12:15. > :12:20.going be a very difficult ask. There is another... Oh, correction! She
:12:21. > :12:25.gets bumped out and the answer is no, she won't bring it back, because
:12:26. > :12:32.she's been bumped out of the track. She is still on course. Lara Gut,
:12:33. > :12:41.her heart will be racing. She'll be mighty relieved to get to the
:12:42. > :12:45.bottom. 0.89 off the pace. Didn't have her weight on that right ski
:12:46. > :13:00.coming into this turn, and was pushed out. Bang! Hits that roller.
:13:01. > :13:06.Can do nothing but go straight on. Ready to race is Larisa Yurkiw. She
:13:07. > :13:12.has a fair bit in common with the American number one. She suffered a
:13:13. > :13:18.severe near injury two years ago and trains extremely hard to stay in
:13:19. > :13:26.peak physical adoption. She has a dog. Larisa Yurkiw will want to be
:13:27. > :13:32.leader of the pack today. Next to go is Larisa Yurkiw. What a season the
:13:33. > :13:37.Canadian has been having. She's podiumed in the last three
:13:38. > :13:44.downhills. Yurkiw, nice and tight as she comes into this tricky pattern
:13:45. > :13:52.of gates. Almost gets pushed out of shape. Yurkiw just gets that right
:13:53. > :13:58.shoulder pushed behind. It clatters that gate. She's still got the green
:13:59. > :14:06.light but she's having to ski some extra metres. This is going be tight
:14:07. > :14:14.on the next time split, which is 1.28.36. She has still got the green
:14:15. > :14:20.light by 0.38. Not quite as quick as Laurenne Ross on intermediate five,
:14:21. > :14:24.but Yurkiw, can she take the lead away in 1.42.77, yes she can! She
:14:25. > :14:34.leads by 17 Hunts. Yes away in 1.42.77, yes she can! She
:14:35. > :14:40.leads by 17 Hunts. -- 17 00s. That got her a little late in the line.
:14:41. > :14:43.Late on this gate and then late on the double gate after that one.
:14:44. > :14:53.She's enjoying that. Next ago is Fabienne Suter, the
:14:54. > :14:58.Swiss racer has had a great season in the downhills, regularly making
:14:59. > :15:02.the podiums. When not racing she has been training to be a farmer. She
:15:03. > :15:07.will be hoping to bring home the bacon with a win today.
:15:08. > :15:14.Next up to Switzerland, Fabienne Suter. Had a great start to the
:15:15. > :15:22.season, and then Toure muscles just above her left knee -- tour a
:15:23. > :15:35.muscle. Good skiing here from Fabienne Suter. Now she comes into
:15:36. > :15:44.the compression. A little open. As a result has her lead cut to four one
:15:45. > :15:48.hundredths of a second. Doesn't look quite as fast as Larisa Yurkiw. We
:15:49. > :15:57.will find out now. A little open as well. It's working well for her.
:15:58. > :16:02.Exactly the same speed as Yurkiw. She needs to keep this together,
:16:03. > :16:16.Suter. This is going to be close. Can she snatched the lead away? Yes,
:16:17. > :16:29.she can. 0.29 of a second. Next up is the home favourite Viktoria
:16:30. > :16:40.Rebensburg. Now, what can Rebensburg do here? Cheered on by the home
:16:41. > :16:46.support. Tightest to that gate of our seeded skiers. Just outside now
:16:47. > :16:57.by three one hundredths of a second. Ooh, no. A little late. How will
:16:58. > :17:01.that manifest itself later on? Tentative through their, but still
:17:02. > :17:11.in touch. Four hundredths off the pace. A little wide, there. All
:17:12. > :17:18.these extra metres could add up. Here comes our final time split.
:17:19. > :17:22.Gets pushed out of the tuck position but she's in touch, the speed is
:17:23. > :17:27.pretty similar to Suter but it does not seem to be as direct from
:17:28. > :17:34.Rebensburg. Can she make the podium, can she take the lead away? Ooh, six
:17:35. > :17:41.one hundredths of a second. She goes second. Well, that's excellent from
:17:42. > :17:48.Rebensburg. Just got bounced out of the top spot, perhaps, before that
:17:49. > :18:01.final time split. Trying to get in the tuck position. Just gets popped
:18:02. > :18:12.out of it. Now Vonn. Last time out broke the record for most World Cup
:18:13. > :18:21.downhill wins for a lady. Matching up her 37th downhill win. How is she
:18:22. > :18:28.on this next split? 53.46, she's nearly half a second faster than
:18:29. > :18:40.Fabienne Suter. Our current leader. Vonn ripping it up once again. Now
:18:41. > :18:47.this key turn. Still leads by half a second. Needs to make this gate, no
:18:48. > :18:52.problem. Now how is she going to fare as she comes across the
:18:53. > :19:01.Traverse? Really bumpy, here. No problems for Vonn. And you fear for
:19:02. > :19:08.the time. This is phenomenal skiing by Vonn. She's nearly six kilometres
:19:09. > :19:17.faster than Fabienne Suter was. Vonn, surely, not another win? Ooh,
:19:18. > :19:22.one and a half seconds! 41 metres! Phenomenal! Absolutely sensational
:19:23. > :19:30.from Lindsey Vonn. This lady is absolutely unstoppable right now.
:19:31. > :19:34.But is different class -- that is different class. It is going to be
:19:35. > :19:39.another win for Lindsey Vonn, one and a half seconds faster than her
:19:40. > :19:48.closest rival, it is another masterclass from the world number
:19:49. > :19:54.one. Lindsey Vonn claims 76 World Cup race win. Fabienne Suter returns
:19:55. > :20:02.to the podium, her third podium of the season. For Viktoria Rebensburg,
:20:03. > :20:07.only her third podium of her career in downhill, and her thirst of the
:20:08. > :20:13.season. Lindsey Vonn winning by over a second half. She looked really
:20:14. > :20:19.relaxed. Dare I say it, she made it look easy. I know it is more
:20:20. > :20:23.complicated, Carol, what is the foundation to her success? Skiing is
:20:24. > :20:27.her happy place at the moment. She looks freest on the mountain and she
:20:28. > :20:31.is taking every box physically. Physically strong, no pain in her
:20:32. > :20:35.knee any more, and mentally she has the confidence to charge the top of
:20:36. > :20:40.the term, which few of her peers are doing. She has gone away and worked
:20:41. > :20:45.hard, so much so that she won a giant slalom this year. Combine that
:20:46. > :20:49.with the fact she is the Queen of speed and she is kind of invincible.
:20:50. > :20:53.You always talk about her with a huge amount of reference, there is a
:20:54. > :20:57.lot to be admired about her skill. I really love the power that she puts
:20:58. > :21:01.into her skiing. She's racing downhill on men's skis, which much,
:21:02. > :21:05.much stiffer, but if you can get them to bend at the top of the turn,
:21:06. > :21:10.that energy is released as acceleration at the end of the term,
:21:11. > :21:16.that's why she's so fast from Steve to fight. One of the things that is
:21:17. > :21:19.a slight difficulty is that men's skis have a longer radius and she
:21:20. > :21:23.has two setup from slightly further behind, so that is when she is
:21:24. > :21:28.honourable. That leads me onto quite a difficult question that I will put
:21:29. > :21:31.to you, is her overwhelming dominance of women's downhill
:21:32. > :21:34.diminishing the spectacle? I did think so, when Mike Tyson was
:21:35. > :21:39.knocking guys out in round one the crowd still turned up to watch. It's
:21:40. > :21:43.the same. People love to see a champion really at the top of their
:21:44. > :21:49.game. I think the French is almost invincible is actually getting more
:21:50. > :21:52.spectators into the sport. -- the fact she is most invincible. And
:21:53. > :21:55.don't forget she is fighting for winning. She had two knee injuries
:21:56. > :22:00.back-to-back and she has shown she is vulnerable, normal person. Well,
:22:01. > :22:05.redemption is always a popular story. Lindsey is still in demand
:22:06. > :22:09.even when we have a down week like this but the American still finds
:22:10. > :22:18.time to relax, especially now that she's got company on tour. Chemmy
:22:19. > :22:27.went to meet Lindsey and Lucy. This is Lucy, she is a cutie. Everyone
:22:28. > :22:32.wants to play. This thing about dogs, has it all ways been part of
:22:33. > :22:36.your life? Yeah. I got divorced and I was thinking about it, and then I
:22:37. > :22:41.got injured and I thought now was the time to get a dog. So I got Leo
:22:42. > :22:51.in Florida, he was a second-class dog in a shelter. He had a bad knee,
:22:52. > :22:59.so I thought, you was the one. How is Lucy going to get on with your
:23:00. > :23:04.other two dogs, who are big boys? This lady is absolutely unstoppable
:23:05. > :23:07.right now! So many times you have seen world-class athletes doing it
:23:08. > :23:10.because it is their profession not their passion, but you are very
:23:11. > :23:15.lucky because they are completely interconnected. Yes, skiing is my
:23:16. > :23:20.profession but it's mostly my passion. It's my happy place, it's
:23:21. > :23:24.where I go when everything else in my life is falling apart. It's
:23:25. > :23:27.always been there in my life. In my toughest times personally, there
:23:28. > :23:35.have been my greatest moments professionally. Because I just put
:23:36. > :23:40.everything into skiing. OK, can use it to me in? Lucy, there's a lot of
:23:41. > :23:45.other people who would like to be in there with you. There's a lot of
:23:46. > :23:49.elements to your skiing where the rest of the world can't keep up. For
:23:50. > :23:53.me what sets you apart from everyone is this commitment to the top of the
:23:54. > :23:58.turn, this commitment to speed, always searching for it, is that
:23:59. > :24:02.where you think your speed lies? I think that's definitely one of my
:24:03. > :24:05.biggest strengths, I am good at generating speed at the top of the
:24:06. > :24:10.turn. I think I'm just blessed with a good body type. I'm big enough to
:24:11. > :24:15.where I have the gravity working in my favour, but I'm small enough to
:24:16. > :24:20.where I can move my body quickly. I think it's a combination of talent,
:24:21. > :24:24.mental strength, hard work and just wanting to go fast. I never afraid
:24:25. > :24:29.to go fast. That's what I love about ski racing. Really it's just you and
:24:30. > :24:34.the mountain, you can go as fast as you want to go. I totally agree. You
:24:35. > :24:37.talked about body types, you look at you and the other girl on fire right
:24:38. > :24:45.now, Lara Gut. You are so different in that and it is so exciting to
:24:46. > :24:49.watch. How do you like standing next to her on the podium? It makes me
:24:50. > :24:54.feel really big! And I'm pretty normal. Watching you both ski, you
:24:55. > :24:57.take different lines, different tactics, and yet sometimes you can
:24:58. > :25:01.be within hundredths and tenths of a second within each other and I think
:25:02. > :25:05.that's where our sport is exciting. It's shocking how close it comes
:25:06. > :25:08.down to because we ski so differently and have such a
:25:09. > :25:12.different approach. Somehow we are not that far off each other. You
:25:13. > :25:17.have fans all across the world, is that pressure for you or does it
:25:18. > :25:22.inspire you? Know, I love it. For me it's really inspiring to know that I
:25:23. > :25:26.can positively impact people, especially little girls. That's what
:25:27. > :25:29.really motivates and drives me. When I know there's a lot of fans at the
:25:30. > :25:36.finish it makes me that much more excited to race. Starting to run out
:25:37. > :25:39.of superlatives! You are making history, every time you make the
:25:40. > :25:44.record there is always another record to get. I know. It's amazing
:25:45. > :25:48.to me that every race is another potential to break new records, it
:25:49. > :25:52.makes it really cool. Everybody keeps asking me if I am in the best
:25:53. > :25:56.shape of my life. I don't know, I'm not going to save my best, because
:25:57. > :26:00.who knows? I may have more and better things to come. The women
:26:01. > :26:06.have spent the weekend waiting and ultimately not racing here. The men
:26:07. > :26:14.had better luck with the weather in Japan. A stellar slalom field lined
:26:15. > :26:21.up at the World Cup. Here was the best of the action. All eyes were on
:26:22. > :26:28.Henrik Kristofferson. The 21-year-old Norwegian was making to
:26:29. > :26:36.make it five wins in a row. Even with his great rival Marcel Hirscher
:26:37. > :26:42.failing to make run one, it did not all go to plan for Henrik
:26:43. > :26:45.Kristoffersen. With poor visibility in the second leg he could not make
:26:46. > :26:50.up enough time to propel himself onto the podium. As the days riding
:26:51. > :26:54.of Great Britain, another positive day on the Hill.
:26:55. > :27:02.The 29-year-old coped far better with the conditions, making up five
:27:03. > :27:11.places to finish 22nd overall. Still a strong day for the Austrian team.
:27:12. > :27:21.They fill the void left by Marcel Hirscher's early departure. The
:27:22. > :27:27.group, sixth place was his best ever World Cup results. Schwartz scored
:27:28. > :27:33.his second podium finish in only his first full World Cup season. As for
:27:34. > :27:43.the winner, it looked as if it could finally be the German's day. He
:27:44. > :27:48.failed to convert the win. This time round he missed the podium by five
:27:49. > :27:52.hundredths of a second as he eventually finished in fourth place.
:27:53. > :28:02.He is yet to win a World Cup race. All was not lost for the Germans.
:28:03. > :28:08.Fifth after run one, he produced a clinical second leg to take his
:28:09. > :28:24.first slalom victory of the season. Confirmation of the final results.
:28:25. > :28:30.Big mountain riding is all about exploration, discovery and pushing
:28:31. > :28:38.the boundaries in some of the most extreme terrain.
:28:39. > :28:42.And for the past few years, one of the greatest free-riders
:28:43. > :28:45.at the pinnacle of his domain has been testing himself on the world's
:28:46. > :28:48.most extreme mountain ranges. His name is Xavier de le Rue,
:28:49. > :28:51.and last season I joined him and his team in Svalbard.
:28:52. > :28:53.There, I witnessed them testing out paramotors with the goal of scoping
:28:54. > :28:59.terrain and filming unridden lines in sub-zero conditions.
:29:00. > :29:08.But true to form, that was just phase one for this ambitious
:29:09. > :29:11.crew. Last season they sought out
:29:12. > :29:12.a location that would allow them to take their mission
:29:13. > :29:29.to the next level. The mountains in south-east Alaska.
:29:30. > :29:36.Remote, breathtaking, a blank canvas for Xavier and his team. He hoped to
:29:37. > :29:40.take unprecedented steps to big mountain riding by approaching this
:29:41. > :29:40.epic terrain in a way that's never been done before.
:29:41. > :29:47.epic terrain in a way that's never been done before. It is not just a
:29:48. > :29:51.sport. But it is an environment that's dangerous but at the same
:29:52. > :29:57.time rewarding. I think the challenges are to go further and
:29:58. > :30:02.explore. I'm excited about this trip because it's different. It is
:30:03. > :30:11.something that no-one has done. The possibilities are huge. Camping on
:30:12. > :30:16.top of Rainbow Glacier offers them the isolated beauty they crave, but
:30:17. > :30:22.at a cost. The challenge now is accessing these stunning peaks. All
:30:23. > :30:26.these new ideas we have involve logistics. We are a bigger crew,
:30:27. > :30:30.more money involved, more everything. More pressure at the end
:30:31. > :30:35.of the day. This is a big chunk of your winter. If it goes bad here,
:30:36. > :30:39.it's pretty bad. Necessity, as ever, is the mother invention and Sam and
:30:40. > :30:43.Xavier have a plan. They are not going to settle for just finding and
:30:44. > :30:48.filming their descent with paramotors. This time they want to
:30:49. > :30:56.use the paramotors to access the top. This Svalbard expedition proved
:30:57. > :31:03.that these motorised provider gliders can be used to hunt unseen
:31:04. > :31:07.lines. It has given them confidence, this technology opens up endless
:31:08. > :31:14.opportunities for riders and film makers. We are going in tandem to
:31:15. > :31:19.the top and jump off the top of the peak. I can see the excitement in
:31:20. > :31:25.your face when you talk about it. It is like a child's dream I think. It
:31:26. > :31:30.is something where you need to have all the stars well aligned. The idea
:31:31. > :31:36.of pioneering something so fresh left Ralph to join and strengthen
:31:37. > :31:39.their ranks in Alaska. I have never paramotored before. Sam and Xavier
:31:40. > :31:45.seem like they are into it pretty good. I have a lot of trust and
:31:46. > :31:51.faith in those guys, so if they say it is doable, I'm going to give it a
:31:52. > :31:57.shot. But together they've already faced plenty of set-backs. The
:31:58. > :32:02.mildest winter in decades scuppered their first-choice location. Then
:32:03. > :32:08.the weather prevented travel to an alternative glacier. A week ago it
:32:09. > :32:14.didn't seem like our trip would be much fun. I'm glad I can sit in a
:32:15. > :32:18.T-shirt on a glacier. If we can do it it will be amazing, but the
:32:19. > :32:22.challengeses are quite small. The up and downs of a trip like this is
:32:23. > :32:26.normal, I think. You involve a lot of people to do something that is
:32:27. > :32:31.special somewhere in a place that is so remote. It is clear that there
:32:32. > :32:34.are problems coming. Making it on to the glacier with an operation of
:32:35. > :32:41.this size is an achievement in itself. And as we bed down for the
:32:42. > :32:52.night, I'm apprehensive and eager to see what can be accomplished here.
:32:53. > :33:03.What's going on? Look at the space over there, it is all gone. The
:33:04. > :33:09.biggest peak? Yes, with all the spines. It is down to rock! Yes, it
:33:10. > :33:14.is crazy. As day breaks the damage is clear. All the rock exposed on
:33:15. > :33:18.that main peak, the snow has cascaded into the main glacier.
:33:19. > :33:26.That's terrifying, but so lucky en in as on it. In all my years on the
:33:27. > :33:31.mountain I never saw that much snow cleared in a minute during the
:33:32. > :33:37.night. The mountain is not solid. It is moving, it's living. You see it
:33:38. > :33:41.day by day faces falling down. Of course the avalanche danger is
:33:42. > :33:47.always present, but every minute you take decisions. If it is good to go
:33:48. > :33:51.or not. With snow conditions uncertain, any attempt at a drop is
:33:52. > :33:57.on hold. But the team decides to test the snow with an early hike.
:33:58. > :34:09.I've just crossed the glacier with an alpine start, 4.30, and we are
:34:10. > :34:16.heading up here to Rainbow Peak. The camera crew are getting ready down
:34:17. > :34:21.there, and a very intimidating crevasse field. Nearing the summit
:34:22. > :34:25.I'm reminded just how much effort goes into hiking these lines. If the
:34:26. > :34:36.paramotor plan works it would offer freedom here on a scale big mountain
:34:37. > :34:43.riders have only ever dreamed of. It is the scariest, deepest snow I have
:34:44. > :34:50.ever climbed. Have you got your lines, boys? I think so, yes. I
:34:51. > :34:55.can't lie, I was pretty nervous. My camera hand has got a shake on it.
:34:56. > :35:05.You don't want to show nerves in front of riders of this calibre.
:35:06. > :35:08.This is incredible. Tackling my descent I realise how effortlessly
:35:09. > :35:14.these guys ride the toughest of lines. And that's just the start of
:35:15. > :35:24.what they are hoping to create out here, with paramotors.
:35:25. > :35:31.The next morning we wait to perfect conditions, and the team are excited
:35:32. > :35:37.about the prospect of finally attempting a drop. To my knowledge
:35:38. > :35:40.it has never been done before. No-one's had the experience,
:35:41. > :35:53.expertise or courage to try this, and we are about to witness the
:35:54. > :36:00.first attempt. They are airborne. Wow! He's hanging out of the front
:36:01. > :36:08.of it! Looks like he's trying to get the bar out of the way. Cutting the
:36:09. > :36:14.motor. I think that's it for now. No drop yet. From the speed and
:36:15. > :36:19.altitude and everything it's perfect, but no chance to unstrap. I
:36:20. > :36:24.was hanging there. A nail-biting moment for Sam, but the guys remain
:36:25. > :36:28.hopeful. It was only a matter of time before conditions were right to
:36:29. > :36:33.try again. We've gone from zero to 100 in the last ten minutes. The
:36:34. > :36:39.weather window has popped out, so we are going up for attempt number two
:36:40. > :36:44.at the paramotor drop, this time though with Xavier. There's a
:36:45. > :36:50.palpable air of expectation amongst all the crew. No-one is saying
:36:51. > :36:57.anything. My heart is racing. Can't take my eyes off them. I don't know
:36:58. > :37:05.what happened, they've been going around for a second bite. To imagine
:37:06. > :37:18.what Xavier is unfeeling, unstrapped and hanging out of the front of
:37:19. > :37:23.it... They are taking another look. So close, you are just waiting for a
:37:24. > :37:30.black speck to fall out of the front. He's gone! He's out and
:37:31. > :37:48.riding! LAUGHTER. Wooh! That is
:37:49. > :37:55.unbelievable. It isn't often you get to witness a world first. They are
:37:56. > :38:09.queuing up behind us now. It's going to be a very entertaining afternoon.
:38:10. > :38:14.WOOH! The practical application of this and the way the boys can use
:38:15. > :38:18.this moving forward to access all of this terrain, to stop having to
:38:19. > :38:22.climb to be able to drop out if there's a flat section on a peak is
:38:23. > :38:29.huge. This changes the entire game for them now. Did it feel as good as
:38:30. > :38:33.it looked? Even better. It's crazy though. Just enough tension to
:38:34. > :38:38.really enjoy every moment of it. It's been such a long process over
:38:39. > :38:45.the last few trips, and today... Boom! I've had this idea and that
:38:46. > :38:51.moment he crops, everybody was near him. So good. Jumping from the
:38:52. > :38:56.paramotor was one of the magic moments of an entire life. This is
:38:57. > :39:01.what I like to do. I like to be out there, I like to adventure. This is
:39:02. > :39:07.the way I see happiness. Over the course of a year and two ex-me
:39:08. > :39:10.additions Xavier and Sam and their entire crew have been tested to
:39:11. > :39:14.their limits. But in doing so they've opened up a new world of
:39:15. > :39:18.possibilities for big mountain riding. They are an inspiring bunch
:39:19. > :39:24.to witness in action and I guarantee you it will be a long time before
:39:25. > :39:36.their achievements here are bettered. Awesome stuff. But the
:39:37. > :39:40.avalanche in that Alaska film shows how dangerous the mountains can be,
:39:41. > :39:45.particularly in the up this is year after we've had a lot of snowfall
:39:46. > :39:50.after heavy rain right to the top, which has created an unstable snow
:39:51. > :39:57.pack. The snow is adding weight to the snow layers, so it is more
:39:58. > :40:02.dangerous as the year goes on. Please stay safe out there. We
:40:03. > :40:06.thought we would start Ski Social by showing you how to stay safe
:40:07. > :40:10.off-piste. We will show you equipment you need and, crucially,
:40:11. > :40:13.the training you require to use it properly. With equipment there are
:40:14. > :40:23.three things you must carry. In some areas of the Alps it is illegal if
:40:24. > :40:29.you don't have these. First off is the transceirr, it will help you be
:40:30. > :40:33.located in an avalanche or locate your friends. And the probe, for
:40:34. > :40:37.locating the victim. And thirdly you need to practise this, good
:40:38. > :40:43.shovelling technique, as time is of the essence if you have a borrow rid
:40:44. > :40:47.casualty. If you are going to do a lot of riding off-piste, invest in
:40:48. > :40:55.an air bag. This will significantly reduce your chance of being buried.
:40:56. > :41:02.Can I have 12 euros to refill my bottle now? You owe me your life. If
:41:03. > :41:06.you are not confident or are going somewhere new, hire a guide. Not
:41:07. > :41:10.only will they keep you safe, but you will learn an invaluable amount,
:41:11. > :41:13.and they will take you to the best spots.
:41:14. > :41:16.Let's get to your pictures and videos.
:41:17. > :41:18.After last week's engagement, we've had some more -
:41:19. > :41:20.perfect for a show on Valentine's Day.
:41:21. > :41:22.So it's congratulations to Sean and Jorge, who have just got engaged
:41:23. > :41:25.in Les Arcs. And also to Peter, who popped
:41:26. > :41:30.the question to Anna in Soll, Austria.
:41:31. > :41:34.And finally to Davin, who rode to his ceremony before
:41:35. > :41:44.tying the knot with Anna in Levi, Finland.
:41:45. > :41:50.Talking of nuptials, Jane doesn't have any wedding tackle. We hope you
:41:51. > :41:53.are alright, Jane. Hope you're ok, Jane.
:41:54. > :41:56.Wherever you're riding, don't let a crash put you off -
:41:57. > :41:58.it's part of the game, as Freddie found out
:41:59. > :42:00.in attempting his first backflip. Speaking of which, we've
:42:01. > :42:03.had a question from JW, who wants to know how to go
:42:04. > :42:04.about attempting a backflip - says he's scared he'll
:42:05. > :42:10.land on his head. The back flip is one of the easiest
:42:11. > :42:15.tricks. All it takes is a lot of courage and commitment. Remember,
:42:16. > :42:19.the arms and the head will initiate the rotation, so commit with those
:42:20. > :42:24.and the body will follow. Don't hesitate, or you will land on your
:42:25. > :42:27.head. After that it is a matter of controlling the speed of the
:42:28. > :42:29.rotation. Lengthen your body out and you will slow down. Tuck up and you
:42:30. > :42:34.will speed up. Finally, after Alex Kilde's
:42:35. > :42:36.pre-release in Jeongseon last week, we've had a question
:42:37. > :42:38.on whether your time counts if you finish a race on one ski?
:42:39. > :42:45.Yes it does. You've got two skis and two poles.
:42:46. > :42:51.You can finish with three of them for your time to count. We couldn't
:42:52. > :42:57.resist showing you Bode Miller in the World Championships in 2005.
:42:58. > :43:03.He's lost a ski and he's gone! This is unbelievable. Is he going to
:43:04. > :43:04.finish on one ski? He's going for the edge.
:43:05. > :43:07.is unbelievable. Is he going to finish on one ski? He's going for
:43:08. > :43:13.the edge. He's got to be careful here. Let's see what he does on one
:43:14. > :43:21.ski for the speed gun. This should be interesting. 83.3 km/h.
:43:22. > :43:25.He didn't make it to the finish, but skied virtually the length
:43:26. > :43:28.of the course on one leg. Please keep sending in your
:43:29. > :43:35.questions, pictures and videos - you've got one programme
:43:36. > :43:38.left to get involved. We also want your suggestions
:43:39. > :43:39.for the music track to accompany our series-ending montage.
:43:40. > :43:42.Send your suggestions in using #SkiSocial.
:43:43. > :43:46.That's it for this week though. Next week, we're in Chamonix -
:43:47. > :43:48.Europe's capital of extreme sport. And home this year to the historic
:43:49. > :43:49.Khandahar races, including the men's downhill.
:43:50. > :44:13.See you then. Join us on a high-flying,
:44:14. > :44:20.sponge-diving, olive-picking, gun-toting epic odyssey
:44:21. > :44:25.through paradise.