Robert graham joins board, Michael Oesterlin appointed interim Chair
GB Snowsport is pleased to announce two important leadership appointments that will further strengthen the organisation’s governance and strategic oversight.
Robert Graham appointed Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
We are delighted to welcome Robert Graham as the new Chair of the GB Snowsport Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the GB Snowsport board.
Robert brings extensive board-level experience in governance, finance, and organisational leadership. He has served on the board of Rugby League where he contributed to the strategic direction and governance of the sport, and has built a distinguished career advising organisations on financial management, risk, assurance, and corporate governance. His breadth of experience across the sporting and commercial sectors will be inavaluable in supporting GB Snowsport’s commitment to strong governance, transparency, and effective risk management.
Commenting on his appointment, Robert said:
“I am delighted to join GB Snowsport at an exciting time for the organisation. I look forward to working with the board and executive team to help ensure the organisation continues to build on its strong governance and delivers on its strategic ambitions.”
Michael Oesterlin appointed interim Chair
GB Snowsport is also pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Oesterlin as Interim Chair.
Michael has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the GB Snowsport board for the past four years, during which time he has made a significant contribution to the organisation’s governance, strategy and long-term development. His knowledge of the organisation, together with his experience in board leadership and governance, provides continuity and stability as GB Snowsport continues to deliver its strategic objectives and support athletes, clubs and members across all disciplines.
Michael’s appointment as interim Chair ensures experienced leadership during this transitional period while the Board undertakes the process to appoint a permanent Chair.
Speaking about his appointment, Michael said:
“It is a privilege to take on the role of Interim Chair. Having served on the board over the past four years, I look forward to working closely with my fellow directors, our executive team and the wider snowsport community to continue building on the excellent progress the organisation has made.”
These appointments reflect GB Snowsport’s ongoing commitment to the highest standards of governance and leadership as it continues to develop the sport and support athletes at every level.
Appointment confirmed at first FIS Council session of new term
Following the confirmation of the election of Vicky Gosling as a British representative to the International Ski Federation Council last month, we are pleased to confirm that Vicky will also serve as one of four FIS Vice Presidents appointed by the Council.
Under the Presidency of Alexander Ospelt, Vicky will serve as one of four Vice Presidents alongside Deidra Dionna (Canada), Dexter Paine (USA), and Martti Uusitalo (Finland).
Additionally, we are pleased to note that GB Snowsport Head of Paralympic Programmes, James Redpath, has been appointed Chair of the FIS Para Alpine Sub-Committee, further strengthening Britain’s standing within the international federation, while Andrew Clarke continues as Chair of the Telemark Sub-Committee.
We are delighted that the Council have selected Vicky’s candidacy for a Vice Presidential term and James’ Sub-Committee Chairmanship. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the whole of the FIS family to advance snowsport on an international level and represent the interests of British skiing and snowboarding at every level.
Britain’s first three-time Winter Olympian passed away earlier this month
Everyone at GB Snowsport is saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew Morgan, who died this month at the age of 92.
Competing throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Andrew was the first Briton to represent the country in three Olympic Winter Games, making his debut in cross-country skiing at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Games in 1956 before going on to compete again in the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley and the 1964 Games in Innsbruck.
Andrew’s best Olympic result came on his debut where he finished in fourteenth position in the 4 x 10km relay event.
An icon of the sport and a trailblazer for British skiing, Andrew also made enormous contributions to the sport away from the slopes including a longstanding membership of Kandahar Ski Club, where he served in multiple leadership roles.
The thoughts of everyone at GB Snowsport are with Andrew’s family, friends, and the members of the ski community that knew and loved him.
Statement on FIS Presidential and Council Elections
Following today’s FIS Presidential and Council Elections, GB Snowsport would like to congratulate Alexander Ospelt on his election as the new President of FIS. We are also delighted and grateful for the support of the FIS family in the election of our Chief Executive, Victoria Gosling OBE, to the FIS Council as a representative of Britain, the first time Britain’s National Ski Association has held an elected role on the body.
This is a critical and exciting time for international snowsport. Within our international community we hold one of the world’s most exciting and enthralling sports, a body of athletes operating at the very margins of human capability, and a global fanbase that brings real passion every week, and in every corner of the globe. We are honoured to be a part of that community, and look forward to working with every member of it as we build towards this year’s World Championships, a full World Cup and competition calendar, and ultimately the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
GB Snowsport Chief Executive Victoria Gosling OBE, said:
“I’m honoured to have been elected to the FIS Council today, and am very grateful to everyone who cast a vote in support of my candidacy today, as well as to my GB Snowsport colleagues for their support throughout the election process.
“To become the first British representative nominated to Council in FIS history is humbling, and I am aware of the significant responsibility that I hold in that regard. Throughout recent weeks, the FIS family has shown that it is unafraid to have the robust and necessary conversations that we need to have for the long-term health of the sport, and I look forward to continuing those discussions in the coming months and years.
“As a snowsport nation, Britain has been on a significant journey in recent years. It has not always been easy, but I believe that today shows the high regard that we are held in within the snowsport community. We have much to look forward to as a sport, and I am committed to putting the interests of our sport first from within the FIS Council.”
GB Snowsport is pleased to announce that FIS licence applications for the 2026/27 season are now open
Athletes can now apply for or renew their licences HERE, with discounted Early Bird rates available until 1st July 2026. From 2nd July, licence fees will revert to the standard rate, so athletes are encouraged to complete their applications before the deadline to take advantage of the reduced pricing.
The information below is also available in a step-by-step guide available to download here.
You will need TO:
- Provide a copy of your valid Home Nations membership with either Snowsport England, Snowsport Scotland or Snowsport Wales.
- Provide a copy of your valid Certificate of Health Form signed by a qualified medical practitioner.
- Provide a copy of the photo page of your valid GBR Passport.
- Provide a copy of your valid Travel and Personal Accident Insurance cover in line with the FIS International Competition Rules.
Please note that if you do you not have your documents ready for before the 1st July, you can still apply now and we will keep your application pending until you have your required documents to upload.
We look forward to supporting British athletes throughout another exciting season of international competition.
For any questions regarding FIS licence applications, please contact fislicence@gbsnowsport.com.
As Clean Sport Week 2026 gets underway, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to clean sport and to the integrity and safety that comes with it.
As this year’s Clean Sport Week sees UK Anti-Doping celebrating the role that athletes play as role models for the next generation, and the principle that lasting success comes from hard work, talent, and dedication, GB Snowsport can confirm that this year we have supported over 300 hours of clean sport education delivered to athletes, coaches, technicians, medical personnel, and performance staff in support of those same ambitions.
In a year where British Olympic and Paralympic skiers and snowboarders have been more prominent in the public eye than ever before, our team’s shared commitment to competing clean and promoting safety and fairness in sport has never been more important. We are proud to work alongside UKAD and the wider sporting community in a shared effort to promote, deliver, and celebrate clean sport.
To coincide with Clean Sport Week 2026, we are pleased to publish our annual summary of anti-doping activities, comprising an assessment of the breadth of activity undertaken by GB Snowsport, our athletes, and our team members, in support of clean sport and anti-doping practices. To find out more about this year’s clean sport summary and our wider approach to clean sport, visit the GB Snowsport Clean Sport Hub.
For more information on UK Anti-Doping’s Clean Sport Week 2026 campaign, including vital information on Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) and Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), visit www.ukad.org.uk/clean-sport-week
Legends of British skiing and snowboarding set for special appearances at Hemel and Manchester Snow Centres
Fresh from the end of the 2026 winter season, some of the biggest names in British snowsport are heading to the indoor slopes of Hemel Hempstead and Manchester for the first ever Whiteout Podcast Live event in association with Crystal Ski Holidays.
Taking place across two evenings at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead (6 May) and Manchester (7 May), the events will bring together elite athletes and Britain’s snowsport community in a celebration of the successes and vibrancy of the British snowsport scene.
Among athletes appearing across the two events are Dave Ryding, Menna Fitzpatrick, Huw Nightingale, Ollie Davies, and Tom Greenway, alongside former Olympian and BBC presenter Graham Bell and TNT Sports Broadcaster Ed Drake.
Each event combines access and insight, giving attendees the chance to meet the athletes, watch or take part in an exclusive live recording of the Whiteout Podcast, and for a limited number, join athletes out on the snow for small-group ski or snowboard sessions.
The podcast recordings, hosted by Dom Killinger and Rob Stewart, will focus on life on the World Cup circuit, the 2026 season, adn waht it takes to compete at the highest levels of snowsport. The event will also feature input from Snow Camp, discussing the incredile work they do to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get into snowsport.
Bookings and Attendance
The live podcast event is free to attend, with registration available at:
- The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead – 6 May – REGISTER HERE
- The Snow Centre, Manchester – 7 May – REGISTER HERE
On-snow sessions with the athletes are limited and priced from £33.60pp (Manchester) and £35.10pp (Hemel Hempstead:
GB Snowsport Chief Executive, Victoria Gosling OBE, looks back a record-breaking four-year journey for GB Snowsport
As I sit down to write this, I’m in Santa Caterina, just about an hour’s drive from Livigno Snow Park. Our World Cup season may have ended over the weekend with a final burst of British successes in Silvaplana, Mt. St. Anne, and Les Contamines Montojoie, but the on-snow work isn’t quite done yet. The British Alpine Championships are in full swing and, just as we experienced in Livigno and across Italy during February and March, British athletes here are continuing to show that they’ve earned the right to be recognised among the world’s best snowsport competitors.
On Sunday, after four years of graft and fight, the clock stopped on major competitions in the Milan-Cortina cycle.
Our record: 199 major podiums across the four years, derived from athletes in eleven Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, and from Telemark.
This season alone saw British athletes climb the podium on 50 occasions. If we included podiums on the Europa Cup circuit, we’d be looking at something closer to 300 across the past four years. And, of course, some of these were on the biggest stages of all. Those three Olympic and Paralympic medals will become iconic moments in British sporting history, but I promise you every single one of those 199 podiums over these past four years was deeply special.
It is, I think most would agree, one of the most remarkable British sporting success stories of recent times: an achievement of extraordinary, perhaps unprecedented, levels.
What’s more is that this time four years ago, it’s a story that most people wouldn’t have seen coming.
The end of the Beijing cycle was brutal. There’d been incredible moments along the way – Dave Ryding’s legendary Kitzbuehel World Cup win perhaps most prominent of all – but the Beijing Olympic campaign had been harrowing. The Paralympics was hugely impressive, but after a hugely challenging few years of covid disruption, the lack of successes for our Olympians in Beijing was a real setback. That’s the reality of elite sport, though. You learn as much from your failures as you do your successes. And the lessons we learned then have been the rocket fuel that’s propelled us to where we are today.
Right from day one of the 2023 season, you could tell the energy was different. The wins we racked up along the way are victories of talent, culture, dedication, bravery, and work ethic. And they come from a place of fearless belief in our levels. We knew we had the raw ability, and every single member of the team – athlete and staff member alike – has moved mountains to ensure we saw it deliver.
In that first year of the cycle, we broke the 50-podium barrier for the first time. The next year we broke it again. And this year, we did so for the third time in four years. The one year we missed it, we still delivered 46 major podiums, a result which would have been the best in British history at any time before 2023.
It’s not been an easy journey, nor smooth sailing, along the way. Our team have faced down injuries, disappointments, challenges, fears, and barriers to achieve what they’ve delivered these past four years. We’ve had athletes who’ve helped lay the foundations of success retire, seen staff members depart, watched as other nations with deeper pockets have pushed the dial and force us to step up and respond. And every single time, we have.
What the world sees in medals, we count in resilience, belief, and an unwavering commitment to show that GB Snowsport belongs at the very top of the sport.
What we’ve accomplished couldn’t have been achieved without the amazing support we’ve received. From our partners, our sponsors, our teammates. From the friends and families of our athletes and team members, who give so much of the support that allows us to do what we do. And, of course, from the fans whose belief in what we’re building together has transmitted energy into the team time and time again.
The journey doesn’t end here. Four years from now, we’ll be looking back on another ‘home’ Games – this time, in the French Alps. Some of the names that lit up the Milan-Cortina Games will still be a driving force in the sport. Others, I’m sure, will be among the athletes lining up here at the British Alpine Champs, at the Brits in Mayrhofen this week, or elsewhere in the world, honing their skills, who aren’t yet household names but promise to become so in the next four years.
Whatever those next four years hold, it promises to be exciting. Four years ago, I hoped we could keep faith in the promise that British skiers and snowboarders could demonstrate themselves to be among the best in the world. In four years’ time, I hope we’ll be looking back at today and thinking ‘look how far we’ve come again’.
Don’t look away.
You won’t want to miss a second.
2025/26 season defined by extraordinary success draws to a close
GB Snowsport’s 2025/26 campaign drew to a close with a final burst of success on the last weekend of World Cup action, drawing the curtain on an historic season with late glory in Park & Pipe and Snowboard Cross competitions.
In a season headlined by Olympic and Paralympic medals for Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale (Team Snowboard Cross Gold), Zoe Atkin (Freeski Halfpipe Bronze), and Neil Simpson and Rob Poth (Para Alpine Combined Silver), British athletes delivered four Crystal Globes (Kirsty Muir for Overall Freeski Park & Pipe and Slopestyle, Bankes for Snowboard Cross, and Atkin for Freeski Halfpipe) and 50 major podiums, marking the third occasion in the past four years Brits have breached the 50-podium mark, having never done so prior to the 2022/23 season.
The British podium count opened with Kirsty Muir’s maiden Freeski Big Air World Cup victory on 29 November in Secret Garden, followed a week later by Mia Brookes winning the Beijing Freestyle Snowboard Big Air World Cup, and Gus Kenworthy marking his first competitive appearance in four years with a third-place Snow League Freeski Helfpipe finish in China.
The ensuing months saw British skiers and snowboarders ascend major podiums a further 47 times, with Telemark legend Jaz Taylor the most frequent medal winner, accounting for 12 podiums including four gold medals, from her first victory of the season in December in Pinzolo to her last in March in Les Contamines.
Amid a deluge of stunning performances, the three Milan-Cortina medals are likely to live longest in the memory. First, Bankes and Nightingale broke historic new ground for British Winter Olympians with the nation’s first ever gold medal on snow in the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross, before Atkin closed out the Games with Freeski Halfpipe bronze on the final day of Olympic action in Milan-Cortina. Then, with the Paralympic Winter Games in full swing, Simpson and Poth roared back from two earlier fourth place finishes to take silver in the Para Alpine Combined.
Alongside the podiums came yet more incredible performances from Brits, with fourth place finishes for Muir and Brookes, historically strong performances for the Cross-Country team including best ever British Olympic results from Andrew Musgrave, and Musgrave and James Clugnet in the Men’s Team Sprint, and fifth and sixth place Para Alpine finishes for Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest in the pair’s first races for two years after successive major injuries for Fitzpatrick. The Para Snowboard team made history twice over, meanwhile, with Nina Sparks becoming the nation’s first ever female Paralympic snowboarder, and Davy Zyw believed to be the first ever person with MND to compete at a Paralympic Winter Games.
In among the extraordinary successes seen at the highest levels, Britain’s next generation of talent also experienced breakthrough seasons, with thirteen athletes making their World Cup debuts across Park & Pipe, Alpine, Cross-Country, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Para Alpine, and Telemark races. Meanwhile, waves were being made at Europa Cup level including a slew of Rail Jam podiums, and an historic moment in the Alpine EC field where Freddy Carrick-Smith became Britain’s first ever Giant Slalom EC winner with victory in Valloire.
This season’s performances mean that, in the four years since the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, British athletes have now delivered 199 major podiums, 118 of which have come in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, and with every discipline in which Britain has fielded a World Cup athlete having achieved at least one podium finish in that time.
As the final action of the season fades into the rearview mirror, the year’s lasting impression will be simple. Extraordinary, historic successes, and a strong hint at the exciting future ahead for GB Snowsport athletes.