NEWS

Contemporary History student Patrick Thomson, who is to bring his experiences skiing in competitions across Europe to help coach the English Schools Junior Development squad.

Championship skier selected to train next generation

University of Leicester student to help coach English Schools Junior Development squad

Issued on 02 March 2009

A University of Leicester student, who has represented England in ski championships, has now been selected to help train the next generation of young skiers.

Liverpudlian Patrick Thomson (19) took to skiing when he was just four years old - and has since then travelled across Europe competing in skiing competitions.

The second-year Contemporary History student was selected at the age of 11 to travel to Italy with the English Schools Junior Development squad. Now Patrick will in turn be a development coach for young skiers on the next squad training mission on March 8.

Patrick said: " I was overjoyed with the news. This year will be the third time that I have been invited and I cannot wait to once again help the young skiers in the same way that I was coached when I was their age.

"While on the ski camp our roles will be to organise, and take part in the fitness sessions before breakfast and then have to make sure all the children have their lift passes and the correct skis for what we will be doing on the slopes. British children suffer from limited time on snow so we will be skiing as many miles as possible with our own groups, as well as working individually with the children and setting courses for them to work on their racing technique."

Patrick started skiing at a young age when his father took him to the local dry ski slope in Runcorn. After taking to the basic concept very enthusiastically he joined the local ski team, Snowsports. He progressed to participating in race competitions with them all over the country and abroad, including events such as the British Land National championships.

After travelling to Italy with the English Schools Junior Development squad when he was 11, he was selected each year for the English schools ski squad until 2005 when he was picked for the England Schools team and invited to go to Sweden to take part in the World Schools Ski champion ships -competing against the best young skiers Europe had to offer.

"After competing at this level I believed I would not be able to go any further with racing and so turned my attention to becoming an instructor and coach. I took on the task of completing the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) ski instructor course. .

"In the future I hope to be selected again for this responsibility, and possibly become a full time ski coach and instructor."

NOTE TO NEWSDESK:

For more information please contact Patrick on pmat1@le.ac.uk or paddyt123@hotmail.co.uk