Rochdale skier Daisi Daniels is in a rather relaxed mood after of this year’s English Alpine Championships – so much so that she is already looking forward to tasting the hot chocolate.
A trip to Bormio, Italy, has become a staple of the 15-year-old’s diet in recent years, with this year no exception as she prepares for racing to get underway on February 11.
But with this the last year at her current age group, Daniels knows the next week is not all about the beverages on offer off the snow.
Positive appearances in the past means she arrives with plenty of confidence though, keen to take the dedication with her right onto the podium.
“Bormio is one of my favourite races, the pistes are really challenging and it’s a great place to be able to race – the hot chocolate is quite good as well,” she said.
“I’ve had some good memories, last year I was happy with my giant slalom and while I crashed in both runs of the super-G, I felt it was something I could take away and learn from.
“The years before that were good as well, I can take a lot of confidence from what’s gone on before and being top of the age group this time I can focus on getting the results done.
“It comes with a bit of pressure, it’s your last chance in some ways to take away the title but if anything there’s more drive to do your best. I’m very determined.
“So far this season has been really good, I’ve been training in Italy which has been amazing and I feel like I’ve already hit a new season because I’ve improved quite a bit.”
The English Alpine Championships are organised by Snowsport England, the national governing body for snow sport in England that is responsible for growing participation in snow sports through direct funding from Sport England.
They work closely with snow centres, artificial slopes and clubs around the country, as well as managing English squads and athletes across all snow sport disciplines.
It’s the elite level where Daniels unsurprisingly wants to reach once her Bormio exploits come to an end, knowing improvements are coming with each week that passes.
But it wasn’t always that way for the British Ski Academy racer, still fondly remembering the first time she came into contact with a pair of skis.
“I first went on a holiday when I was about four, to Austria, and when I first went on skis I didn’t actually want to put them on,” she added.
“But I got on and by the end of the day I was being chased down the slope by a coach with a hula hoop trying to stop me, I just didn’t want to take them off.
“I’d really like to go to the World Championships at some point as well as the Youth Olympics and hopefully someday the Olympic Games, as well as the World Cup circuit.
“I know the mistakes I’ve been making in recent weeks which is good, hopefully I can make sure they don’t happen in Bormio.”
For this winter Olympics season Snowsport England has launched ‘PyeongChang to Piste’ (www.pyeongchangtopiste.org.uk), featuring events and taster sessions run by various clubs and slopes throughout the country along with tailored downloadable resources for schools.
Image courtesy of Racer Ready, with thanks.
