Graham Bell (skier)
Encyclopedia
Graham Bell is a former professional skier and television pundit. Graham Bell was the younger of the two Bell brothers (his older brother is Martin Bell
) from Britain
.
Graham is a former five times Olympic skier, TV presenter, adventurer and journalist. He is the face of BBC TV’s Ski Sunday
and in 2009 with Ed Leigh
presented High Altitude, the primetime BBC2 adrenaline packed winter sports programme. Highlights included Graham tackling the Arctic Circle Race; a 160mile cross-country ski race in Greenland, surviving a night in a snow-hole without food, water or a sleeping bag, and set a new personal best top speed on skis of 121mph.
, learning to ski in the Cairngorm mountains and Hillend dry slope. By the time the family were posted to Yorkshire, Graham and his brother Martin, were both racing full-time on the World Cup circuit, although they developed close ties with Harrogate dry ski slope hold coaching camps there in the summer. Rod Bell continued to fly with the RAF teaching at the Central Flying School. In 2005 when Graham flew with the Red Arrows
as part of the BBC’s coverage of the Great North Run
, he was surprised to find 5 of the 9 pilots had been taught by his father.
An Olympian, Graham Bell is regarded as one of the finest Downhill skiers the UK has ever produced. He and his brother Martin flew the flag for Britain throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Graham took a Silver Medal at the World Junior Ski Championships in 1984 and represented Great Britain at five Winter Olympics in Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998. The result that Graham is most proud of is his 12th place in the infamous Hahnenkamm
Race in Kitzbuhel
, Austria.
After retiring as a professional ski racer in 1998, Graham started his television career at Eurosport
commentating live on the World Cup Ski Circuit
for two years, before moving over to an in-vision role on Ski Sunday. Graham was part of the team that saw Ski Sunday win a prestigious Royal Television Society
award in 2002. He has presented and commentated on the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics
and will be an integral part of the BBC’s coverage from 2010 Winter Olympics.
Away from the mountains, Graham is the presenter of the BBC’s World Championship Series Triathlon coverage, has worked on the Tour de France
for ITV, and in 2009 competed in the Fastnet Race
with Alex Thomson
on Hugo Boss, filming, interviewing and presenting as well as working as an active crew member. Other T.V. credits include: The Gadget Show, Through the Keyhole
, Celebrity Eggheads, Market Kitchen, Ready Steady Cook
and various travel shows including Wish You Here.
Since retiring from competition Graham has continued to test his competitive instinct. In 2003 he competed in the return of BBC1’s ‘Superstars
’, against some of the country’s top sportsmen. He achieved an admirable fourth place in the final, the best placed non-current athlete. Graham has competed in numerous Triathlon competitions, 24hr Mountain Bike events and regularly rides the grueling Etape du Tour cycle race.
Graham has worked with a number of celebrities on High Altitude and Ski Sunday taking them on a journey to experience the latest extreme sports, pushing the limits of endurance and adventure in a high octane mix. Sky Diving with actor Ralph Little, heli-skiing with model Jodie Kidd
and Ice Sailing with pop star Simon Le Bon
, as well as skiing with Ben Fogle
, Fiona Bruce
, Tara Palmer-Tompkinson, Marcus Brigstocke
, Frank Gardner, Heston Blumenthal
, Colin Jackson
and Clare Balding
.
Until recently Graham held the prestigious title of International Performance Director for The Ski & Snowboard Federation and is the patron of The British Ski Academy.
with their two children; Louis and Lottie.
Martin Bell (skier)
Martin Bell is a former World Cup alpine ski racer from Scotland.Bell was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh and the Stams Ski Gymnasium in Austria....
) from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Graham is a former five times Olympic skier, TV presenter, adventurer and journalist. He is the face of BBC TV’s Ski Sunday
Ski Sunday
Ski Sunday is the BBC Sports weekly magazine-style television show covering winter sports, broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays in a late afternoon or an early evening time-slot...
and in 2009 with Ed Leigh
Ed Leigh
-Broadcasting career:Leigh presents the BBC2 show Ski Sunday during the winter and Red Bull X-Fighters World Series for Dave alongside Rob Warner in the summer....
presented High Altitude, the primetime BBC2 adrenaline packed winter sports programme. Highlights included Graham tackling the Arctic Circle Race; a 160mile cross-country ski race in Greenland, surviving a night in a snow-hole without food, water or a sleeping bag, and set a new personal best top speed on skis of 121mph.
Biography
Born on the Akrotiri RAF base in Cyprus 1966 son of a pilot Rod Bell and teacher Jean Bell. Graham’s love of skiing started at ages 5 when his father was posted to EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, learning to ski in the Cairngorm mountains and Hillend dry slope. By the time the family were posted to Yorkshire, Graham and his brother Martin, were both racing full-time on the World Cup circuit, although they developed close ties with Harrogate dry ski slope hold coaching camps there in the summer. Rod Bell continued to fly with the RAF teaching at the Central Flying School. In 2005 when Graham flew with the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
as part of the BBC’s coverage of the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
, he was surprised to find 5 of the 9 pilots had been taught by his father.
An Olympian, Graham Bell is regarded as one of the finest Downhill skiers the UK has ever produced. He and his brother Martin flew the flag for Britain throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Graham took a Silver Medal at the World Junior Ski Championships in 1984 and represented Great Britain at five Winter Olympics in Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998. The result that Graham is most proud of is his 12th place in the infamous Hahnenkamm
Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel
The Hahnenkamm is a mountain in Austria, directly south of Kitzbühel, in the Kitzbühel Alps. The elevation of its summit is above sea level.The Hahnenkamm is part of the ski resort of Kitzbühel, and hosts the annual World Cup alpine ski races, the Hahnenkammrennen...
Race in Kitzbuhel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
, Austria.
After retiring as a professional ski racer in 1998, Graham started his television career at Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
commentating live on the World Cup Ski Circuit
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
for two years, before moving over to an in-vision role on Ski Sunday. Graham was part of the team that saw Ski Sunday win a prestigious Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
award in 2002. He has presented and commentated on the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
and will be an integral part of the BBC’s coverage from 2010 Winter Olympics.
Away from the mountains, Graham is the presenter of the BBC’s World Championship Series Triathlon coverage, has worked on the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
for ITV, and in 2009 competed in the Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
with Alex Thomson
Alex Thomson (sailor)
Alex Thomson is a British yachter.Alex Thomson was helped early in his sailing career by Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London's victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and set up with British America’s Cup campaign TEAMORIGIN...
on Hugo Boss, filming, interviewing and presenting as well as working as an active crew member. Other T.V. credits include: The Gadget Show, Through the Keyhole
Through the Keyhole
Through the Keyhole was a British panel game, hosted by Sir David Frost where panellists are given a video tour of a mystery famous guest's property and attempt to identify them. As of 1996, it is produced by David Frost's own production company, Paradine Productions at The Leeds Studios , and has...
, Celebrity Eggheads, Market Kitchen, Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
and various travel shows including Wish You Here.
Since retiring from competition Graham has continued to test his competitive instinct. In 2003 he competed in the return of BBC1’s ‘Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
’, against some of the country’s top sportsmen. He achieved an admirable fourth place in the final, the best placed non-current athlete. Graham has competed in numerous Triathlon competitions, 24hr Mountain Bike events and regularly rides the grueling Etape du Tour cycle race.
Graham has worked with a number of celebrities on High Altitude and Ski Sunday taking them on a journey to experience the latest extreme sports, pushing the limits of endurance and adventure in a high octane mix. Sky Diving with actor Ralph Little, heli-skiing with model Jodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd is an English television personality and fashion model.-Early life:Jodie was a showjumper as a child and attended St Michael's School, Petworth.-Family:Jodie is the granddaughter from Hon...
and Ice Sailing with pop star Simon Le Bon
Simon Le Bon
Simon John Charles Le Bon is an English musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and musician of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia.-Early life:...
, as well as skiing with Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle is an English television presenter, adventurer and writer.-Early life:Fogle is the son of actress Julia Foster and broadcasting veterinary surgeon Bruce Fogle...
, Fiona Bruce
Fiona Bruce
Fiona Elizabeth Bruce is a British journalist, newsreader and television presenter. Since joining the BBC in 1989, she has gone on to present many flagship programmes for the corporation including the BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten, Crimewatch, Call My Bluff and, most recently, Antiques Roadshow...
, Tara Palmer-Tompkinson, Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Alexander Brigstocke is an English comedian, actor and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television, radio and in 2010-2011 musical theatre. He is particularly associated with the 6.30pm comedy slot on BBC Radio 4, having frequently appeared on several of its shows...
, Frank Gardner, Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal
Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
, Colin Jackson
Colin Jackson
Colin Ray Jackson CBE is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. Over his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and...
and Clare Balding
Clare Balding
Clare Balding is a BBC sports presenter, journalist and jockey.-Early life:In 1989 and 1990, Balding was a leading amateur flat jockey and Champion Lady Rider in 1990....
.
Until recently Graham held the prestigious title of International Performance Director for The Ski & Snowboard Federation and is the patron of The British Ski Academy.
Personal Life
Married to Sarah in 1991, the couple met when Graham was racing in the Val d’Isere World Cup and happened to be staying in the Mark Warner chalet that Sarah was working in. They now live in Henley-on-ThamesHenley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
with their two children; Louis and Lottie.