GB Snowsport has officially confirmed the selection of thirteen World Cup squad athletes to compete in Nordic and Telemark competitions throughout the 2026/27 season, signaling a period of unprecedented growth for British winter sports. The announcement, made on July 3, 2026, highlights a strategic expansion of the nation’s cross-country and telemark programs following the conclusion of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games cycle. Among the headline developments is the naming of the largest British Nordic World Cup squad in history, featuring seven athletes, and the continued leadership of Jaz Taylor, Britain’s most decorated FIS athlete, within a six-strong Telemark contingent. While the squads look toward future podiums, the sport also bids farewell to a cornerstone of the Park & Pipe program, as veteran Freeskiier James Pouch has formally announced his retirement from competitive skiing.
The selection process, which concluded in the spring of 2026, reflects a deliberate effort by GB Snowsport to capitalize on the momentum generated during the previous quadrennial. By integrating established Olympic veterans with emerging talent and strategic international transfers, the governing body aims to solidify Britain’s standing as a multi-discipline threat on the global snowsport circuit.
A New Era for British Nordic Skiing
The 2026/27 Nordic World Cup squad represents a significant milestone for the discipline in the United Kingdom. For the first time, seven athletes have been selected for the top-tier World Cup squad, a testament to the increased depth and professionalization of the British cross-country system. This roster includes four athletes who represented Great Britain at the recent Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, providing a foundation of elite experience for the upcoming season.
The core of the men’s team remains anchored by seasoned performers who have consistently challenged the traditional powerhouses of Norway and Sweden. Andrew Musgrave, who secured a landmark third-place finish at the Tour de Ski in Toblach in December 2024, continues to lead the charge. His presence, alongside fellow long-standing teammates, ensures that the British squad maintains its reputation for tactical intelligence and endurance on the World Cup circuit.
However, the most notable shift in the Nordic program is the resurgence and expansion of the women’s team. Last season, Anna Pryce and Tabitha Williams made their World Cup debuts, delivering a series of performances that re-established Great Britain as a competitive force in the women’s Nordic circuit. Their promotion to the full World Cup squad for the 2026/27 season is joined by the inclusion of Amelia Wells. Wells, who previously competed within the Canadian system and made her World Cup debut in 2023, represents a significant acquisition for GB Snowsport, bringing further international experience to the burgeoning women’s roster.
Strategic Partnerships and the Team Aker Daehlie Synergy
Central to the success of the British Nordic program is the ongoing relationship with the Norwegian professional outfit, Team Aker Daehlie. The 2026/27 season marks the fifth consecutive year of this partnership, which allows British athletes to train and compete alongside some of the world’s best skiers in a high-performance environment. This collaboration has been instrumental in bridging the gap between national-level training and the rigors of the FIS World Cup circuit.
The synergy with Team Aker Daehlie provides British skiers with access to world-class coaching, wax technicians, and training camps in the heartland of cross-country skiing. This "pro-team" model has proven particularly effective for nations with smaller domestic snowsport infrastructures, allowing GB Snowsport to maximize its resources and provide its athletes with a competitive edge that would be difficult to achieve independently.
The Telemark Powerhouse: Jaz Taylor and the Six-Athlete Squad
In the realm of Telemark skiing, Great Britain continues to punch well above its weight, led by the incomparable Jasmin Taylor. Taylor’s 2025/26 season was nothing short of extraordinary, yielding twelve World Cup podiums and further cementing her status as Britain’s most successful FIS athlete of all time. Her decision to continue her career into the 2026/27 season provides the Telemark squad with both a world-leading competitor and a mentor for the younger generation.
Taylor is joined on the World Cup squad by five other athletes, forming a robust unit capable of challenging for podiums across multiple disciplines, including Classic, Sprint, and Parallel Sprint. The selection process also highlighted the health of the Telemark talent pipeline, with six athletes named to the Development Team. Notable inclusions such as Georgiana Altham and Vilma Bkork-Mann—the latter having made her World Cup debut in the 2026 season—suggest that the future of British Telemark remains bright.
GB Snowsport officials noted that the Telemark selection process involves continuous monitoring of promising skiers. The governing body has expressed its intention to integrate several "scouted" athletes into the squad structure as the season progresses, ensuring that the team remains dynamic and responsive to emerging talent.
End of an Era: The Retirement of James Pouch
While the Nordic and Telemark squads prepare for expansion, the Freeski community is reflecting on the career of James Pouch. A mainstay of the Park & Pipe World Cup squad for years, Pouch has officially announced his retirement ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. His departure marks the end of a career characterized by longevity and consistency in one of the most physically demanding disciplines in snowsports.
Pouch’s final season (2025/26) was a testament to his enduring skill. He recorded six World Cup results, including two notable top-30 finishes in Big Air. His 24th-place finish in Steamboat in December 2025 and a 29th-place result in Tignes in March 2026 demonstrated that he remained competitive against the world’s elite until his final event.
Reflecting on his journey, Pouch expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded by his time with the national team. "It’s been an incredible time skiing with the team over the years," Pouch stated. "I’ve seen parts of the world that I otherwise wouldn’t have, met amazing people, and been able to compete with the best skiers out there. Freeskiing is in a great place right now and I feel really honoured and fortunate to have been a part of the scene for all this time."
His retirement leaves a void in the Park & Pipe squad, but his legacy as a pioneer for British freeskiing is secure. Pouch was part of a generation that helped transition British freestyle skiing from a niche pursuit into a professionally supported Olympic discipline.
Broadening the Talent Pool: Cross-Sport Transfers and Development
One of the more intriguing selections for the 2026/27 season is the inclusion of professional cyclist Annabel Fisher in the Nordic Performance Squad. Fisher’s selection represents a bold move by GB Snowsport to utilize "talent transfer" pathways, identifying athletes with high aerobic capacities from other disciplines who can be transitioned into cross-country skiing. This approach mirrors successful programs in other nations where endurance athletes from rowing or cycling have successfully moved into winter sports.
The Continental Cup and Junior squads also see significant activity. Beinn Horsfall returns to the Continental Cup squad, joined by Thomas Duncan, who earns a promotion from the Performance Squad. The inclusion of Oliver Sweetman, a transfer from the Norwegian system, and Ida-Marie Ewald, who returns to the fold after previously featuring in the 2021/22 Junior Squad, highlights the diverse routes athletes are taking to reach the elite level of British snowsports.
Analysis: Implications for the 2026/27 Season and Beyond
The record-breaking size of the Nordic squad and the sustained excellence of the Telemark team suggest that GB Snowsport’s long-term strategy is yielding results. By maintaining a presence in the "Team Aker Daehlie" structure and expanding the women’s program, the UK is positioning itself to be more than just a participant in Nordic disciplines; it is becoming a consistent contender for points and podiums.
The 2026/27 season is often viewed as a "reset" year following an Olympic Games, but for GB Snowsport, it appears to be a year of acceleration. The blend of veteran leadership (Musgrave, Young, Taylor) and fresh energy (Pryce, Williams, Wells) creates a balanced ecosystem. Furthermore, the focus on development squads ensures that the transition of athletes like James Pouch does not leave a permanent gap in the nation’s competitive output.
As the athletes head into summer training camps and eventual early-season snow in the Southern Hemisphere and Scandinavia, the expectations for British snowsports have never been higher. The 2026/27 season will be the first true test of this expanded squad depth as they compete across the globe under the GB Snowsport banner.
Comprehensive 2026/27 Squad Selections
Nordic Squads
World Cup Squad
- Andrew Musgrave
- Andrew Young
- James Clugnet
- Joe Davies
- Anna Pryce
- Tabitha Williams
- Amelia Wells
Continental Cup Squad
- Beinn Horsfall
- Thomas Duncan
- Oliver Sweetman
- Ida-Marie Ewald
Performance Squad
- Annabel Fisher (and others to be confirmed)
Junior Squad
- Three athletes selected (names to be finalized in forthcoming technical bulletins)
Telemark Squads
World Cup Squad
- Jasmin Taylor
- Five additional athletes confirmed for the top-tier circuit
Development Team
- Georgiana Altham
- Vilma Bkork-Mann
- James Dykes
- Joshua Wisbey
- Charles White
- (One additional athlete to be named)
The 2026/27 season promises to be a defining chapter for British winter sports, characterized by a mix of record-breaking squad sizes, legendary figures continuing their pursuit of excellence, and the emergence of a new generation of skiers ready to make their mark on the world stage.
