J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyhull

TJ Baldwin is one of the best we have, he learnt to ski on the dry slope here in Norwich. He missed out on an Olympic place, 3 of the 5 events being cancelled. Running later with worn piste conditions is a lottery.
I know a local business owner who sponsored him for several years, but we're not talking proper funding. I also had a go at getting him additional sponsorship from the company I was working for at the time. But there is very little interest sponsoring alpine skiers even when they are as good as TJ.

http://www.teambss.org.uk/ski-snowboard-squads/alpine-skiing/british-senior-alpine-ski-squad/thomas-(tj)-baldwin/

tin pot wrote:Any idea what "the whole programme" would be?

Ta.

Living there, coaching, travel and accommodation around USA and Europe for training camps and competitions, equipment. You'll need a small fortune just to get to the start line.
Sponsorship is pretty much non-existent.

tin pot wrote:My son (8) is pretty keen on being a champion skier. :)

What would one have to do do get him as high in the rankings as Chemmy?

Base yourselves in a ski resort, hire a world class coach and work very hard. Oh and fund it yourself.

andymol2 wrote:I thought the Olympic ethos was not just about the winning but also the taking part.

The ethos of the modern Olympics:
The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

Personally I don't have any problem with the BOA having stringent qualification standards and excluding those that don't meet them. I see little point in athletes being there just to make up the numbers.

The saying 'it's not the winning but the taking part' is not the correct interpretation, 'it's not the winning but the competition that matters', is more accurate.

Great medal races. Ski cross has delivered.

I reckon their secret is that the French train on the Plein Sud piste in Val Thorens as the Folie Douce kicks out.

Then it all got a bit surreal, talking about dinasours emerging from the mist.

Raining this morning in Sochi. A soggy course awaits the woman.