University of Manchester skier Nia Jenkins was thrilled to have rounded off her English Alpine Championships campaign in style, after earning her first podium finish of the week in Bormio on Friday.
The English Alpine Championships, organised by national governing body Snowsport England, help provide an early glimpse of the stars of tomorrow.
And with 400 of the country’s best alpine skiers descending upon the Italian resort last week for the 20th running of the event, Jenkins had her work cut out for her.
But the 20-year-old, who studies French and Business Management, came back from disappointing showings in the Slalom and GS competitions to finish as second-highest under-21 Brit in Friday’s Super G, the final race of the week.
Jenkins was edged off the top spot of the podium by in-form Scottish skier Nicole Ritchie by 1.19 seconds, but admitted she was still satisfied to have ended the week on a high note.
“That final Super G was a really good run,” she said. “I didn’t do the Super G on Thursday so I didn’t have the same experience on this hill as everyone else.
“But it was really good fun, maybe a little bumpy, and it’s a really good hill so I was really psyched up for it and I’m pretty happy with the time.
“I’m not really a Super G skier: I never really train it and that was my first race in the discipline this season so it’s a great result.
“I’ve been struggling a bit this week with a back injury, which I’ve had since last December, and I haven’t really done that much training because of university, so I think I’ve skied probably about as well as I could have done.
“The atmosphere and the quality of racing we’ve got here at the English Championships is really, really good though.
“If I get any spare time from studying I will try and do a few more FIS races before the end of the season, and I’m heading to Alpe d’Huez for the British University Championships in March. Hopefully I can get my fitness to where it needs to be before the end of the season.”
bad week overall but I ended it on a high- 2nd in SuperG today @SportManchester @BounceBallsUK @ReuschUK @XBionicUK pic.twitter.com/8FAaFPPmQw
— Nia Jenkins (@niajenkins) February 19, 2016
The English Alpine Championships are an important step for any young skier, with British Olympians Chemmy Alcott and Dave Ryding both having competed at the competition.
And Jenkins was not the only Manchester racer in action as 13-year-old Milly Cowell went off in the under-14 competitions.
Cowell, who trains with the British Ski Academy and lives in Mottram in Longdendale, finished an impressive third in the Super G event on Tuesday behind Daisi Daniels and Siena Horton, and afterwards toasted her best result of the season so far.
“It was a tough course so I am really pleased with my result. I really didn’t think I would get on the podium because there are some really strong racers here,” said Cowell.
“I was really surprised when I saw my time, but my legs were dead when I crossed the line as I had given it everything. This is definitely my best result of the season.
“The course was really nice. I was pretty nervous before I set up, but once I was on course I enjoyed it.
“I know now that I shouldn’t be scared for the Super G, so next time I am just going to go flat out.”
The English Alpine Championships, organised by Snowsport England, are run every year in the Italian resort of Bormio. Follow the action via www.englishalpinechamps.org.uk or @SnowsportEng on Twitter. Want to get into skiing or snowboarding? Find your nearest slope offering value-for-money GO SKI GO BOARD sessions at www.goskigoboard.org.uk.
Image courtesy of Nia Jenkins via Twitter, with thanks.
