Olympic dream for skiier (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Olympic dream for skiier

10:03am Friday 10th October 2008 in Sport By Arran Jolly

Even with the Lake District’s famously poor summers, skiing isn’t the first sport that springs to mind over the middle months of the year (writes Arran Jolly).

However, Queen Katherine student Kelly Greenbank has spent her summer travelling across the country most weekends to compete in indoor and dry ski slope championships, more often than not finishing with a podium place.

The year eight student’s season started back in May and culminated in September with winning the under 13 British Artificial Ski Slope Championship in Pontypool, Wales.

Along the way, Kelly has picked up numerous titles including the Welsh Cup, the Saloman Xscape indoor series and the Ighams Grand Prix series.

Kelly took to the sport at the age of four and has rarely stopped since.

She said: “I got into skiing when I was pretty young as my mum and dad started taking me on family skiing holidays.

“Because I really enjoyed it, I then started going down to Kendal dry ski slope at the weekends. After I’d gone through the classes there and was good enough to start doing competitions, I went to Pendle ski slope where I started doing gates (slalom skiing) as they didn’t do it at Kendal.”

The young skier is now preparing to spend part of the winter season training in France and Austria with other aspiring skiers from the Telford Ski club.

“I’ll be there for three weeks over Christmas, then three weeks at half-term and three weeks in Easter. We’ll be doing most of the competitions in Meribel (France) in the last three weeks so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Mum Fiona Greenbank added that Kelly couldn’t wait to get out on to the Alpine snow this winter, saying: “She’ll be competing with skiers her age from across Europe and she’ll have more interaction with coaches. Her school have been very good. They’ll be giving her work to take with her, so she’s very excited.”

Having watched last year’s downhill World Cup ski events from the stands, Kelly is determined to compete nationally herself one day, and is already putting in the hours in training each week.

She added: “I train twice a week. On Tuesday night I go to Pendle and I go to the snow centre in Manchester every Sunday morning to practise there.

“I’d really like to win the Olympics one day.”

Given the current list of championships and titles already bearing Kelly’s name, you wouldn’t bet against it.

Kelly’s father, David, would like to appeal to any local individuals or businesses who would be interested in sponsoring her.

David said: “The cost of going out to the Alps to get on snow and even just travel around the UK in the summer months is obviously phenomenal.

“When you take into account all the equipment, the cost of travel and accommodation, it all adds up to a huge amount.

“Anybody who might want to sponsor Kelly would doing a great deal to help an upcoming UK champion.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Kelly should contact the sports desk at The Westmorland Gazette.