Nick Hope
BBC Sport, Sochi

James Woods's GB team-mate Katie Summerhayes, who was seventh in the women's event, is commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live with Elly Oldroyd and Will Perry.

"If you saw him [James Woods] in the street you'd say 'what is that hair?' but he's in freestyle and that's what you do," she says.

"He'll be really pleased with that first run and I said once you're in the start gate you no longer feel the pain of any injury because the adrenalin gets you through."

Nick Hope
BBC Sport, Sochi

Leading winter Paralympic medal prospect Matthew Robinson of Australia is in a "critical condition" after a crash in La Molina, Spain, on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old para-snowboarder was airlifted to a hospital on the outskirts of Barcelona and has since had surgery on his neck and spine.

The Winter Paralympics begin in Sochi on 7 March.

Nick Goepper, who has won back-to-back X Games titles, is one of the favourites for ski slopestyle gold and the American bounces back from a poor first run (14.80) with a solid performance which earns him an 87.00 score.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport in Sochi

American Noelle Pikus Pace, potentially one of the big rivals to British challengers Yarnold and Rudman, is all smiles, glittery make-up and dangly earrings but she tells NBC she had a "tough" first run.

"It was bumpy, there's lots more to do, but it's over four runs so I'm looking forward to it."

David Robertson:, external Well done Eve Muirhead, beautiful last stone! Onwards and upwards.

Tim Symes:, external Great "Team" performance by the GB girls this morning. Defeating China 8-7, don't you just love curling?

Robert Neil Hunt:, external Eve is a safe pair of hands. Never in doubt. Great win.

Hearts pounding over in the Ice Box as Eve Muirhead launches the final stone with the scores tied at 7-7, but there's no need to worry because the captain is as cool as a cucumber which has been packed in an, erm, ice box. The stone lands in the centre circle and Britain snatch victory. Britain's women currently fifth in the table thanks to two victories.

Image source, Doug Pensinger

Seven sliders have done their thing in the first heat and Britain's Lizzy Yarnold is still the quickest slider, but her team-mate Shelley Rudman has dropped to fifth in the rankings.

Britain's women seemed to be cruising on a street named easy but they could find themselves at the end of lonely street in heartbreak hotel if they aren't careful. China have fought back to level at 7-7 after end nine, though Britain have the hammer (the final stone) for the 10th (and final) end.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport in Sochi

The noise level was cranked up to 10 for Russian slopestyle skier Pavel Korpachev and anyone would have thought he as putting down a great run with the hooters and cheers but he scores 46.20 so will need to improve if he's going to make the final 12."

Britain's James Woods is yet to do his second run, but his first effort of 87.20 will surely be enough. He currently lies third.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"Shelley took the same clip out of corner 11 as Lizzy. It was unfortunate for Shelley that it affected her more."

It's a disappointing first run for Shelley Rudman, who clips one of the curves on the way down and her time of 58.43 seconds (+1.03) is currently only good enough for third.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport in Sochi

Big crowd in the finish at skeleton, flags and vocal fans of all nations. Thick clusters of Union flags milling about, too. American Noelle Pikus Pace kicks off. Rumours of a back injury. And here's Lizzy Yarnold, who has her own 'Yarny's Army' following her out here. Yarnold set a track record with her first run of 57.3secs. Shelley Rudman next, and the world champion drops time to finish in 59.46.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"Lizzy's form is perfect. Head down, feet down, shoulders together and perfect form. She's going to be happy with that. She took a little clip on the uphill section that could have lost her time."

Whosh! Lizzy Yarnold, the second slider to go in the first heat, goes straight to the top of the charts with a 58.43 run.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport in Sochi

The Sanki Sliding Centre has 17 corners and three uphill curves to contain the speed. All the way around the outside of the bends is a huge wooden-planked structure held together by steel girders, like half a giant beer barrel. The Sochi sun is glaring and the white roller blinds that line the track are pulled down in the spots where the sun is at it's fiercest to protect the ice.

The 20 competitors each have four runs - two on Thursday, two on Friday. Times from the four runs are added together, with the quickest the winner.

Here we go. Prepare to watch athletes hurtle head first down an ice track. Lizzy Yarnold is at the top of the track and is about to set off. Let's go.

Hazel:, external Found myself watching an end of curling on a phone with Coffee Man at his van. As you do.

Sammie Eriksson:, external Can you please press the pause button? I need to go and make breakfast, but I don't want to miss a thing.

Ruth Bowen:, external Slopestyle skiing while having my weetabix - love it.

It's tickety-boo for women's curlers in the Ice Box as they lead China 7-5 after the eighth end of their round robin match. Claire Hamilton is having a fine game with a 92% accuracy.

Nick Hope
BBC Sport

Good morning from the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on what must be the most glorious day so far of the Games! Not a cloud in the sky and although that means the slopestyle course will take even more of a beating from the sun, it's not harmed the prospects of GB's James Woods.

The 32 skiers have two stabs at the course, with only their highest score counting. The top 12 will go forward to contest the medals and Woods lies third at the halfway point in the qualifiers.

Image source, Reuters

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport in Sochi

Defending champion Amy Williams, whose new lid caused consternation in Vancouver, told me she has been on an emotional journey in Sochi. "It's taken four years to hit me I've got what everyone else wants," she said.

And what of Britain's Shelley Rudman, the silver medallist in Turin and sixth in Vancouver. The three-Games veteran began slowly in Sochi but admitted she was tinkering, and was third in final practice. What price multiple GB medals on Friday?