Skiing: Tarporley Primary School pupil Rhodri ready to peak at British Interschools Ski Challenge next month

Feb 25 2010 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

A BUDDING winter Olympian is targeting European success after a successful month at the British Ski Academy.

Tarporley Primary School starlet Rhodri Gale spent January training in Chamonix, France, with the junior British squad for alpine skiing training in preparation for next month’s competitions.

The Year 6 pupil, who started skiing at the age of three, is hoping that his training will pay off at the British Interschools Ski Challenge in France and the Aiglon College Cup in Switzerland.

He will be looking to build on an impressive 2009 after he finished fifth overall in the British Indoor Grand Prix series in his first Giant Slalom race, the Anglo-Scottish Cup held in Les Houches, France, he finished 14th out of 40 racers.

At the recent British Schoolboys International Races in Meiringen, Switzerland, he achieved another Bronze representing Tarporley Primary School against other UK schools.

Headteacher Vince O’Brien said: “Rhodri has the full support of his family and school. He has done remarkably well this year and we hope this great progress continues.”

Rhodri currently trains twice a week at Manchester’s Chill Factore and has recently benefited from advice given by former British winter Olympian Alan Baxter.

Chill Factore head coach Dean Rawlings-Brown said that he would be one to watch in the future. “From the moment Rhodri joined the weekly Chill Factore race team coaching sessions he has shown amazing ability, commitment and focus for a boy of his age,” he said.