Four successive Europa Cup podiums for British Olympian Ellie Koyander
A steep, intimidating, icy slope covered in bumps is a challenge for many a skier, however for the British Moguls Ski Team, the challenge is what they thrive on. It has been a landmark season for British Ski and Snowboard’s Ellie Koyander who in the past weeks took her 4th successive Europa Cup podium of the 2015 tour placing 2nd overall in Valmalenco. Ellie has been joined by fellow Brits Liam Keyes, Sam Houston and Will Feneley who have all enjoyed training and competing together as a team this season. .
Ellie commented:
“For me this years preparation for the competition season was all about hitting ‘podium making’ speeds at World Cup and we achieved our goals at the start of the of World Cup season and at the World Championships. Murray, (my coach), and I decided that at this stage of the Olympic quadrennial cycle we would take advantage of the Europa Cup scheduling and train some of next seasons technical elements rather than continue with the full World Cup tour. Because of the scheduling, we worked out that I would have so many more starts at Europa Cup as opposed to just one at World Cup in the same time period.
“Our plan was to use the Europa Cup events for developing race skills in a full-on competition environment. After hitting the podium in four consecutive races I now find myself in second place on the overall leader board - which has been a great confidence boost! I am really enjoying being on the podium and once you get that taste, it’s something that you just want every race! I am so pleased with the consistency of my skiing in competition and that’s another really important season’s goal achieved.
“It’s been awesome to have the guys along too, training and competing as a team. There’s been a revolution at grass roots level led by British Ski and Snowboard’s Moguls team manager Chris David and this is now really paying off with some really exciting British talent emerging.This hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Ellie’s coach Murray Cluff commented:
“Ellie is formidable in the start gate. She is a consummate athlete and a really talented competitor who is calm, focused and just delivers quality time and time again.”
With four Europa Cup podium performances thus far and a new men’s Europa Cup team, British Ski and Snowboard’s Performance Director Paddy Mortimer commented “this is a great building block “.
Ellie has returned home to Cambridge for a few days rest before heading out to train on the Olympic Park at Calgary in March which will also see her completing the final two races of Europa Cup tour in Finland and Sweden later in March. She will also be joined by the other British Europa Cup team members.
A video of Ellie’s Europa Cup success this season can be found clicking here
