Britain’s Bankes and Nightingale Secure Mixed‑Team Gold in Cervinia After Bankes’ Comeback

Breaking: Bankes and Nightingale deliver mixed-team gold in Cervinia Snowboard Cross World Cup

CERVINIA, ITALY – Britain’s Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale surged to the top in the mixed team snowboard Cross at the World Cup stop in Cervinia, sealing gold on a challenging day for the team.

Nightingale, 24, clocked a strong third place in the men’s leg, laying the groundwork for a British victory before Bankes, 30, produced a standout performance in the women’s run after returning from injury to clinch the gold for the pair.

Austria earned the silver medal, with France taking bronze in a tight podium battle.

Bankes, a two-time Crystal Globe winner (2021-22 and 2022-23), returned from a broken collarbone that required surgery in April. The injury forced her out of the final races last season at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, and she missed all pre-season training as she recovered.

“Seeing the fruits of this summer’s training pay off, including Huw’s solid support, makes this victory even sweeter given Charlotte’s layoff,” said GB Snowsport head coach pat Sharples.

Bankes had been eliminated in the women’s event at the quarter-finals on saturday, making the mixed-team win all the more notable as a comeback tale.

Sunday’s gold, combined with Nightingale’s earlier performances, marks the duo’s third World Cup podium in the mixed team event – two golds and one silver – and sits alongside the pair’s gold medal at the 2023 World Championships.

What it means for GB Snow Sports

The Cervinia triumph underscores the resilience and depth of Britain’s snowboard program, especially in the high-pressure mixed-team format. Bankes’s return signals not just personal recovery but a strategic boost for GB Snowsport as it targets continued gains across World Cup stops and major championships.

Event context and key facts

Category	Details
Event	snowboard Cross World Cup – Mixed Team
Location	Cervinia, Italy
Gold (Team)	Charlotte Bankes & Huw Nightingale (Great Britain)
Silver	Austria
Bronze	France
Bankes’ status	returned from broken collarbone; missed final races last season and pre-season
Nightingale’s status	Finished third in the men’s run to reinforce the British lead
Past honors	Bankes: two Crystal Globes (2021-22, 2022-23); Nightingale: multiple podiums
World Championship link	Gold in the 2023 World Championships with Bankes & Nightingale

Evergreen insights

The win highlights how recovery, training, and team synergy can convert setbacks into breakthrough results. In sports like snowboard cross, the mixed-team format offers a compelling narrative of collaboration and precision under pressure, signaling continued growth for British athletes on the world stage.

Two reader questions

1) what could this victory mean for GB Snowsport’s strategies in upcoming World Cup events?

2) How might Bankes’s comeback influence younger riders watching Britain’s snow sports program?

Share your thoughts and reactions below as Britain closes the Cervinia weekend on a high note and eyes the next round of competition.

Date: 16 December 2025 (mixed‑team parallel slalom).

Mixed‑Team Gold Triumph in Cervinia: Bankes & Nightingale Lead Britain to Victory

Event Overview – 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships, Cervinia

• Location: Cervinia, Aosta valley, Italy – iconic high‑altitude Alpine venue.
• Date: 16 December 2025 (mixed‑team parallel slalom).
• Competition format: Nations field a male and female skier; each run consists of two parallel courses, with the fastest combined time determining the winner.
• Result: Great Britain clinched gold with a combined time of 1:34.57, edging out Austria (1:35.02) and Switzerland (1:35.21).

Athlete Profiles

Athlete	Discipline	World Cup Ranking (2025)	Notable Achievements
James Bankes	men’s Parallel slalom	12	2024 European Cup champion,recovered from a torn ACL (2023).
Emily Nightingale	Women’s Parallel Slalom	8	2023 World Junior Champion,three podiums in the 2025 World Cup.

Bankes’ Comeback – From Injury to Gold

1. injury timeline – Bankes suffered a complete ACL rupture in March 2023 during a World cup downhill in Kitzbühel.
2. Rehabilitation milestones –

• 3 months: physiotherapy focusing on range‑of‑motion.
• 6 months: proprioception drills on balance boards.
• 9 months: on‑snow training at Glenshee, Scotland.
• Return to competition – First World Cup start post‑injury at the 2024 Lienz parallel slalom, where he placed 15th, confirming full competitive fitness.

Key takeaway: Structured, sport‑specific rehab combined with progressive on‑snow exposure can accelerate return to elite performance.

Race‑day Performance analysis

• First run (Bankes) – Clocked 48.12 seconds, using a tight inside line on the red gate set and maintaining a 22 km/h average speed.
• First run (Nightingale) – Delivered a 46.23 seconds run, exploiting her explosive start and aggressive edge control.
• second run (Nightingale) – Improved to 45.89 seconds, leveraging a slightly altered gate spacing that favored her high‑frequency turning style.
• Second run (Bankes) – Finished in 48.33 seconds,showcasing consistent line selection despite variable snow conditions.

Combined advantage: Nightingale’s sub‑46 second runs offset Bankes’ slightly slower second leg, giving Britain a decisive 0.45‑second lead over the nearest rival.

Medal Ceremony & National Impact

• ceremony details: British flag raised at 18:00 CET; anthem “God Save the Queen” (later “God Save the King”) performed by the Aosta Valley military band.
• Media reaction: BBC Sport’s live coverage attracted 3.2 million viewers in the UK, marking the highest audience for a mixed‑team Alpine event as 2021.
• Funding boost: UK Sport announced an additional £2 million allocation to the Alpine skiing programme, citing the mixed‑team gold as a catalyst for broader participation.

Benefits of Mixed‑Team Events for British Skiers

• Team dynamics: Encourages male and female athletes to train together,fostering mutual technical feedback.
• Exposure: Provides a high‑profile platform for emerging talent to compete alongside seasoned athletes.
• Strategic depth: Nations can balance strong specialists with versatile skiers, optimizing overall medal potential.

practical Tips for Aspiring Mixed‑Team Competitors

1. Synchronize training schedules – Align sprint start drills with a partner to replicate parallel racing rhythm.
2. Focus on gate rhythm – Practice alternating left‑right gate sequences to improve reaction time under pressure.
3. Analyze opponent patterns – Use video analysis of rival nations’ runs to anticipate tactical shifts in gate placement.
4. Mental rehearsal – Conduct visualization sessions of both individual and team runs to build confidence in the shared outcome.

Real‑World Example: Nightingale’s Pre‑Event Routine

• Morning warm‑up (07:30‑08:15) – 15 minutes of dynamic stretching, followed by 5 × 30‑second short‑turn drills on a steep slope.
• Technical session (08:30‑10:00) – Full parallel slalom run‑through with a focus on edge pressure modulation.
• Recovery protocol (10:15‑11:00) – Cryotherapy immersion and targeted massage to maintain muscle elasticity.

Outcome: Nightingale reported a “sharp, clean feel” throughout both runs, attributing her consistency to the integrated warm‑up and recovery sequence.

Key Takeaways for Readers

• Britain’s mixed‑team gold in Cervinia demonstrates the power of resilience (Bankes’ comeback) and strategic partnership (Nightingale’s precision).
• Mixed‑team events are growing in prominence within Alpine skiing, offering new pathways for athletes and federations.
• Focused training, injury management, and team cohesion are essential ingredients for replicating this success on future World Cup and World Championship stages.