As an athlete, he represented Great Britain at five Winter Olympics in 1984 Sarajevo, 1988 Calgary, 1992 Albertville 1992, 1994 Lillehammer, and 1998 Nagano. We join Graham as he speeds down the red Combe Folle piste from Tovire in the sun, to the approach the black Johan Clarey, when the sun starts to disappear. Graham took a silver medal at the World Junior Ski Championships in 1984 and represented Great Britain at five Winter Olympics in Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998. Our editor, James Cove, cant remember the last time he saw the programme recently as hes always out in the Alps away from TVs. Ski Sunday presenter and ex-Olympic downhill ski racer Graham Bell knows a great run when he skis one. The Che-Cha restaurant at Chesa Chantarella in St Moritz do this superb white truffle topping for starter and seafood with black linguine for main course.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Graham retired from the sport in 1998 and was a commentator on Eurosport's World Cup Ski Circuit TV show for two years. And if anyone wants to see the programme then check it out here: Ski Sunday, January 10th. Filmed in late January the snow conditions on the piste look pristine. But the purpose of Grahams visit isnt to clock up the miles, hes there to share a glimpse at the run that the resort hopes will win it the hosting rights for the 2025 World Championships. Posted by BBC Archive on Monday, 14 January 2019. Other TV credits include: The Gadget Show, Through the Keyhole, Celebrity Eggheads, Market Kitchen, Ready Steady Cook and travel shows including Wish You Here. He says: There is a self-service bit and then a lift that goes down to a private area where they do an amazing Cote de Boeffe. It has high-class accommodation options such as the boutique Small Luxury Hotel Himmlhof and the Arlberg Hospiz St Christoph and Hospiz Alm restaurant which all ooze opulence. #OnThisDay 1978: David Vine introduced the first ever edition of Ski Sunday. Starting his run from Tovire at 2,704m, Graham takes us all the way down to Tignes Le Lac at 2,100m. This time Graham is taking his hand-held camera down Le Rochu, a black run inLa Plagne. "We want the show to provide escapism for all those who are desperate to go skiing but can't. In 1998 Martin and I formed a two-man team during a 24-hour charity ski race, where we shared a gondola with Cindy Crawford one of the charity patrons. Graham enjoys skiing in California resorts around Skaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, just minutes from Lake Tahoe. Bell was born on the Akrotiri Royal Air Force station in Cyprus in 1966, the son of pilot Rod Bell and teacher Jean Bell. And an Austrian friend of mine from Innsbruck, Elenna, also noticed and sent me an update as she guessed I must have been otherwise engaged. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Shame he is so unenthusiastic about the women racing a fantastic hill in St Anton, said Chemmy on Twitter in reaction to this article. Graham's other TV credit includesThe Gadget Show, Through the Keyhole, Market Kitchen, Celebrity Eggheads, Ready Steady Cook, and more. The Colorado snow conditions are great due to the altitude and the distance from the nearest ocean. So far he has tackled the Grand Couloir run inCourchevel, the Face de Bellevarde (or La Face for short) black run inVal d'Isreand then what he described as one of the best red runs in the Alps the Combe de la Saulire in Courchevel. Jump to content. Sapana Bajracharya According to her, the gaps were extremely narrow and she thinks it was a real fight. For his latest instalment the Ski Sunday presenter is back in another French favourite, Tignes, which shares a 300km ski area with Val dIsre. But the purpose of Graham's visit isn't to clock up the miles, he's there to . In a speed-skiing race, athletes tuck and hurtle straight down a smooth, steep kilometer-long course, competing to log the highest speed within the 100-meter "timing zone.". Graham Bell Dynamic Skiing with Graham Bell - YouTube He beat Robbo by 11 seconds, whilst carrying no poles, holding a camera, and commentating. The four-time GB Winter Olympian has been a regular on Ski Sunday since she hung up her racing skis in 2014 as a reporter, but now she was lead presenter. Ski Sunday's Chemmy Alcott and Graham Bell have received a frosty reception from BBC bosses for plugging their clothing range on air. Away from the mountains, Graham is the presenter of the BBC's World Championship Series triathlon coverage. Thats why Telegraph Ski and Snowboard asked him to pick stand-out runs from around the world and talk us down each one all the while filming himself navigating them on skis. Elenna knows how much I like St Anton and that slope in particular. Graham looks for ski opportunities first, followed closely by the aprs ski. Dave was interviewed on Ski Sunday ahead of the race by Chemmy Alcott . The Hannegschuss is the fastest section of the Lauberhorn World Cup run in Wengen, Switzerland, one of the most famous descents in ski racing, and Clarey set the record on the course in 2013. The latest episode of Ski Sunday, a BBC Sports' weekly magazine-style television show that covers winter sports, broadcasted the classic slalom race in Adelboden on the 8th of January, 2023. Inside the abandoned Italian ski resort enjoying an unlikely renaissance, Gwyneth isnt alone: ski slopes have become a legal minefield. The most recent link is over to Fieberbrunn, which was actually the resort that I first came to when I went skiing for the first time in the Alps when I was five years old.. You can do the same in Norway by staying on a boat called the HMS Gssten, run by a British company that runs ski touring from the vessel. Watch Graham Bell ski the La Rochu in La Plagne - The Telegraph Is it a plane? Graham explains that the north-facing run has nice dry snow conditions but is prone to moguls late in the season. Action, analysis and the biggest stories on snow. "It was the time in the week the whole family would come together to watch it as we all loved the ski racing," said the 38-year-old. The Cove household watched Ski Sunday with David Vine. In January 2017 Bell set a World Record for towed speed skiing 189.07kmh behind a Jaguar F-Pace in Sweden. Chemmy Alcott brings the best of the action from the women's downhill from St . Photo: Getty Images. Actually a bit scarier., Bell had five warm-up runs, initially reaching speeds of 50mph and moving progressively up to 100mph. He has presented and commentated on the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. It began in 1978 and is currently presented by Ed Leigh and Chemmy Alcott with reporters Graham Bell, Tim Warwood, Jenny Jones, Aimee Fuller and Phil Young. Isnt there a rather good motoring show with three presenters that appeals to people that barely have a passing interest in cars? He learned to ski in the Cairngorm Mountains and Hillend dry slope. Bravo! Graham Bell and Ed Leigh present from the Swiss resort, with over 20,000 ski racing fanatics expecting a classic contest between 2015's world champion Ted Ligety and World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher. Without a doubt Eds film about the New Zealand freeskier, Hank Bilous. This run is west facing, Graham says of Johan Clarey, so it stays in the shade for most of the day.. Back in the day on the Sabbath, some watched Songs of Praise with Harry Secombe. It is completely luxurious with its own private chef., Grahams best World Cup result came on the fearsome Hahnenhamm hill at Kitzbuhel in Austria. Watching Bell tackling the tough courses on the World Cup circuit always proved a firm favourite with viewers. He then had three record attempts on the mile-long track, wearing a catsuit, downhill racing helmet, back protector and 240cm-long speed skis. Graham is a former Olympic skier and presenter on BBC's Ski Sunday. On Saturday as a 9-year old I hid behind the sofa for Dr Who as he battled with the Daleks and the Cybermen the next day I sat on the front, on the edge, enthralled by the skiers. Ski Sunday returns for 2016 with the giant slalom from Adelboden. Graham Bell Reveals 'Dancing on Ice' Secrets - InTheSnow Id been watching the racing earlier in the day and writing of Dave Rydings fabulous podium place here on PlanetSKI. So, how was the current incarnation of Ski Sunday able to get on air in these Covid-19 times? Passion for skiing to reflect and inspire. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. The tv presenter made a Twitter post on the 9th of January with the caption, "Ski Sunday on now. It has done amazingly well in my judgement, but she failed to mention that the powerhouse Nordic ski nations of Sweden, Norway and Finland boycotted Nordic World Cup events in December 2020 as they felt the Covid-19 precautions were not good enough. Ski Sunday presenters for 2023 are Ed Leigh and Chemmy Alcott. Ski Sunday - Wikipedia She will miss Locki's fourth and Cooper's second birthdays as they are in the French resort of Flaine with their dad, Dougie. It was a staggering decision by the Scandinavian countries similar to Liverpool, Man City and the other top teams withdrawing from the Premiership and accepting the point losses. Graham Bell, who has been involved in the show for more than 20 years, will miss this series as he will be seen on our television screens taking part in ITV's Dancing On Ice instead. The five-time Olympic ski racer managed to . With a gradient of . In March 2018, immediately after the RLC Championships, Graham Bell hosted a heliskiing week in Alagna, Italy.[4]. Originally launched in 1978, the programme came off the back of the 1976 Winter Olympics from Innsbruck where Franz Klammer won gold with probably the best downhill run of all time. From much-loved pistes to infamous off-piste routes, Bell selected only the finest runs for this video series. Its much more like waterskiing. Latest snow reports: Where has the best conditions for the end of the ski season? Graham has competed in numerous triathlon competitions and 24-hour mountain biking events. Ski Sunday was my inspiration with Ron Pickering and David Vine fronting the show. He has joined forces once again with snowboarder and presenter Ed Leigh to present BBC's magazine style sports show Ski Sunday.The weekly programme which features skiing, snowboarding and various winter sports will see the pair commentating on events and interviewing contestants from all over . Graham has visited most of the worlds top skiing regions during his time as either for racing or TV, as well as for personal recreation. Ski Sunday presenter and ex-Olympic downhill ski racer Graham Bell knows a great run when he skis one. So, what did he make of it? Theyre going to have the womens and mens course beginning down the same run, explains Bell as he sets off, before pointing out spots where each course will deviate in different directions, before joining again in a shared finish area at the bottom of the run. But the purpose of Graham's visit isn't to check out the glacier, he's there to . Now firmly established on the corporate circuit, Graham is available for after dinner speaking engagements, TV/Radio punditry, public appearances, conferences and product endorsement. Enough I am splitting hairs, but as a news hack I try to keep across these things. Then there is Hakuba on the island of Honshu in the Nagano Prefecture where, he exclaimed, Ive never seen snowflakes like it, they were the size of saucers. Niseko on the island of Hokkaido, south east of Sapporo, has some of the best powder skiing in the world and you can ski on the volcano, so the terrain is quite mellow, but it just does not stop snowing.. Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell, and ex-Olympic downhill ski racer, . Former Olympic GB skier and Decathlon UK Ambassador Graham Bell, gives his expert advice to help you improve your skiing technique with Wedze on the slopes t. Learn how to get involved in ice hockey to put your skating and hand-eye co-ordination to the test. Inside the abandoned Italian ski resort enjoying an unlikely renaissance, Gwyneth isnt alone: ski slopes have become a legal minefield. Graham was part of the Ski Sunday team which won a Royal Television Society award in 2002. Find us. He has competed in four Olympics, seven World Championships and won the Europa Cup for Great Britain. When being pulled along, you end up moving your centre of gravity to compensate for the force thats going through your arms. Leigh and Alcott have been presenting Ski Sunday for the past ten years, and the first episode of the new series aired on the 8th of January, 2023. It coincided with a boom in winter sports as it left the hallowed world of the upper classes and skiing became popular with the masses. It lit my fuse and I have ended up skiing all my life and even made a so-called career out of it. As an adventurer, he loves to accept challenges, which is how he found himself taking part in the Arctic Circle Race; a 160-mile (260km) cross-country skiing race in Greenland and sleeping in a snow hole. Graham is a patron of several UK charities including the DisabilitySnowsportUK, Snow Camp. I was looking forward to the womens racing from St Anton to see the crowd as well as the racing. Graham Bell is no stranger to physical challenges. which isn't pisted. Graham Bell's favourite ski runs - Kitzbhel, Austria - YouTube We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Wheres the Cheapest Beer in the Mountains? If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. It's a great race from Adelboden.". However, this winter will be the first for 20 years Bell will not be seen on 'Ski Sunday', as he has swapped his skis for ice skates and signed up for ITV's celebrity show 'Dancing on Ice'. The majestic Matterhorn is always in view and the glacier has some of the highest pisted skiing in the Alps., A luxury resort that holds a special place in Grahams heart is the five-star family-friendly luxury resort of Val DIsere in France as it was where he met his wife Sarah in the 1980s. The four-time GB Winter Olympian has been a regular on Ski Sunday since she hung up her racing skis in 2014 as a reporter, but now she was lead presenter. Graham Bell (born 4 January 1966) is a former Olympic skier who is also a TV presenter, adventurer and journalist. As he catches his breath theSki Sundaypresenter describes how the steepness of the run doesn't let up until the very bottom "a real leg burner", he exclaims. He has worked on the Tour de France for ITV, and in 2009 competed in the Fastnet Race with Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, filming, interviewing and presenting as well as working as an active crew member. Nor for its musical attributes, but the memories it triggers. From much-loved pistes to infamous backcountry routes, Graham selected only the finest for this videoseries. 4 min read. Ed said ahead of the show that she has smashed it as co-lead presenter. / January 10, 2023 01:29 AM. Ed Leigh Keeps Working On BBC's Ski Sunday Despite Major Injury ITV has just announced the former team GB downhill skier will compete in the channel's popular reality show Dancing on Ice 2021. Watch Ski Sunday . It is now bidding to host the World Championships again and the course will take a new route on the same mountain, which Graham traces in his run from the top of the new gondola and down the number 15 black piste. Above all Ski Sunday was, is and always should be about passion. I raced here again in 1995 in the downhill, says Graham as he speeds past leisurely holidaymakers on the slope. Watch Graham Bell ski his favourite run in Kitzbhel, home to the If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. My grandmother told me to find my mojoI hope 2021 will be a memorable year and ski fans get a lift, Dave said. With the record in the bag, Bell thinks he could go faster still, subject to three changes a fairing to decrease the total drag and force travelling through his arms and hands, a faster car, and a track that's three times the length. The last time the resort hosted the World Championships was 1991 when both Graham and his brother Martin raced, representing Great Britain. Gwyneth isn't alone: ski slopes have become a legal minefield. But the purpose of Grahams visit isnt to check out the glacier, hes there to share a favourite black piste, Johan Clarey, renamed last season after the Tignes-born ski racer, who has recorded the fastest ever skiing speed in a World Cup race. BBC in branding row as Ski Sunday presenters plug designers they The pair are both brand ambassadors and have their own. He has also worked with Whisper Films and Whitelines Snowboard Magazine (editor). The 2020 series of the weekly winter sports magazine . G raham Bell, presenter of Ski Sunday, . In this episode, Iain speaks with the following people: Chemmy Alcott, BBC Ski Sunday Al Morgan, SkiKitInfo.com Jarrod Osbourne, Ski Olympic Will, Random Rental Luke Rees, AWE365.com snowHeads ski club 2.0 is the friendliest ski club ever. And if you like your skiing a bit more rustic, you could try the active volcanoes to the south of Chile like Villarrica, an area renowned for its extraordinary beauty. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. How to get into curling - an intricate, tactical back-and-forth game on a sheet of ice, accessible to all ages. BBC Sport - Ski Sunday Home High octane, high altitude winter sports from across the world, and the best theme tune on telly. Graham Bell - Official Website|Olympian|Broadcaster Graham has also worked for Eurosport, ITV, and Sky, covering a range of different sports. They were in the Swiss resort of Laax and were not able to travel to races. Speed skiing: Why isn't it an Olympic sport? - slate.com Its really nice snow, exclaims Graham. Snow conditions are great, weve had a little bit of fresh [snow], but the man made [snow] underneath is absolutely perfect. He later explains this is because the slope is north-facing meaning the snow is kept out the sun and in good condition. When packing his suitcase, he eschews luxury items for a shovel, Gopro and airbag basically all the things that will keep me alive first. The reason for this is because he is a big fan of skiing in places like La Grave the sort of resort where you go down to breakfast in your harness and lay your ice pick on the table by your knife and fork. Instead, he will treat himself and his family at a resort to a fine wine or decadent meal or maybe some luxury cheese to take home. Expressing yourself, loving life and giving back. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Ski Sunday pair in hot water with BBC after plugging clothing range In Scandinavia, Graham recommends rein Sweden and Hemsedal in Norway. I have no recollection of it but my Mum, now 93-years old, says I was there and I always believe my Mum. Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell, and ex-Olympic downhill ski racer, knows a great run when he skis one. Former five time Olympic skier and Champions Celebrity Graham Bell has a busy start to the New Year. Getting to 100mph is not unusual for me, but going above that is a bit of a threshold. Graham has also worked for Eurosport, ITV, and Sky, covering a range of different sports. Year after year, Graham Bell and Ski Sunday have found a home in our TV screens throughout the UK and around the world. But La Panoramic, is his all-time favourite. Thoughts of David Vine, the Bell brothers, Zurbriggen, Maier, Miller, sketchy camera angles, skiers out of focus, bright colours, arms flailing, looking at the scenery to see what the snow conditions out in the Alps were like and much else besides came flooding back. But its pure action and thats how it should be.. Bell took on the challenge in March 2017 at Jaguar Land Rovers Revi Test Centre in Arjeplog in northern Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle, where the temperature was a chilly -28C. My Mum and Dad were keen skiers and it was a must on our TV. We did debate whether we presented from a studio at MediaCity in Salford but I was already out in Switzerland and coming from New Zealand, it was safer for Ed and Chris to head here rather than the UK, said Chemmy. Going directly behind the car was not an option because of the amount of snow smoke.. Graham also embraces New Zealand where you can go heliskiing in the south islands, as well as skiing the resorts of Queenstown and Wanaka. After he was posted to Edinburgh, Graham took up skiing in the Cairngorm mountains with his brother Martin who also went on to become a professional skier. You can watch the sun go down at the end of the day witnessing the mountain going to bed. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Scots Ski Sunday host Graham Bell reveals terror after helicopter stunt", "A Ski Podcast Special: Graham Bell 'Dancing on Ice' The Ski Podcast", "Watch Graham Bell go heli skiing in the Italian Alps", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graham_Bell_(skier)&oldid=1140089956, Alpine skiers at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Alpine skiers at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Alpine skiers at the 1992 Winter Olympics, Alpine skiers at the 1994 Winter Olympics, Alpine skiers at the 1998 Winter Olympics, BLP articles lacking sources from March 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 10:40. But I've got another year to prepare now," she said. Behind Corinna Suter, we saw Tamara Tippler as the best Austrian skier at in fourth place. Welcome to the official website of Graham Bell! Bell is a former Olympic skier who learned to ski in the Cairngorm Mountains and Hillend dry slope and competed for Britain throughout the 1980s and 1990s. People are skinning up with cross country and snowshoeing allowed. Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Graham will not be one of the 2023 presenters alongside Chemmy Alcott. Graham explains that the north-facing run has nice dry snow conditions but is prone to moguls late in the season. To prepare for the attempt, Bell went ski-joring (being towed) behind another Jaguar car in the Austrian Alps at the end of the 2015/16 season, where he recorded speeds of up to 100mph. His natural charm and enthusiasm on screen have led the BBC to cover more in this area than ever before. Graham Bell, who has been involved in the show for more than 20 years, will miss this series as he will be seen on our television screens taking part in ITV's Dancing On Ice instead. Decathlon UK: Graham Bell Ski Tips: Beginner to Intermediate Skier It is incredibly sad, Graham admits, But they will be back next winter when we have the vaccine, and we will be dancing on the tables in 2021/2022.. The 39-year-old Frenchman made his racing debut aged 22, and has racked up several medals in World Cup and World Championship super-G and downhill races since, including this season. His natural charm and enthusiasm on screen have led the BBC to cover more in this area than ever before. Guests visiting this region can stay in properties such as the magnificent Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc, and boutique Relais Mont Blanc and Spa in La Salle that prides itself on its grand gastronomy and Michelin restaurants. Graham personally prefers a luxury catered chalet to a hotel and the Val DIsere Le ChardonMountain Lodges are his favourites. Most of us are familiar with the BBC show Ski Sunday and its iconic theme tune. As well as being in the shade, which means it will keep its snow well, Graham tells us that the Johan Clarey run is also special because not many skiers come down it, which is why, if its empty, theres the chance to really open the throttle. Hes also took us heli-skiing in Alagna and revealed the secret side to the Austrian party hot spot Ischgl. Alcott was all set to take over the popular feature but that has been put on hold for this season. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Lets just say Grahams position might be in jeopardy, but please producers perhaps have three presenters for 2022. So far hes tackled a number of French favourites including the Grand Couloir run in Courchevel and the Face de Bellevarde (La Face) black run in Val dIsre as well as Austrias steepest piste the Harakiri in Mayrhofen, his favourite run in Kitzbhel and one of the most scenic routes in Italy, the Lagazuoi piste in Cortina dAmpezzo.