British Championships

Is the 2015 World Cup Finals going to Meribel good for British ski racing?

So FIS have announced that the 2015 World Cup Finals are going to the current location (and for more years than most British ski racers and their parents care to remember), Meribel, France. What are the implications for the British racers of this or should we even care? In many ways this could be great news for the FIS aged racers. Why do I say this?

1. Will this encourage more international racers to attend the GB Chgampionships?

This could very well happen as it has been a long time since the premier World Cup racers attended top level races in Meribel and many will need to learn the intricacies of the slopes. The Olympics in 1992 being the most obvious last big race. In 2009, the Swedish girls team attended the English Championships in Bormio just prior to the World Cup Finals there. Frida Hansdottir, Maria Pietiliae Holmner and one other all raced thus giving the girls a much improved penalty and showing them how far they had to go.

While the men have not had much problem in attracting good racers, the top racers, those in the top 25 in the world in their disciplines may now also be encouraged to race in Meribel giving an even lower penalty.

The downside of this is that this may limit the number of GB racers that can race in their own National Championships. The 2012 and 2013 championships may not be affected but you can be assured that a lot of top racers will be wanting to race in 2014....if the GB Championships are still there.

2. Expect the French Championships to move to Meribel for at least one year before 2015.

Will this mean that the GB Champs will be bumped? More than likely as the French will show the loyalty to their own national team rather than the country that has pumped more into the local economy than most football club chairman in the UK.

You can also expect that more French officials will available to officiate and help over the next few years as the resort look to ensure that they have all the officials trained up and ready to do a good job. Will this be to the detriment of British officials?

3. To ensure officials are all up to speed, four more years in Meribel for GB Champs.

Is this what British parents and racers want? The races have been there 6 years already, another four will make ten and that means that most racers will not have raced the GB Champs at any other resort in their careers? Can that be right? If you are a racer that likes the Stade then all well and good but many racers will have only done one downhill in their career, Meribel. This is hardly the most exciting or challenging one.

4. How many of the British racers will this benefit?

Currently only one racer may benefit from the knowledge gained over the years from racing in Meribel. Chemmy Alcott it is hoped will be at the 2015 World Cup Finals and with four more years of experience hopefully some of the men will be challenging for places at the World Cup Finals. The bigger picture is that the benefit to the British racers will be of more top line international racers attending the British Championships.

So would now be a a good time for British Ski & Snowboard to leave Meribel. Is it time to jump before they are pushed out? There are many reasons for going and many reasons for staying! What do GB racers and their parents think about this. Should one person hold sway as to staying in a resort for so long? Do we stay for the right or wrong reasons? A sponsors wish or the benefit of the racers? Is there a right or wrong answer....?