Twelve years later, the era of gallant no-hopers has been banished and Nicholls’ flush of enthusiasm has proved remarkably prescient. Bolstered by these non-traditional disciplines, Great Britain head to Milan and Cortina on the cusp of a history-making moment. By mid-January, four British snowboard and freestyle athletes had won individual World Cup and X Games medals this season across five different disciplines. Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt have dominated the World Cup season, Tabby Stoecker and Amelia Coltman have both reached the women’s podium and Britain has also won two of four mixed team World Cups. It is precisely what makes the Winter Olympics so irresistibly unique and the best-intentioned medal predictions so open to ridicule.