Episode 1 Ski Sunday

We're back with a bang, and 2016 looks like being another thriller.

All we need is the weather to play ball.

Stubbornly mild. Cold air. After one of the warmest winters on record,

timely freeze is upon. There is storm brewing. It brings with it the

anticipation of battles to be had, lines to be drawn, record is to be

set and broken. However, before at the competitive turbulence rocks,

there is peace, they can before the storm. Even in the midst of the

Tempest, there is quiet. In the eye of the storm, we are all around it

is noise and distraction, and I is called unwavering focus, that is the

athletes' greatest ally. One false move, the slightest misjudgement and

you're caught in the storm. Overcome by a force of nature, too great

divide, no option but to ride it out. Lindsey Vonn crashes. Weather

the storm and you can come back triumphant, beat the odds. For some,

the storm clouds will have a golden lining. Very, very special. El Nino

can have a big effect on the weather patterns around the globe. As this

storm closes in, we have the added intrigue of 2016 being an El Nino

year, which brings with it are predictable and predictability. I

suggest we lead the -- leave the forecasting to the experts and hold

onto our hats, are helmets, and enjoy the best of what Winter has to

throw at us. We will have to wait and see exactly how things pan out.

We start the season in Adelboden for the men's slalom.

The giant slalom here was cancelled yesterday due to rain.

However, it's not about precipitation,

it's about perspiration for the technicians

Later in the show, Chemmy Alcott is in Zauchensee for the women's

downhill with a difference, a sprint race held over two runs.

Tim Warwood gets an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the graft,

craft and creativity behind Jamie Nicholls' latest viral video.

And we'll bring you the inspiring story of Jody Blatchley,

a man who refuses to let disability get in the way

Before that, it's our feature race from Adelboden,

Racing against the established elite of the likes of Hirscher,

Neureuther and Kristoffersen is our very own Dave Ryding,

and as Graham's been finding out, the Lancashire lad is having

A brilliant 12th place for Ryding. That is his best World Cup finish.

It is 13th, the Britain is in the form of his life. What has made the

difference this year, because you have made that breakthrough and your

scoring top 15 World Cup results? It is a continuation of what I have

been doing over the years, nothing special, just keep working. The

federation has given me support, I have got my own servicemen. It is an

accumulation of things, performing better, my coach having another year

of getting his theories across Damien Kelly working on things and

progressively getting better. Looking to perfect your technique,

what do you have to do to get better? I am trying to match up my

turns. My left fitted turn is getting better. It still needs work.

That is what I have been working on last summer. Just so I can carry

that extra fraction of the second over a few gates. You have a few

busy weeks coming up. We have addled Bowden, Kitzbuehel, what are you

looking forward to the most? -- Adelboden. The amount of fans that

turnout, the passionate Swiss and Austrian fans. It will take some

good scheme to get results. Have you gained the experience to say, I know

what this piste is going to throw at me? Yes, you know what to expect,

where the difficult places are, and how to approach the race. It has

taken a few years for me to learn, but now I am a better skier and I

have that experience. How far up the rankings can you go? It is hard to

say. If I keep improving, you never know. My goal this season was to

make sure that I finished the season in the top third. Last June I was

31st. So far it is going well, I am 15th, but that can change in the

blink of an eye. I have got to focus on myself. Conditions have been very

warm. Are you going to alter your skiing of the course gets really

ratted on the first run? If that happens, you have to change your

line and approach. If you go to straight, you will not survive long.

It is deep and long, the piste at the bottom. You never know what

you're going to get, you have to be adaptable. We will take it from

there when I see it in the morning. You will be starting from 25, how do

you see the race running? I will hope to get into the top 30 and I

hope to get the clean course in the second round. I will attack the

second run. Dave seems to have kicked on again

after a really strong Yes, he has really stepped up

another level with his top 15 results, 12th and 13th so far this

season. Olympic medals, podiums on the horizon? One step at a time

because -- but if you can produce consistent results in the top 15, he

will start in the top 15. Start number is a portent in slalom

because it gives you a clean track and you can shoot for the podium.

The atmosphere is starting to charge. Livestock about the arrays.

Who will be vying for the top spot? There are three big players. We have

had three big slaloms this season, and it has been Kristoffersen and

they sure. Everyone else is racing for third place. Who will win? We

could be in for a surprise with the softer conditions. It could be

someone like Felix Neureuther. Maybe the Kristofferson- here sure

stranglehold will be broken. You need to make your way to commentary.

This is the Adelboden slalom, and it is time for the first runs in the

rain. Wonderfully controlled slalom skiing. Ryding is ready to race for

Great Britain. No, he has skied out. Yes, he has done it. A drop in

temperature overnight in addled Bowden so snorer place rain this

morning. After the giant slalom cancellation yesterday, the crowd

were relieved to see the first Arter in the start hut. Khoroshilov laid

down an impressive time that would prove him possible to beat. Last

year's when, Stefano Gross, found himself with almost a second to make

up if you was to decline -- defend his Adelboden title. The German duo

struggled. The Swedes, normally so strong and slalom did not fare so

well. One skier missed the gate, and another lost the ski. Predictably,

as the piste cutup, the higher numbers struggled to cope with the

lumps and bumps on the Chuenesbargli. Skiing 25th, Dave

Ryding produced a solid run, minimising mistakes but struggling

in the worsening conditions, leaving the Lancashire racer frustrated in

the finish area, with a nervous wait to see if he would make the top 30.

The closest challenger to Khoroshilov where the two

favourites. The World Cup leader Henrick Kristoffersen made a big

mistake that may have cost him the chance of taking the lead. They are

both close to the leader, Khoroshilov, setting things up

nicely for an exciting run two. Business as usual for the big bands,

Khoroshilov, he showed an Kristoffersen occupying the top

three spots. The second runs are run in reverse order so Khoroshilov has

the luxury of going last. Dave Ryding qualifying safely. Graham has

the commentary. Dave Ryding, an excellent start to the season with a

12th place in Val d'Isere. The last race was in Santa Caterina. He is

fifth on the second run, and building on his league, the current

leader in the finish is Luca Aerni from Switzerland. Hero saved a

massive cheer as he came to the finish. Let's hope the Dave Ryding

can silence the Swiss crowd. Good on the flat, good at generating speed,

but he just slipped a little bit of time away. There was a slight sheen

at the finish. It needs to be clean and precise on these turns. Close on

the gates. Getting pushed too far forward. Over the tips. .41 away

from the Swiss racer. Ryding will have to let fly now. That is a good

run from Dave Ryding, not quite good enough to take the lead. Fifth place

for a Ryding. He lost a lot of time over the last few turns. A shake of

the head for the British racer. Ramon Zomer Lucerne from

Switzerland. The first after the first run. -- Zenhaeusern. A tall,

rangy skier. Here's a little and gamely. His personal best in slalom

is 19th. Looking to improve. He has a good chance of improving today. He

is working some incredible angles. He is bending down that big frame,

bending law. No into the steep. He needs to keep it under control, good

coming through the and gate. He said since our top high. That is a good

line on the steep. He just got knocked out and had to apply the

pressure hard. It could be good enough for the lead. It is going to

because. It is the lead for Switzerland. Ramon Zenhaeusern. A

brilliant second run. That is going to be the best race of his career so

far. Manuel Feller, from the towel in Austria. 23 years old. A good

season, he was fourth in Val d'Isere in the giant slalom this year. Now

is his chance in slalom. He is the currently do, the young Swiss

leader, Ramon Zenhaeusern. -- the current leader is the young Swiss

racer. He is building on his advantage. Able to carry speed over

the flat part of the course. In Adelboden, it is so important to

work the terrain. He has set it up high, and he can use that to his

advantage. They can let the skis run down. He has lost some of his lead.

The crowd are gasping. It will because. Is Austria going to take

the lead from Switzerland? No, yes. .07 seconds. Manuel Feller silences

the Swiss crowd. Last year's winner, Stefano Gross. He is from the

German-speaking part of Italy. His maiden victory, his only World Cup

victory, was here last season. He loves this course and he is building

on his lead. Just on the absolute edge of control as he went through

that gate. So important to attack the top part of the course, get the

speed of these little rollers. Stefano Gross loves this hill. The

current leader, Manuel Feller, at the finish. Stefano Gross comes onto

the prettily steep finish pitch. These are good times. He is relaxed

and Smith. He was a little late in the line. It is going to because.

Has he done enough? I think he has dropped a little bit of time. He is

just inside. I could not call that. I knew he had made a mistake. I did

not know which side it was going to end up on, but it ended up green by

.02 seconds. In the start hut is Felix

Neureuther, the cat likes to remain positive. This Christmas he took to

social media to encourages fans to make the most of the mild weather

and attend to their lawns. In the snow of Adelboden, will it be the

competition that Felix cuts down to size?

Bronze medallist in the World Championships and bailed last

season. 11 World Cup victories to his name, including a giant slalom

win here. He has lost some of his advantage on that early split.

Neureuther can be so loose and relaxed on his skis, they call him

Felix the cat. He does like these conditions. He has struggled with

problems with his back over the last few seasons. Just not able to

generate quite the same speed. A couple of seasons ago, he was

fighting it out with Marcel Hirscher. He could still take the

lead away. Stefano Gross was not the best down this last final section.

It is possible for Neureuther. Oh, he misses out by 1900s of a second.

-- by 19 hundredths macro of a second. Into fourth place.

Pinturault is an accomplished skier, going for it. Smooth, relaxed

skiing. Working the ski. These are good terms from

Pinturault. He could take the lead away from Stefano Gross. Pinturault

takes the lead for France. Last year's winner is knocked down into

second place. That is the best skiing we have seen so far this

season from Alexis Pinturault. Next, the silver medallist from the World

Championships last year. He has had six second bases in the World Cup as

well. He is in danger of being called Mr second place, the German

Fritz Dopfer. Austrian mother, German father. He looks a bit heavy

on his edges today. Pinturault was so smooth and relaxed on the top

part of the course. Dopfer is letting his lead slip away.

Just a little bit heavy to try and release the turn. It is not going to

happen for the German. Alexis Pinturault's lead is safe, and

Dopfer drops behind his fellow team-mate from

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Felix Neureuther to.

Henrik Kristoffersen is next. Despite being only 21, he has

already won six World Cup races. Last season's success made him a

household name in his native Norway, though quite why he was asked to

make a photo shoot at the Norwegian opera house is a mystery. Perhaps he

will ski to -- tutu victory today. Kristoffersen is flying on the top

part of this course. He has built on his lead. He and Hirscher are in a

league of their own season. Wow, he has dropped some time on the current

leader, Pinturault. He is going to have to be smooth. These are good

terms. He is going to throw the gauntlet down to the two racers left

at the top. Textbook skiing. Superb angles created from the ankles and

knees. Kristoffersen takes the lead. Will that be his third win of the

season? Kristoffersen is able to create such big angles.

season? Kristoffersen is able to can bend that ski over, the more the

natural side cut will allow the ski to carve and cut a tight line. The

tighter line you can ski, the faster you will go.

Next to race is the Austrian hero, Marcel Hirscher. He can consider

himself lucky to be racing after this near miss in Italy. There will

be no drones flying today, so the Austrian can concentrate on flying

to the top of the podium. Here he is, Marcel Hirscher. The

four times overall World Cup champion. He is fired up and he is

going after it. It is a ding-dong battle with Henrik Kristoffersen so

far this season. Hirscher can be too aggressive sometimes. He can be too

hard on his edges. Maybe that is the case today. Doesn't like it when the

course is not bullet-proof icy, but he has picked up speed.

Kristoffersen was good on the speed. -- on the steep. A bit heavy on his

edges. But these are good terms. This could be enough. Hirscher is

going to do it again. He takes the lead, no, he doesn't! He misses it

by six hundredths! Oh, my word! How close can you go? Marcel Hirscher

thought he had it in the bag. I thought he had it in the bag. Six

hundredths of a second. Oh, my word. Look at the grimace. Kristoffersen

flew down those last ten terms and Hirscher, wow, the lead just slipped

away. There is nothing to separate these two this season. Leader after

the first run, wearing bib number one, Alexander Khoroshilov from

Russia. To the maiden win last year the pressure is on him now. He skied

really well in the last World Cup slalom to take third place just

behind Hirscher and Kristoffersen. And it is Kristoffersen and Hirscher

again in the lead. This could be the chance for Khoroshilov. He breaks

the domination between Hirscher and Kristoffersen. Clean terms. This is

good from the Russian. Are we finally going to see another winner

on the World Cup tour? Oh, he has let it slip slightly. Kristoffersen

was lightning fast on that last split to the finish. That was what

court is all out with Marcel Hirscher. Can Khoroshilov Derek? No,

he has dropped a third. So, third place again for Alexander

Khoroshilov. These two just cannot be separated. There has only ever

been won first and second place so far, and it has been taken by these

two guys. So, Henrik Kristoffersen notches up

his third win this season. Winning here in Adelboden is

unbelievable. The crowd here is so amazing. Wow. It gives a lot of

confidence, but you still have to stay grounded and be smart and work

hard. Six hundredths, that is not a lot. Well, the men have been in

action here in Adelboden. The women World Cup has been held in

Zauchensee in Austria. It was moved there from St Anton after

unseasonably warm weather. Chemmy Alcott has all the best action from

the women's downhill. It is a downhill with a difference,

and the top 30 going reverse order the second time down. With its

undulating terrain and long, sweeping terms, the course here in

Zauchensee is perfectly suited to this style of racing. And it has

created quite a buzz amongst a very strong line-up. Two familiar faces

are missing from the events this season. Double Olympic champion Tina

Marseille has opted to take a year out. And Austria's winner's season

was over when she suffered a serious knee injury. Four time World Cup

champion Lindsey Vonn is in town, and has fond memories of racing here

from 2011. Eclipsing even her at the moment is Switzerland's skier. But

she did also win the most recent downhill in Val d'Isere. Given their

technical expertise at high speed, Lara and Lindsay will still be the

ones to beat, even over the shorter distance. Sweden's skier set the

early pace in Ramone, showing what could be achieved. With her

confidence flowing, it was left to Lindsey Vonn to set the pace with a

typically aggressive aerodynamic run with almost perfect line. Vonn is

over a second in front, a huge lead for the American. The big shock of

the first run was the genetic failing to finish of Lara Gooch, who

got sucked onto her skis midway through the course. A huge support

for the Swiss racer. In run two, it looks as though the battle for

second and third will be between Canada, Liechtenstein and the local

girl, with just seven hundredths spitting them after the first run.

Your comment it is Matt Chilton. Sweden's best downhiller, Kaisa

Kling. She she has only got three hundredths of a second over the new

leader. This has to be good. A mixed bag of results so far this season,

but when she is good, she is really good. That was a beautiful jump. Her

chance may have gone. Kling has gone first by six hundredths of a second.

Excellent finish from the Swede. Now the Austrian, fourth after the first

run. This is full attack from Huetter. She nearly paid the price.

But the lead is still hurts. She has been on the edge of her abilities.

She will certainly lead for Austria. Will it be enough to win the race?

She has got it by .39. A brave run from Huetter.

Tina Fey Arata's heart will have skipped a beat. A lucky escape for

Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein. The Canadian is the ultimate racer to

tackle the second run. One hand down on the snow. What a recovery by the

Canadian. That was lucky for Yurkiw. She has got the lead by a huge

margin! What a race from Larisa Yurkiw of Canada.

Lindsey Vonn's advantage over Larisa Yurkiw was nine tenths. It is now a

full second. Nice turn. That was the perfect way in for Lindsey Vonn. She

will be miles ahead of Yurkiw at the next split. The American, looking to

take the need away from the Canadian. It is another astonishing

performance from Lindsey Vonn. She wins in Zauchensee by a full second.

And she has equalled the record. via Rother another podium today for

Cornelia Huetter in third. Second to Larisa Yurkiw. What once again, it

is Lindsey Vonn who tops the leaderboard in Zauchensee.

Confirmation of Lindsey Vonn's 72nd World Cup win. She wins again --

against Larisa Yurkiw with Cornelia Huetter in third. I knew I had a big

enough advantage, I did not need to push. It is hard to be in the lead

after the first round, it is like grand slalom. It is definitely

harder than having one run. I am happy I was able to stay relaxed and

make it down without any real mistakes.

If you want to see more of the race from Zauchensee,

this week's Ski Sunday Extra is on iPlayer.

Elsewhere in winter sport, we've seen notable results

for a number of British athletes already this season.

18-year-old Katie Ormerod won the Pleasure Jam snowboard

slopestyle in November, and backed that up with an impressive fifth

James Woods also came fifth in the ski slopestyle.

Alex Tilley marked her debut World Cup season with an excellent 19th

place at the end of 2015. And in cross country,

Andrew Young became the first ever Brit to podium in a World Cup sprint

race just before Christmas. Some encouraging results. Keep an

eye on Katie Ormerod. perspective is starting to turn

towards the Olympics Ahead of the last winter games,

in Sochi, Jody Blatchley had successfully made the move

from snowboarding to coaching, and was looking after

the New Zealand slopestyle team. Unfortunately for Jody,

he never made it to Russia, but the Brit is doing everything

he can to turn a huge negative My life is basically from the age of

17, I have been on mountains as much as I can. The accident did not scare

me. What scares me is not being able to do things that I want to do.

Incredible as a word that is overused, certainly by me, but I

think in this case it is justified. That is incredible. I think the

first time I met you you had an amazing frontside rodeo. You got

into snowboarding coaching. You were running the snowboarding team --

slopestyle team in the build-up to the Sochi Olympics. And in summer

2013, you had an accident. What happened? We had been coaching all

day long. I went off to do a frontside three, I have done

thousands of them, and as I took off, I caught an edge at the top and

I landed next to the jump. Instead of landing on the landing, you came

in. The problem was it was a big jump. How far was the file? It was a

solid 40 feet to flat. What happened? I broke my knee and my

ankle. I spent a long time in hospital. I think it was nine months

old together. I have been left with a lot of nerve damage. It is nerve

pain that I have got. Basically that is what stops me for being able to

stand for long periods of time, or to snowboard now. I think of myself

as basically a ski boot. The movements that I make, leaning

forward, ITV side, to the other side, we BBC is what your food we be

doing when you Steve. -- when you ski. Look at the speed he is doing,

this is ridiculous. I am struggling to keep up so far. That was

cruising. Straight after the accident, you want to snowboard, but

even on a professional level, you're heavily invested in getting the

slopestyle team to the Olympics? The hardest part for me was giving up

work. I was 100% into it. I have to take so much of that energy now to

just deal with pain. The reality it was not going to be. The things he

is doing, I never thought I would see. And believable. To be honest,

it hurts when I am doing it. I am in pain all the time. Really? The

landing is shot through my legs like crazy, but I am doing it, I am out

here. It blew my mind, but there are so many people on the slopes to day

-- today, who are watching. You must note the effect it has on people.

Yes, I know. Some people say, can you hire them in town. You cannot.

You're doing things on that that I do not think I have seen people do

on skis or snowboard. The soft stuff, it cuts through them. I see

other people bouncing around, but it is not a problem for me. It is like

a small vehicle? I would say so. Long-term, what is your plan? I

would like to work more with people getting people into six skiing.

There is nothing wrong with an able-bodied person doing this.

Nothing tall. -- nothing at all. It just goes to show what's possible

when you combine grit, determination and a healthy

dose of natural talent. The desire to keep improving

and challenging yourself is vital in snow sport, whether you're

riding big mountains, piste, park, or as Tim Warwood

has been finding out, If we are as, finds a freestyle

snowboarding can be a little bit fickle. We find ourselves watching

the latest and greatest videos online, and then we find ourselves

thinking, what makes? You may have thought the Jamie Nicholls' runs

year was a one-off. The Snow centre at Hemel is a great facility but it

had its limitations, the playground is not that big. How do you raise

the bar? Only one man can answer that. That is my name. The run last

year, we did it for my documentary and Ngwira least it as a separate

clip, not knowing it would be so successful. On Facebook, and it blew

up. This year we were given the opportunity again to try something

bigger and better. There will be a lot more to get right, lots of runs

and lots of takes. We have a six-hour time slot to make this

happen. I go nervous? A little bit, because there are lots of people

here depending on need to make it happen. Listen, you best go and get

some sleep. Five hours to go and you will be on the slope, riding. Yes,

back here, making it happen. Jimmy left the team of 15 working through

the night, shaping the snow to build the seven features in his run. The

pressure was on. You would only have a six-hour window to get everything

in the canon before the slope reopen to the paying punters. -- to get

everything in the can. How are you feeling? You went to bed without any

of this being your? Yes, everything is done. I could not sleep. I was

thinking about it all night. Do you feel pressure, the fact you need to

get it done early, because this has got to open for lessons? Yes, 12

o'clock, it has got to open. I do not feel the pressure that much.

Hopefully it works out all right. I will hate it, and land, and you want

me to carry on? Yes, this will link up to the ones we did earlier.

Dropping. Jimmy has had a couple of practice runs. He has got this top

section locked. There are struggling with the speed from the landing of

the jump into the quarter paper. Time is ticking. It is close to 9am,

and you still have quite a bit to do. We will get it done. We are

nervous we are rowing out of time. As long as everyone knows what they

are doing, it should come together quite nicely. Dropping. It is coming

together knife. -- no. There we go. Very nice indeed. That is the run

complete, but this is television. Jimmy will have to do it again and

again. -- Jamie. It is all done and dusted, how did it go? I bet you

were shattered? Knackered, my ankle is hurting. My brain is hurting. You

have done about 4000 runs. So many runs. I am pretty happy. The quarter

pipe did not work out in the end, but still seven features. Dropping.

Mellow. Good to see that he keeps his skills so well polished in the

off-season. Jamie's exploits in Hemel lead us

nicely into Ski Social. The submissions this week prove you

have been warming up for winter very well in the UK. This man has been

making good use of the snow zone in Milton Keynes. And Corrie couple

improves you do not have to limit yourself to the indoors. He has been

making use of the plastic fantastic in Rossendale. Everyone loves a

backflip. You have also been sending in your questions. Ryan says, is it

best to learn on the fix no indoors or on the dry slopes? The fake snow

will always be more realistic, but it is whatever is available to you.

The more time spent going downhill, the quicker you will improve. Most

of this GB team started on dry slopes, as did Dave Ryding. Andy as,

giving the unstable snowpack in the high avalanche risk, have you got

any wise words to keep us safe off-pieced-mac. -- piste. You will

get a gate. You will be safe around you will learn. Get the right

equipment and trained. Rebecca as, she is nine months into the rehab of

a broken leg, what exercises should she be doing. It is all about the

quads, so lunges. Lunges are great for the goods, and squats so good

for the quads. Do something that involves balance and coordination.

Do one like it squat on a ball or wobble board. No one does that any

more. I do, I am pretty good at it. We are going to set your challenge,

we want to see the longest snowplough, snow snake conger. I

went to see across rugged method. Go and look it up. I will kneel down to

anyone who can pull one of. Keep sending your photos, questions and

videos. The best will feature on next week's show. The good news is

the rain has turned to snow and there is lots more in the forecast.

That is all we have time for this week. Next week, we have a healthy

dose of tradition with the men's downhill from Wengen.

Whether it's racing down the Lauberhorn or riding the glacier

in Stubai, legs of steel are an absolute must.

Can they conquer a classic? My word. He is making this look very easy.

His legs are beginning to tire. He is miles ahead. He has got it. Yes.

You'd better come in with a brilliant product.