Earlier this month, British Army and Royal Navy Telemarkers ran the opening event for the 2010 World Cup Telemark series - the first time that Britain has run a FIS World Cup ski event.

19 female and 49 male racers from 12 countries competed in the event, which offered Service racers the chance to participate in a top class event ahead of their own championship races.

Telemark ski racing is characterised by the graceful Telemark turn and, at this top level, by the perilous and gymnastic nature of the skiers' descent. The races also offer a variety of challenges apart from the usual race gates.
The Giant Slalom races, which took place on Monday 11 January, included a jump where racers had to clear a minimum distance or take a time penalty. The Sprint races, which ran on Tuesday 12 January, included a 360 degree banked turn and skating section, in addition to the gates and jump.

In all races, skiers were required to turn in a proper Telemark style or face further time penalties, so the results for each race reflect two runs down the course, with the combined times corrected by the addition of any penalties.
The Telemark Sprint race was spectacular. Most of the course was in sight of the finish area, so racers executed huge jumps in clear view of the spectators, often recovering their balance from unfeasible landings .

The course continued at breakneck speed through the last few gates to the 360 degree turn (or rappelojke) set in the heart of the finish area. Racers entered the banked turn fast, stepping their way round and losing speed before they exited, crossing their entry track to start the final 150m skating section to the finish. All muscles were burning by this stage, so it was not uncommon to see racers half collapse over the finish line, having given it literally all that they had!

There was good spectator support from the village of Rauris, but the Telemark race community is small and generous-spirited enough that most racers stay to see their fellow competitors through with hearty applause and encouragement.

Andreja Jovan, FIS Telemark World Cup Coordinator, said afterwards "The racers were very pleased with the start of their season - the courses gave some great challenges and we are really satisfied with the way in which the event was run by the British Army. We would be very pleased if the British Army ran a World Cup race for us again in 2011."

Originally drawn mainly from the Services, the GB Telemark team has growing UK civilian representation, and has gone from strength to strength in the three years since its reformation under team captain Major Andrew Clarke. International competition is strong, but the GB team managed creditable results at this demanding opening event.

Overall, winners for the women's and men's Telemark GS were Amelie Reymond (FRA - 2:16.84) and Chris Lau (FRA - 2:04.80), while the Telemark sprint winners were Amelie Reymond (FRA - 2:25.23) and Eirik Rykhus (NOR - 2:11.96).

The GB team results were:

Telemark Giant Slalom - Women: 14th - Sarah Hannibal (2:47.19)
Telemark Giant Slalom - Men: 29th - Chris Stewart (2:37.97), 32nd - Huan Davies (2:49.16), 33rd - Andrew Clarke (2:49.51), 34th - Matthew Turner (2:56.37), 35th - Mark Murray (3:03.87). DNF - Chris Wooton, Richard Parrott, Phil Maddox
Telemark Sprint - Women: 18th - Sarah Hannibal (3:29.92)
Telemark Sprint - Men: 26th - Chris Stewart (2:50.59), 28th - Chris Wooton (2:50.59), 29th - Phil Maddox (2:51.66), 30th - Huan Davies (2:53.27), 31st - Andrew Clarke (2:56.73), 32nd - Matthew Turner (2:59.03), 34th - Richard Parrott (3:12.62). DNF - Mark Murray.