Chamonix Ski Sunday

Hello and welcome to Chamonix, this weekend, this is the venue for the

fastest men on the mountain. They will be racing in the shadow of Mont

blanc and the home fans will be cheering on the French team. But the

origins of the Kandahar ski race started on the other side of the

channel. The British love affair with sport goes back centuries. Our

country's passion for rules and regulations is just as timeless.

Skiing was not so much a sport as a means of getting around. That was

before the British tried it and loved it. Soon, the Kandahar Ski

Club had written the rules of two new disciplines, slalom and

downhill. In 1931, the first-ever skiing World Championships took

place. The rule book was written by the British and British names were

entered into the history books. It was an enrichment, Sir Arnold Love,

who persuaded the Olympic Committee to accept ski racing into the

competition schedule. But then, the Alpine nations had mastered the

British rules and make the sport their own. We might have written the

rule book, organise the committee and taken the minutes but

unfortunately, British names were absent from the Hall of Fame. But we

didn't turn our back on snow. Giving up, that is just not British. We

have challenged the establishment. We have tasted glory only to have it

cruelly taken away. And for better or worse, we do love it. British

athletes have never been content to make up the numbers and now, they

are contenders. After all, London to the Alps is not that far and when we

get here, we have proved we can flourish. Once British sport was all

about writing the rules and making sure the athletes blazers fitted.

Now, things are a little different. Now there is a new generation of UK

talent who have the backing and potential to write their names in

the history books. Chamonix of course has a heritage

all its own. The first host of the Winter Olympics in 1924. It is a

regular stop for the World Cup and the freeride world tour. Which make

our features this week more appropriate. After the racing we

have a report from the winter youth Olympics in Lillehammer. Jenny Jones

has caught up with our British gold medal winner. New champion, Madi

Rowlands. Well done. How does that feel? I am so happy. And we bring

you the incredible story of Britain's best big mountain is no

border, Sascha Hamm, his journey from London to the freeride world

tour has been a very colourful one and it includes the most terrifying

thing that can happen to any skier or snowboarder. I am dead. Hello.

No. That really does send shivers down your spine. Thankfully, his

powerful story has a happy ending. First, it is time for the downhill

in Chamonix. The race bears the name, the Kandahar, a town in

Afghanistan, how did the two come to share a name? It started with the

Kandahar Ski Club which was founded in Murren, his main benefactor was

the Earl of Kandahar, a British military commander. They started

racing in Murren and then to St Anton, and then it went on the road

to Sestriere, garnish and Chamonix. This is a classic stop of the

Kandahar ski race. How do you know so much? I am a member of the

Kandahar Ski Club and I trained there as a kid. The French have a

rich ski racing heritage, it was the French is set up the World Cup along

with the American, Bob Beattie. Jean-Claude Keeley took the first

two World Cup titles but not since Luc Alphand have they had an overall

title winner. That was back in 1997, although France have a large chunk

of the outs, it is a small proportion of their country so ski

racing is a minority sport. You compare that to Switzerland or

Austria, it is their number one sport. That is why they are able to

put more investment in it. The French do have strength in depth and

could produce an overall winner. The best shot recently has been Alexis

Pinturault. Could the winner be a Frenchman? Guillermo Fayed, the

group upon this mountain and he knows it like the back of his hand.

He has the skill set to do well on this course but the surprise could

come from anywhere. Steven Nyman is a good shout, big and strong and

smooth on his skis. Guillermo Fayed looked incredibly relaxed. That is

what you need on this course. Eight glittering list of previous winners,

who can join Schranz, Kuszczak, Gra. COMMENTATOR: Getting chucked about

all over the place. Can he take first position? Yes. Before the

racers tackle this Kandahar course, it is time for me to take a closer

look at it. A little bit of snow falling, at the start there are a

couple of little turns that you need to stay high on. And just work the

speed, we are heading down towards the first jump. This first jump, you

still need the right gear to get up in the air. This is the passage

Eriksson. Setting up for the rush a blanc. It is important to delay this

term, you have to wait and then get hard on that ski. Quite rough and

bumpy over the little road. You need good direction back. Don't want to

miss that gate. Over the next jump. This is so important, you need to

carry the speed out onto the flat. Try and carry maximum speed. Towards

the road jump. You have to jump away a little bit here. And it is the

fastest part of the course, close to the finish line, it is quite icy

here. And then you cross the line. A lot of gliding on that course and

the new snow in the middle section is slowing it down ever so slightly.

That is why it is so crucial to carry speed out of the blanc and

over that jump. That is where the race will be decided. Over the Max

Chilton for commentary. COMMENTATOR: Midwinter in the shadow of mighty

Mont blanc and the crowd are out in force for the Kandahar race. We are

set for the ninth World Cup downhill of the season. An explosive start

from the man in yellow. A flat, like today, that was a clumsy looking

jump by the Canadian. Last time he raced here was back in 2012, he was

stretchered off the mountain with a broken leg. He needs to put that out

of his mind and focus on the high-speed work ahead. Looking

pretty good so far. But currently do in the finish, the Austrian, and

Osborne parody as he comes through. He comes through in good shape. 16

hundredths off the pace now. His next bit, 1.44.43, he has an

advantage of one hundredth of a second and he is the fastest man on

amount in. 117 K pH, absolutely tearing down. Final turn, has he

done enough to lead? He has got it, he is into first for Canada. The

Canadians have a happy history on this course and he really attacked

on the top part. But little roll out of the start catching him

off-balance and throwing him onto the tales of the skis but he was

attacking the top section. What he does really well is the glide,

picking up a lot of time after that road jump to the finish. An early

marker set by the Canadian. Next up, Steven Nyman, the veteran American

has notched up three World Cup downhill wins and is looking to the

future, hoping to leave a legacy block -- beyond his racing career.

He works for a charity that gives underprivileged kids the chance to

try snow sports. Can he make child's play of the Chamonix slopes? Steven

Nyman of American, still pushing after 100 metres. Still involved

with his ski poles in the snow. The leader from Canada, he is faster. He

just missed a medal at the Alpine world skiing Championships last

year. He finished fourth behind the medal winners. Getting bounced

around, tough to see where he is going in the flat light, no real

definition on the high part of the course. Visibility slightly easier

on the bottom half. 0.23, beautiful jump there from Steven Nyman.

Absolutely rock-solid in-flight. Now, he opens up a wide stance,

cutting through the air effectively. Through the forest and Nyman looks

to be in good shape here. Steven Nyman, 11th place in the World Cup

downhill standings coming into this event. Looking for a decent finish

for the season. Look at this, 0.69 in front. The Canadian's lead is

under threat from Steven Nyman from Utah. Coming towards the road jump,

this could be a crucial part of the course. He needs to get this right,

long flight, soft and gentle on landing. Then there is one tight

turn towards the finish which has caught a few of them out. Nyman

needs to take it early, he tucks involve a line, Nyman leads the way

for the USA, by eight tenths of a second. My tip for a surprise

winner, Steven Nyman putting down an impressive run. So loose and relaxed

on his skis, there was one section where he was going through the

middle part of the course where he made this incredibly smooth

transition. He takes an enormous amount of risks by staying so

relaxed and a brilliant glider. Absolutely great on the flats. Next

up is Dominik Paris, when he is not competing, he is the front man of a

death metal band. Rather in keeping with his all out racing, he will

hope he is pitch perfect on the slope and he will be singing a

victory song in Chamonix today. Dominik Paris, the big Italian, what

a powerful start, goodness me. You will never see anyone except the

start faster and with more determination than that. He is

without a World Cup win this season. Went well in the two training runs,

looking quite sharp. He is faster than Nyman at the first checkpoint.

Now he needs to set up and negotiate these this turns. Ard on the left

ski and then hard on the right. Standing tall and negotiating the

next jump on the next exit. On his way. Down towards the forested part

of the course where visibility is a little more straightforward. Just

three hundredths in front. Off onto the glide.

Rock solid in flight. Total commitment to this course so far for

Dominik Paris of Italy. The Italians have had a good season across the

board, in both the men's and the women's world Cup tour. 1: 43.

22 hundredths of a second. Bottom part of the course to come.

Visibility difficult here. Can he negotiate this final turn? It looks

good. Paris leads in France and that will take some beating.

When you see Dominik Paris warming up in the start area you have to

realise he's a big guy. He's strong enough to carry that extra weight

and that is what helped him glide along the flat. It is not just about

that, he's very smooth on his skis. That is what makes him such a good

glider, what makes him really fast on a course like this.

Adrien Theaux on his way for the French team, looking for early

speed. Has been a winner already this season. He took round four of

the world Cup tour at the end of December in Italy. This is a good

start. December in Italy. This is a good

The crowd are seeing this on the big screen, down in the village and they

are starting to get behind Adrien Theaux.

Hugely talented downhiller. Let's see if he

Hugely talented downhiller. down here today.

Good on the way in. Smooth on the exit. Stays within the

blue racing lane, which is adding a certain contrast and definition to

the race's visibility in Chamonix today.

He's lost a bit of time on the glide. Now Adrien Theaux needs to

just claw back a couple of tenths to give himself a chance of a podium.

Off the road jump, which has been built up artificially to add to the

spectacle of the Kandahar Downhill. Theaux cannot beat - he is third for

the moment. 1.15 slower than the Italian.

Ready to race is Guillermo Fayed. The local favourite is having a

great season, despite the setback of someone making off with his ski

boots. Luckily an eagle-eyed commentator spotted the thief

wearing them on the mountain. Guillermo Fayed, from right here in

Chamonix. He grew up racing on these slopes and his friends and family

are here, making a huge amount of noise at the bottom of the course.

They are encouraged because Fayed set the fastest time in the first

training run, held on the mountain on Wednesday.

Potentially a sign of good things to come. Guillermo Fayed - fifth in the

World Championship. Downhill last season. Fifth in the World Cup

downhill standings. Third season. Fifth in the World Cup

classic before Christmas. In pretty good shape so far. Very much in

touch here. 0.34 down. He's closed the gap by another eight hundred

dretds -- hundredths. Fayed was particularly sharp on the bottom of

the mountain. Needs to replicate that on race down. Lands softly and

gently and sets infor the running to home. Last couple of homes. It will

be close. Oh, he's third for the moment.

Very good from the local boy. Great gliding position. You can tell he

knows every inch of this course. Ran slightly wide on that last turn.

That is when he dropped a couple of tenths. He was challenging for

second, but now he's down in third. Fill off and running. A smooth start

for the veteran Italian. 700ths of a second off the pace of Paris.

If he never wins another race, he will always be remembered for

conquering the strife in mid-January.

Off on to the flied here in Chamonix. He needs to pick up points

if he is to mount a serious challenge for the downhill title for

2016. He's in touch here. 26 hundredths off the time of Dominik

Paris. Now we hundredths off the time of Dominik

of the course. Just over half a second for Fill to find. He

approaches the road jump and the final tricky turn, where some have

discovered trouble, Peter Fill is on course for a top five. Stands hard

on the left ski. Has to steer clear of the final control gate. Dives

inside that and Peter Fill is fourth for Italy. 0.89 off the pace. Next

is The lightingen Ball. He claims playing golf is vital in his

rehabilitation. Now he's off the golf course he will hope there's no

bogeys here for him and that lightning strikes with victory

today. Chasing the time of Dominik Paris

here. His strength and confidence grows

after coming back from injury, race by race. Lots of Swiss fans here.

Down on to the Swiss side only an hour's drive from the Chamonix

valley. So plenty of Swiss supporters have made the journey and

they may well be remembered because remembered Beat Feuz is storming

downhill. Beat Feuz needs to be in the hunt.

He's pushing for a podium place here.

Twenty one hundredths off the pace. That could deny Guillermo Fayed, who

sits in place for the host nation, France. I a am not sure he'll beat

Paris, but he will come close. Beat Feuz towards the final section. A

little twitch there. Has he done enough? He's on the podium in third.

A bit of a grown in the finish area as Beat Feuz knocks the favourite

off the podium. Beat Feuz comes in to take third.

Unlucky for Guillermo Fayed, the local boy, who was pushed down to

fourth place. You are having a great weekend here

in Chamonix. What do you like about the course so much? I don't know. A

good speed on the course and it's not so easy to bring it on the flats

and that's what I did today and I'm happy. What are the skills you need

to ski well on this course? In Chamonix you need to execute the

top, which is the technical section and carry all that speed on the

flat. I thought I nailed it, but Dominik nailed it. He's a big boy. I

am 100kgs, he's probably 105. Steven Nyman says that you have a little

bit extra weight than he does and that's what made the difference?

Maybe. A lot of weight here. Very possibly.

The World Cup took place in Italy. Vonn did secure the downhill title

with her second place on Saturday, behind the surprise winner of Italy.

In the freestyle World Cup test event in South Korea Britain's Katie

Almerod finished fourth. In the ski slopes Katie Sumerhayse finished

sixth. The winter youth Olympic Games has seen some excellent

results for British athletes, including gold.

There was bronze in the women's monobob.

In freestyle skiing Addy Rowlands had bronzed in the slopestyle.

No matter how different the discipline, all athletes are linked

by their need for an adrenaline fix, to seek out thrills every day life

cannot supply. Outside this action-packed world things can be

surprisingly different, as Ed has been finding out.

It is the middle of January in London, probably the last place you

would expect to find Britain's best mountain snowboarder. This is where

you will find Sascha Hamm, Monday to Friday, 9-5.

Hello. How are you? Ed, you are too early. We are trying to work. If you

can come back in like three hours. No!

I was expecting your suit. A tie and a jacket.

Have you ever seen me so smart? No. Exactly. We are like an estate

agent, but like clients who want to invest, not in stocks and shares,

but to buy a property. It is incredibly serious. Not really. This

is a side of you I have never seen after 20 years. We did a season back

in 2000. Are you tried it. You failed. I managed it. But... So much

I want to ask you about. I want to get stuck into these guys first. I

want to talk to them. OK. Do you know what Sascha Hamm does in

his spare time? I believe he's famous, isn't he? He does some

extreme sport. I have seen some videos on YouTube after having

googled his name. How much did you know about what he

had done in snowboarding terms then? Not much. I mentioned his name to a

friend who went to university and he was like, oh, my God, you work with

him! I was like, what, you are joking. Like idealising him. I was

like, no, no, he's not like that. When he decided to go back to

snowboarding was it a concern for you? First of all the free ride I

was told that was going to be a one-off, which is why I agreed he

could leave the office on a Thursday night and come back on a Monday.

This has been going on for three years now. So, yeah. Do you think

there's an end in sight for the adrenaline side of him? No. The

transformation is complete? It is final.

Off to the mountain. See ya! Bye! How do you separate office life

and snowboard life? At the moment, what I have done is I have managed

to separate it. I have four days work. I think I am more productive

and have a weekend of three days, not spending it in London and then

you can switch off. Of course when you come back into the office on

Monday you are fully prepared to get back to work. In six times of winter

you have to transition from the office into an elite snowboarding

contest. You are talking about snowboarding competitions. I dodo

this every weekend. This is from mid-December all the way through to

June. I thought I would take you to the home of the free world ride

tour. You were one of the first British

rider who got an international contract. You were the most

naturally talented of our generation of snowboarders and you pretty much

turned your back on it? I want to be a snowboard professional. I did five

seasons in the Alps and then after that won the British Championships

and that got me a bit of money to start what I really always wanted to

do, which was to become a Formula One driver.

I wept to a racing school in the UK, in Silverstone, but it was manic

with the amount of money you have to put into it. Snowboarding is with

?10,000 you have the best season ever. With motor racing with

?100,000 you hardly scrape through. What was your nickname? Sacha the

crasher! I did have a couple of incidents, but that is the way you

learn: You have to push the limits and see how far you can go. You did

decide to go back to competing. You did have free ride proper. You made

a splash, didn't you? I had a very good run, I was quite

happy. For me, it then went downhill. You pulled it back in

Alaska, one of the best runs of the day? Alaska was good fun, it had

loads of powder, one of the best events we have had. You have been

pretty much Europe -based, the first time you were there? Europe is

accessible, you do not have rules, you have to take your own

responsibility into your own hands. That leads us into one of the most

spectacular avalanche survival stories on record. You saw this

space that lead into complete no man's land, my friend got turned

around and me being stubborn, decided to keep on going.

I was about five feet under the snow, I was stuck in their and I

thought that was it. Luckily I had a very big air pocket on the right

side of my body and my phone was literally in the right pocket. Yes,

yes. I called my friend, I navigated him to roughly where I was and said

if I could hear them getting louder, tell them and that is how they ended

up pinpointing me. I have never heard anyone surviving past and our

really, let alone two hours. You'll agree usually guys suffocate. I got

really lucky, learned my lesson, don't go riding on your own and the

most important one is don't go riding when you are very tired. You

look back and you are not 40 yet and you have done a huge amount. Is

there anything you still have to do? For me, snowboarding, I am in my

30s. But for me it is about enjoyment still. When you are in

London, you basically wake up and go into work and you are stuck on the

tube, being out on amount in, you are free. Snowboarding has always

been about being out there with friends and doing things where after

you have done your run, or you have climbed that peak, it fulfils you.

Sascha Hamm with an unconventional route to the top of his sport. It is

something that former chalet girl and Olympic bronze medallist Jenny

Jones can relate to. This week she has been with some athletes who have

had their pathway to a leaked level competition mapped out from an early

age, at the winter youth Olympics in Lillehammer.

The Winter Olympics two years ago was one of the best experiences of

my life. She has done it. It wasn't just winning a bronze medal at the

Olympics, it was more about being part of a team and representing my

country. What an amazing opportunity for 16 young GB athletes to get a

taste of what is potentially to come. I am heading to Oslo to watch

the half pipe because I read you want to see Madi Rowlands in action,

she is only 15 and is already making waves in freestyle skiing. This is

the first summer I have seen the half pipe and it is not for the

faint-hearted. They are definitely going to have to hold their nerves

in this contest. There she is, go on. She is safe.

Yes. Maddie just put it down, lovely 540 and a brilliant 720.

I am Alexei to the year, I don't know why. The champion, Madi

Rowlands. Well done. How does that feel? I am so happy. What does this

event mean to you? Everything, I am so happy. You have to phone your

mum. Back in Lillehammer, I am going to meet Adam Pinky Lee, the shifter

mission and find out what he hoped the athletes take from this. First

we are here to compete but also learn. They get to see the guys in

Team GB and see how the system works. They understand the limbic

village, dining room and the accreditation you need to go

everywhere. Not just to watch each other in competitions but watching

training and supporting one another. The older ones are looking after the

younger ones. Some of the boys are giving it lots of this as they

normally do. It has been great to see them work together and support

one another. Do you think many of them will make it onto the Olympics

from the standard you are seeing? I hope so, we talked about the youth

games being part of a journey. Most of them are on the early path to

their journey and hopefully that will finish in the Olympic Games and

hopefully on the podium. It might not but that is what I want them to

aspire to. I will check out buying the scenes in the Olympic Village

area with Jasmine and Ian who will show me around, shall we say how

dirty your rooms are? This is the girl 's room with four

bunks, is it cramped or OK? It is very cramped but it is fine. I have

to mention there is a medal hanging off of one of the beds, has it been

hanging there ever since? It has been everywhere, in a few cupboards,

bags. And you are the most messy? LOUD APPEALS

Yes, definitely. This reminds me so much of Saatchi. Have you got

different future aspirations for your career? For me it is a stepping

stone between standard international races and the senior Olympics. After

having done this, I am keen to go to the Olympics. The Olympics in Korea

in two years but more realistic is six years in Beijing. Would you like

the next one? I think Beijing is more realistic, it is definitely a

stepping stone and I do think it is achievable. I love that the guys get

to meet with athletes from all the different countries and sports but

also keen to compete and beat them when it matters. A great atmosphere

at the Alpine and now we have Yasmin in the giant slalom.

She was coming out of the start, I hope she's not too nervous. Oh no, I

don't know what happened, she is not actually finished the machine must

have either crashed or missed a gate. How did it go? I tried to be

as aggressive as possible and really go for it. I didn't want to go to

the games and feel like I could have done more, I gave it everything. I

am fine with coming out because I know I was trying my hardest. How

has the experience been in the last few days? A bit of a roller-coaster,

today didn't go as well, but I did get a couple of personal bests in

the super combine so I am happy with that. It has been so good to come to

the event and meet these guys, they have a real team spirit amongst

them. Surely it is a great thing for them to experience the highs and

lows of Olympic competition. Off the back of that gold in Lillehammer, it

seems appropriate to start the last Ski Social of the season celebrating

all of the young British talent in snow sport. We have accumulated

quite a show your this week. That has been added to this week by

ill of Ella and 10 euros Martha and Meyer. And seven-year-old Oscar who

has the look of his old man about him. Sadly he has inherited my

flailing arms. Talking about men, Graham did a course run here using a

360 camera with some incredible footage, if you want to check it

out, go to the BBC sport Facebook page. Nicola has worked out a way of

filming himself through three of the Dixie degrees off piste, you do have

to ski powder. It looks a little gangland style. Talking of South

Korea, Jamie Nicholls has been testing out the new slopestyle

course ahead of the Olympics. I guarantee you one thing, there will

be far more rotations in that run. Before we go, we have time for a

couple of questions. The first one from Dave Blackwell, he wants to

know, in freestyle, who is pushing the boundaries more, skiers or

snowboarders? 2009-2012, free skiing was leading the charge but since Lee

Morgan landed the quad court, it has gone back to the snowboarding court.

On a similar note, another cheeky question from a certain Tim Warwood,

he wants to know what is better, skis or snowboard? I think what he

is actually asking is will we have a fight? I have a snowboard in the

back of my car and you don't have any skis. I know lots of skis or

snowboard but not any snowboarders who ski, what does that tell you?

Allen snowboarders it is easier than skiing. Skiers have more fun, it is

more graceful and expressive. Power is nothing without control. This

could go on forever and I do not want to end on a confrontational

note. Use whatever vehicle you want on a mountain, just enjoy

yourselves. I'm afraid that is it for this show and this season.

Another incredible winter and what better way to to celebrate than a

rousing highlight montage. Thank you Karen McDougal for selecting the

music and for watching this evening everyone, see you next year.

Yellow macro hi. This year we got given the opportunity to try

something bigger and better. First time ever I ended up first.

Wow, Jamie Anderson is untouchable. A lot of other people would like to

be in there with you. What happens if you've done the

calculation is wrong. Then someone might get their head chopped off.

What a season riding has had. Gone. That is unbelievable. It is a world

first. Aksel Lund Svindal absolutely burning it down. A brilliant second

run, he has got it, Henrik Kristoffersen is first for Norway.

This lady is absolutely unstoppable. Peter Fill skiing for the lead. I

told you that was worth it, awesome stuff.

'I think he was being nudged there by Moreno.

'Mahrez kept control of the ball, looking for Vardy,