Where to Ski And Snowboard - UK Sport funds British team

UK Sport funds British team

26th June 2014, by Abi Butcher

Funding boost: Britain's Paralympic skier Kelly Gallagher won gold in Sochi

Snowsports in Britain have received a huge boost with an award of £7.6 million to develop Olympic skiing and snowboarding over the next four years.

After a record-breaking Winter Olympics in Sochi, where British skiers and snowboarders finished with six top-ten results including a bronze medal from Jenny Jones, UK Sport has awarded the sport £4.89 million to develop before the next Winter Games in Pyeongchang in 2018.

The money goes to British Ski and Snowboard, the national governing body for skiing and snowboarding in the UK, which was set up only four years ago. Back then, it received no direct funding from UK Sport and received £1.52 million in 2012.

Dave Edwards, chief executive of British Ski and Snowboard described the funding as a “vital component” to the sport’s survival and future success.

“Receiving this level of funding from UK Sport is testament to how far we have come as a governing body since the demise of Snowsport GB in 2010,” he said.

“The award comes at one of the most exciting times for snowsports in this country and the level of funding is reflective of the current talent in our Park and Pipe programme. It will allow us as a governing body to maintain world class performance programmes and offer even more support systems for these athletes.”

The money awarded will allow British Ski and Snowboard to plan the next four years for all British elite snowsports athletes with a greater degree of certainty, explained Mr Edwards, and allow more of the sponsorship and donations that we raise to be targeted across all disciplines.

UK Sport also awarded £2.749 million to para-alpine skiing, part of Disability Snowsport UK, for the next four years. It follows the team’s unrivalled success in Sochi – where skier Kelly Gallagher brought home a gold and Jade Etherington, won a silver and a bronze.

Disability Snowsport UK chief executive Fiona Young said: “This is great news that UK Sport has recognised the achievements and hard work put in by the athletes, It is an important step forward in funding and support for para-alpine skiing in Great Britain.”