The British Ski Academy

Zak’s win today from bib 15

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Zak’s turn to destroy the field in Luxembourg’s National Championship slalom where the world junior champ finished 5th. The result in Val d’Isere today equals Zak’s PB 🥷

Luxembourg has fallen 🇱🇺
Next stop Belgium 🇧🇪 (tomorrow)

(Looks like this 20.00 NC result should edge Zak narrowly ahead of Freddy on the FIS 2027 base list for world slalom rankings…. Both top 90 💎💎)

Season round up and a few thoughts (part 2)

Happy birthday to the Alpine Foundation, twenty months old today and already over a million pounds raised.

First a salute to the originator/chairman Nick Robinson 🫡 and to two other BSA old boys, Sam Wrench and Luke Steyn, who were among the earliest contributors to get the snowball rolling 💎

However, the Alpine Foundation would never have advanced past infancy without the efforts of its primary caregivers (appropriately) Mr and Mrs Foster. Bravo, Neil and Juliet 👏🏼👏🏼

In 2022, after UK Sport turned its back on our mostly state-educated GB Alpine team racers it was imperative that a funding mechanism be put in place to channel private and corporate sponsorship direct to GB Alpine. Fundraising began in earnest and now, amazingly, not only is it happening but all income generated so far has been spent on our ski teams with 0% admin drainage. How is that possible? Good question. Those with experience of the charity sector will tell you it isn’t. The answer, where the Alpine Foundation is concerned, can be summed up in two words: Juliet and Foster. Pin a Pery Medal on this lady, Ski Club of Great Britain, please — a paragon among our sport’s esteemed volunteers.

To anyone in Juliet or Nick’s ambit and currently helping the Alpine Foundation, and to all of its financial contributors, whoever and wherever you are. Thank you 😇

To those undecided about whether or not to get involved and support GB Alpine through its charitable wing, please do. Every penny still counts 🙏🏼

Finally, to anyone from UK Sport reading this, the photo shows a Lancashire lad who chased a dream and beat the world at a major event. Contrary to your public statement soon after, GB Alpine can and does produce world class performance. Although we are doing our best as a sport to function and even to thrive without you, please note we currently have some amazing athletes who truly need and deserve your support and who we know can make our country proud 🇬🇧

Season round-up and a few thoughts.

It was a BSA clean sweep in Tuesday’s Men’s Senior National Slalom 🧹 Laurie, the 2025 titleholder who was 21st for GBR in the 2026 World Cup rankings, found himself sandwiched between teenagers Freddy and Zak in a tight race for the title.

Laurie and Freddy’s seasons are now complete with some memorable highlights.

Laurie won two second runs (Levi and Kvitfjell) and was four hundredths off a World Cup podium when finishing 4th in Levi for a new PB. Home in Berne now, looking after Mrs Taylor 👨🏼‍🍳, Laurie is personally sponsored by an Austrian brewery and a Scottish investment firm. Hats off to Murauer and Artemis 🎩🎩

British GS & SL Champ Freddy 🏆🏆 won a Europa Cup GS (Valloire) while still only 18 — one of the youngest male Europa Cup winners ever — and then picked up silver in the World Jnr Champs slalom (Narvik). He starts next season ranked 51st in GS, the best U21 giant slalom racer in the world. Enjoy the surfing, Freddy 🏄‍♂️ You earned it!

Looking to cement his elite slalom ranking, Zak has four more National Championship starts in his sights before travel-waxing his skis and picking up his golf clubs🏌️‍♀️ His breakout performance in the National Junior SG was up with the very best in the world for his age 🥷

Elder brother Luca remains in Reiteralm 🇦🇹 focused on training. Popping up in the occasional race to destroy a field of unsuspecting Austrians, it seems like Luca is biding his time, building the foundation for something very special ⚡️🙏🏼

Edit: Special mention for Molly Butler who is currently top 100 in the world in slalom and 7th for her age or younger. Molly is punching out some more starts because good is great but great is better!! 🥰

None of the Carrick-Smith brothers nor Molly B have a personal sponsor. Their programmes are hugely reliant on crowdfunding.

After knockbacks from UK Sport in recent years — zero funding for GB Alpine despite Dave’s historic win in Kitzbuehel (😵‍💫) — let’s hope that our national ski teams finally get some good news this summer.

But who will be representing GB Alpine in the vital four-year funding talks with UK Sport? And if it’s not Dave Ryding, may we ask, quite frankly…. why not? 🤷‍♂️🥺

Big love to Dave and to his longterm backer the also retiring Mr Mark Quinn. Dave’s career is of course the stuff of legend 🫡 . And in a way so too is Quinny’s personal support and encouragement of our racers. The reason we see so many shots of Billy, Laurie, Dave, Luca, Zak and Freddy all wearing their Quinn Estates bibs with pride is because Quinny made a real difference to them and to a generation of GB Alpine talent.

Thanks Mark, you’ve been a great friend and a safety net to our underfunded over-achieving ski racers 🇬🇧 💯🩵

Back to back Best British Junior Club Champions 🏆

Massive shout out to:




What a way to finish off an Incredible season.

Oops! They did it again. British Alpine Champs 2026. Freddy, Zak and Molly capture the Best Junior Club trophy for BSA 🥳

🚀🚀🚀

Brilliant job, guys! Give your folks a big hug from us 🤗

14th from bib 24
Fastest on the second run
Moves to 21st in the World Cup slalom rankings

All in a day’s work for BSA old boy Laurie “Angles” Taylor.

—

Congrats to the athletes and coaches of GB Alpine Men’s Slalom Team.

Total World Cup points this season : 245

GB ninth nation in Men’s SL standings. Eleventh year in a row in the top ten.

💯🩵🥊👊🏼👌🏼😊🎿

Congratulations to Surbiton High 🏆

British Champion School Ski Team 2026

Not Surbiton ladies’ first win and surely not their last…

Thanks to Verbier for the magnificent setting and support. Thanks to all the schools for taking part and to our splendid volunteers for going the extra mile. To the 150 young racers, to their mums, dads, teachers and coaches — thanks to all of you for making it happen.

😎🎿🩵