The countdown is on ahead of the Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships, which get underway next month in the world class ski racing resort of Tignes. This year’s event, which will take place from 20
th March to 1
st April, is set to be the biggest event of the year for the British Ski Racing world, with the introduction of the British Disabled Alpine Ski Championships.
The 2016 event will see athletes from the Delancey British Alpine Senior Squad, including current Slalom World Cup contender Dave Ryding, whose season highlights include a 12th place finish in the World Cup Slalom in Val d’Isere, followed closely by a 13th place in Santa Caterina. Ryding will compete alongside other ones-to-watch including Britain’s current best female Alex Tilley following her PB this season with 19th in Lienz World Cup, Charlie Guest, Cara Brown, Roy Steudle and Jai Geyer. There will also be the chance to watch up and coming talent from the Delancey U21 and U18 Squads.
For the first time, the British Disabled Ski Team will also host their own Championships on the middle weekend of the Championships, with a Slalom on Saturday 26th March and a GS on Sunday 27th.
Delancey’s charity partner Snow-Camp will also be in resort, with two graduates, Jade and Shayleigh employed as part of the hill team. Jade (19), is in her second year with Snow-Camp, having been referred via the Not In Education, Employment or Training (NEET) youth service in Lewisham, whilst Shayleigh (16) joined Snow-Camp after being referred by her youth project XLP. She now is working as an apprentice for the Ski Club of Great Britain.
Dave Edwards, Chief Executive of British Ski and Snowboard said: "It promises to be an exciting year for the Delancey Championships, with the best of our British Alpine talent battling it out to prove their capability against some of the best in the world. We are indebted to Tignes and Sir John and Jamie Ritblat from British Ski and Snowboard's Principal sponsor Delancey for helping us to arrange this spectacular climax to the British athletes’ racing season.”
Jamie Ritblat, founder and chairman of Delancey, Principal Sponsor of British Ski & Snowboard commented: “As Principal Sponsor of British Ski & Snowboard and Charity Partner to Snow-Camp, Delancey is committed to bringing the physical and intellectual benefits of snowsports to children across the UK, regardless of ability or background. We are delighted to host the British National Alpine Ski Championships once again and look forward to seeing both the athletes and apprentices in action on the piste.”
The innovative youth charity Snow-Camp uses a unique combination of skiing, snowboarding and life-skills programmes to influence the lives of young people by installing a driving passion to work hard not just on the slopes but also in their day-to-day lives. Their impressive impact can be reflected by the growing numbers of Snow-Camp graduates across the different boroughs of London. So far, they have reached over 400 children across the UK and have seen the success of 5 graduates in Southwark, 22 in Tower Hamlets, 15 in Hackney, 12 in Newham and 14 in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Principal sponsor Delancey has now supported the British National Alpine Ski Championships for 6 years and Chairman of Delancey’s Advisory Board and British Ski and Snowboard president, Sir John Ritblat, has sponsored the sport for 39 years – the longest standing personal sponsorship for a sport.