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GB ALPINE SQUAD NAMED AHEAD OF 2021/22 SEASON

• GB Snowsport names 2021/22 Alpine squad, looking to build on exceptional results from covid-hit 2020/21 season
• Six-strong World Cup squad heads British Alpine hopes, with seven new athletes named in FIS squad
• Eight named in Europa Cup squad including Max Vaughton, promoted from FIS squad

GB Snowsport has confirmed the 50-person squad that will represent Britain on the international race circuit for the 2021/22 season. The squad will be looking to build on last season’s excellent results, which saw the nation return a number of outstanding finishes including victories and podium positions in World Cup and Europa Cup races.

Amid a challenging year for the global snowsports circuit, GB’s Alpine programme returned some outstanding results including a third career World Cup podium for 34-year-old Dave Ryding at Adelboden in January. Charlie Guest returned a series of career-best results including a Gold in the Europa Cup Finals in Reiteralm, meaning she has now won more Europa Cup races than any other British Alpine athlete, and Billy Major was crowned Europa Cup Champion in a season which saw him moved up to the World Cup squad. Laurie Taylor, meanwhile, secured his first ever Europa Cup podium position with victory in the Slalom at Val Cenis, and Alex Tilley achieved a 17^th-place finish at the Cortina World Championships, her best-ever Giant Slalom result at a World Championships.

The squad also features seven new athletes named in the FIS squad for the first time, while 22-year-old Max Vaughton is promoted to the Europa Cup squad after a promising 2020/21 season which included an excellent first-place finish in the Men’s Alpine combined at the Santa Caterina FIS races in February.

Paul Trayner, GB Snowsport Alpine Director, said:

This is a pivotal season for Britain’s Alpine athletes, and I’m delighted that we’re in a position to name such a strong squad to represent the nation. Last year was an incredibly challenging year for everybody in our sport, but in the face of difficult circumstances British Alpine athletes showed the world that they are capable of making their mark on the biggest stages. Congratulations to all our athletes on their selection, and particularly so to the seven young skiers who feature for the first time.

World Cup athlete Dave Ryding said:

It is an honour to be selected to represent Great Britain again on the global stage, and I think the whole squad has reason to feel optimistic about the year ahead. I was really proud of my performances last season, and the podium finish at Abelboden is something I want to build on in the build-up to Beijing.

Fellow World Cup squad member, Charlie Guest, said:

Despite all the challenges we faced in the last 12 months, last season was an amazing year for British Alpine skiers, and I’m really happy to have played a part in that. This is a huge year for everyone in the GB squad. Knowing how hard everyone’s training and the support that’s going into Alpine right now, I’m sure we’re going to see more brilliant results for GB over the next 12 months.

World Cup squad

Female: Charlie Guest, Alex Tilley

Male: Billy Major, Charlie Raposo, Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor

europa cup squad

Female: Reece Bell

Male: Jack Gower, Leo Karavasili, Rob Poth, Roy Steudle, Max Vaughton*, Owen Vinter, Zak Vinter

fis squad

Female: Emelia Ackerley, Jess Anderson, Abi Bruce, Daisi Daniels, Alexa Elliff, Sophie Foster, Giselle Gorringe^†, Lois Jackson, Darcie Mead, Victoria Palla, Isla Ward, Sarah Woodward, Julia Wordley,

Male:  Diaco Abrishami, Seb Avent, Will Beney, Tom Butterworth, Toby Case, Jack Cunningham, Jake Doyle, Lucas Ellis**, Ed Guigonnet, Rob Holmes, Georgie Honeybone^†, Tom Hudson, Calum Langmuir, Max Laughland**, Christian McCourtie**, Kaylan Huisman Muro, Thomas Rampton, Dominic Shackleton**, Ted Slade, Jack Upton**, Aidan Urquhart**, Arie Van Vuuren, Oli Weeks.

* Promoted from 2020/21 FIS Squad
** New Entrant (2004 YOB)
^† New Entrant (2003 YOB)  

The 2021/22 Alpine World Cup Season is scheduled to begin on 23^rd October with the Giant Slalom World Cup Opener in Sölden, AUT with the squad looking to build on last season’s excellent results in the coming Olympic Winter Games season.

Update: 11:24 30 Apr 2021 An earlier version of this release mistakenly omitted Max Laughland from the FIS Squad. This has now been updated to reflect Max’s selection.

Update: 12:31 30 Apr 2021 Jess Anderson has been added to the FIS Squad following the completion of a review process undertaken by the Alpine Selection Panel