The new series of the BBC’s long-running Ski Sunday begins on January 13 and will feature all the thrills and excitement of the men’s and women’s World Cup skiing season as well as the usual mix of news and views from the world of winter sports.
Regular presenters Graham Bell and Ed Leigh return to front the 35th series across seven weeks on BBC Two and BBC HD, culminating with the FIS Alpine World Skiing Championships in Schladming, Austria from February 4-17.
They will joined by Olympic skeleton gold medallist Amy Williams, who retired from skeleton last year, as all three also look ahead to some of top British hopefuls for medals at next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, now just 13 months away.
This year also sees extensive coverage of key FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup races and the World Championships in Schladming, plus Ski Sunday Extra on the Red Button.
For the opening episode of the 2013 series, the team is in St. Anton in Austria for the women’s World Cup downhill as they follow British number one skier Chemmy Alcott on her return from a career-threatening injury.
All eyes will be on the great American racer Lindsey Vonn to see if she will continue to dominate downhill racing.
Plus Ed Leigh presents a special feature from Alaska, the last frontier of snowboarding, where one of the greatest snowboarders on the planet, Travis Rice, is pushing the boundaries of the sport.
Two classics follow on two iconic mountains – Switzerland’s Wengen Lauberhorn and the infamous Kitzbuehel Hahnenkamm in Austria before the team decamps to Moscow for an exciting new race which will be broadcast live on BBC Red Button on January 29, and featured in the following Ski Sunday episode.
A man-made slalom course built in the centre of the Russian capital will see skiers racing side by side under floodlights in front of thousands of fans.
The series will continue focusing on the latest action from the unfolding alpine skiing World Cup season, as well as the best action from other popular winter sports such as snowboarding, all of which will be interspersed with regular features and segments.
Schladming in Austria hosts this year’s World Championships, a exciting prequel to next year’s Winter Olympics.
Fans will be able to see every race on the Red Button and the BBC Sport website, as well as the major races on BBC Two and the BBC HD channel (see TV schedule below).
The series finishes in Meribel, the first time Ski Sunday will come to this famous French resort for the blue riband women’s downhill.
As well the alpine skiing, there are plenty of other winter sports in the programme.
Ed Leigh has travelled to the far reaches of Alaska and goes behind the scenes with the most famous snowboard film makers in the world. He also catches up with the great Travis Rice, the leading free rider in the world as well as Tom Burt, one of the pioneers of the sport.
Plus Graham and Ed will be trying to rediscover their youth as they get taught a few tricks from the freestylers reinventing winter sport in the UK.
Extended coverage of selected events will follow each episode on Ski Sunday Extra, available on the Red Button straight after the BBC Two transmission.
Fans are encouraged to get it touch with the Ski Sunday team, and you can put your questions and views via #BBCSkiSunday on Twitter.
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I echo boardhounds comments and would add a plea for less padded commentary on the events as they take place and less kow-towing to the cult of the celebrity.
Why is it necessary to have two presenters for a 45 minute slot?
Yes – come on BBC, how many people LOVE all forms of winter sports, yet have to survive on paltry coverage each year unless there’s a Winter Olympics? Sort it out please – you’d get guaranteed audiences, which would rate highly on any of your channels. Just look at the numbers of skiers/snowboarders the travel companies bank on – and you’re missing out on this market completely, every year!
Jasmin is brilliant, with loads of potential but the BBC aren’t really focused on our rising stars.
Please can we have some coverage of the telemark skiing World Cup? Jasmin Taylor is, I understand, the best performing British skier in the World Cup circuit, coming 9th in the telemark FIS worlds.
What about the rest of the season Wengan & Kitzbuhle may be classics but theres no point only showing half the season.