Featured Image: Laurie Taylor racing slalom. Credit: GEPA

In episode 23 of the Skiing is Believing podcast, Matt and Alan spoke with emerging British slalom star Laurie Taylor about dry slopes, World Cup top tens, and everything in between.

Laurie started skiing at age six on family holidays and joined the Aldershot Ski Club at age nine. At ten years old, British Ski Academy invited him to begin training at one of their bases in Les Houches, France. Between the ages of 12 and 18, he spent every summer in New Zealand training with the Queenstown Ski Club before moving back home to continue his studies.

He shared with Matt and Alan the importance of those treasured experiences in New Zealand, how those trips shaped the ski racer he is today, and why they improved his racing.

Laurie also told the podcast about the current and continuing growth of GB Snowsport, the British National Ski Team. He trains year-round with other British slalom racers, including Dave Ryding (Episode 32 of the Skiing is Believing podcast) and Billy Major. He discussed the team’s goals for the upcoming seasons and outlined strategies to improve the consistency of this season’s performance.

This past season in Kitzbuhel, all three of the British slalom racers placed in the top 20. Additionally, in Aspen, Dave and Laurie both placed within the top 8, which was the first time two Brits had been in the top 10 in the same FIS World Cup.

Fascinatingly, Laurie also shared how he has become a FIS World Cup racer after learning to ski on dry slopes in the south of England. He believes this helped him in his recent World Pro Ski Tour debut in Taos.

Tune in to this episode to hear Laurie’s story and learn more. Also, visit Laurie’s YouTube channel, where he runs a behind-the-scenes series called “Behind the Brits!”

Please let the Skiing is Believing podcast know what you thought of this episode and any others you’ve listened to. You can find them on YouTube and Instagram at @skiingisbelievingpodcast, where this week they recorded a live quiz in which Dave Ryding participated! You can find all of their episodes on Spotify and Amazon Music, or contact them via email at mattgarcka.skiingisbelieving@gmail.com.