The British and Scottish ski championships have been put on the skids by the financial meltdown of Snowsport GB.
Though hope remains for both, each could be cancelled leaving competitors out of pocket. A decision on the British event (Meribel in Savoy, starting March 27), will be taken only when Snowsport GB is formally in administration. They owe £600,000.
Organiser Maree Rudd says that, if she knows by next Thursday at the latest, she can proceed using volunteers. And only then will the mist clear over the Scottish Championships (starting April 6) in adjacent Courchevel.
No entries were taken for the British because fees would be forfeit in the event of impending administration, but competitors and families booked flights and hotels early at preferential rates. The Scottish follows immediately, with similar arrangements already paid for. Entries were still being advertised on Snowsport Scotland’s website yesterday.
Their spokesperson said: “Following a decision on the status of the British championships, whatever that might be, Snowsport Scotland will review its plans and take action, with the priority being the interests of the athletes already committed to the event, and those wishing to become involved.”
Perhaps 200 people contest the British, many of whom also do the Scottish, but each is funded independently.
“We very much want to go ahead,” said Ms Rudd, “but can do nothing until the governing body takes itself into administration. The longer it goes, the less likely we are to have the confidence of the athletes to enter.”
Chief of championships for FIS events at the British championships, she added: “I have had no contact with the Snowsport GB chairman, Oliver Jones, since last May.” The British Olympic Association is trying to hold the sport together, for which Snowsport Scotland ceo Jane Harvey is thankful. “We’re grateful to them for taking this on in the short term, as it secured our athletes’ representation at the Olympics and ensured that non-Olympic athletes could continue to enter races.”
However, those who do are mystified. The number they call is a company called Clipper Windpower, a wind turbine company chaired by BOA chairman Lord Colin Moynihan until 2007.
The International Ski Federation, whose permission was needed to transfer responsibilities to a new body, was extremely hesitant about our inquiries before confirming they’d been transferred to “an organisation under the auspices of the BOA.”
Former GB Olympic competitor Sara Lewis, FIS general secretary, said, however, “I’ve no information about an alternative energy company . . . FIS does not get involved in the actual mechanics of the operation of a national association. They are an autonomous organisation.”
Normally the FIS congress would have to endorse a new national body, but the next one is in May. “It’s absolutely standard practice for a National Olympic Committee to give the approval of a national body in the respective country.”
Further questioning was impossible. Contact was broken. We redialled immediately and were connected with an answering machine. Further calls also went to a machine.
Among the Scots hoping the GB championships go ahead is Nicole Ritchie, from Craigholme School in Glasgow. Family arrangements for Meribel were made some time ago.
World No.5 for her age and silver medallist at the British schools championships, Nicole won a media competition and will fly to the Olympics this month with snowboarder Tom Walsh, from Devon.
Ritchie has been studying and training in Canada and will travel with Walsh as winners of the McDonald’s Champions Kids programme.
