222: Vicky Gosling, GB Snowsport CEO

GB Snowsport CEO Vicky Gosling joins Iain for this special episode of The Ski Podcast.  We go behind the scenes of British skiing and snowboarding to find out what goes into running an organisation like GB Snowsport and how a country with no mountains outperforms countries from across the world. We also find out about Vicky’s background in the RAF, what it was like working alongside Prince Harry on the Invictus Games and the link between snowsports and surfing. This episode is part of a series of podcasts we're publishing this winter focusing on women in the snowsports industry.  Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES In 2022/23 GB Snowsport recorded 50 World Cup, World Champs, X Games podiums That included a podium in every single discipline (4:00) Pat Sharples is Head Coach of the GB Snowsports (6:30) Listen to Iain’s interview with Pat Sharples (33:15) Vicky and Pat had to sleep in their car in St Moritz (8:30) Vicky was a Group Captain in the RAF, deployed to the Gulf (10:30) In 2014, she became Military Exec Lead for first Invictus Games in London (12:30) Vicky was appointed CEO for the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando (14:00) Herding Morgan Freeman and Michelle Obama at the opening ceremony (15:00) Appointed CEO of GB Snowsport in 2018 (15:30) ‘British Ski and Snowboard’ was re-branded to ‘GB Snowsport’ (16:30) The goal to become a top five snowsport nation by 2030 (18:00) Funding from UK Sport went up after Pyeongchang, but was cut after Beijing (20:15) Team GB won one medal at Sochi 2014 (Jenny Jones) and two at Pyeongchang 2018 (Billy Morgan & Izzy Atkin) (21:30) Kirsty Muir was the highest-placed Briton on snow with 5th in Big Air (23:30) Listen to Iain’s interview with Kirsty Muir in Episode 174 Listen to Iain’s interview with Dave Ryding in Episode 199 (29:30) Dave shares his ring-fenced funding with Billy Major and Laurie Taylor (29:30) Dave Ryding’s coach Tris Glasse-Davies has left to work for US skiing (30:00) The Alpine Team ranked 6th in world in 2023/24, ahead of USA, Italy, Canada (31:30) Jim Ratcliffe donated £11m to help fund new clubhouse for the Courchevel race club (32:00) Mia Brookes is the youngest ever world champion (33:00) Listen to Iain’s interview with Zak Carrick-Smith in Episode 200 (33:15) In 2022 Vicky became Chair of GB Surfing (35:45) Skateboarding medallist Sky Brown just failed to qualify in surfing for the Paris Olympics (37:30) The effect of Brexit on GB Snowsports (39:30) Listen to Stu Brass talking in Episode 213 about how he first met Jenny Jones in Tignes (40:30) Chamonix 2024 saw the first global warming determined slalom (41:00) FIS are under pressure to change their schedule to reduce emissions (41:30) Feedback I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, especially about our features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email [email protected]  robsmith0179: "It was really interesting to listen to [Chemmy Alcott’s] determination and drive from such a young age. I thought I was brave at 10 years old setting off into the hills on my own on a mountain bike...never mind going to New Zealand training.” Victoria Bushnell: “My new Sunday listening is The Ski Podcast hosted by Iain Martin” mc2_woodwork: "I truly love skiing and you bring together so much amazing content and extremely helpful information. After holidays in Tignes the last two winters my 6-year-old is hooked too.”  If you like the podcast, there are three things you can do to help:    1) Review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify  2) Subscribe  3) Book your ski hire with Intersport Rent using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ or take this link There are now 228 episodes of The Ski Podcast and 138 were listened to in the last week. There is so much to listen to in our back catalog - we have covered so many destinations and stories - just go to theskipodcast.com, search around the tags and categories: you’re bound to find something of interest to you.  You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast