Conor Columb

Race Squad Coach

Background

I started skiing in the Ski Club of Ireland when I was about 5. I was part of the Saturday morning ski racing group taught by John & Alice Rapple for many years. The minis section is a descendant of that fondly remembered Club institution.

Achievements

I raced in the SCI Championships when I was young and took part in Club league races for many years winning several underage trophies. When I turned senior I won the Men’s Slalom Championship 10 times in a row and I raced on dry slopes in Ireland, the UK and Holland.

I won 4  Irish Championships, 2  Scottish Championships, 4 British Championships, 1 European Championships and was the top-ranked ski racer on the UK’s dry slope seed list three years in a row. I was a member of the Irish Ski Team at World Ski Championships events in Morioka, Japan 1993; Sierra Nevada, Spain 1995; Sestriere, Italy 1997 and Vail, USA 1999.

Coaching Experience

I was part of the coaching staff for the Irish Ski Team at World Championships in St. Anton, Austria 2001 and in St. Moritz, Switzerland 2003…and I am a Level 4 Alpine Performance Coach. For about 15 years I coached the SCI race squad which included hot shots like Ciaran Lee and Brian Byrne and currently coach the minis.

Favourite Skier

Steve Chandler. But I also like Swiss skier Pirmin Zurbriggan. Check out what did before he retired aged 26.