Skier Alicja Krahelski is targeting a successful finish at the upcoming Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships in Tignes, France, as she looks to stamp her authority on the rest of the field.
The Wimbledon teenager, 17, is relishing the chance to prove her ability on the French slopes in the highest profile competition on the British skiing calendar.
She is hoping her recent experience at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Turkey will stand her in good stead for finishing off the season in style.
“I’ve been going to the British Ski Championships for quite a few years, as they are the most important race in the British circuit,” Krahelski said.
“Recently I came back from the European Youth Olympics, which is I think the biggest event I’ve been out to, until now, as it was a multi-disciple event, whereas some of my previous events have just been alpine skiing.
“In the giant slalom I came out in the first run due to a silly mistake, and in the slalom, it was a lot better, I came 16th overall, but second in my year of birth.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the championships and looking forward to what I can achieve myself.
“Whatever happens, I’ll definitely take it as a learning curve as I’m sure there’ll be a few obstacles along the way.”
The Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships take place in the world-class ski resort of Tignes, France from 25th March to 7th April 2017.
The Championships are set to be the biggest event of the year for the British Ski racing world, looking to build on British Ski and Snowboard’s best season to date on the path to Pyeongchang.
Krahelski admits preparation for the Championships have not gone as smoothly as she would have liked, with the teenager juggling an intense skiing schedule with a hectic program of studies.
Krahelski is in Year 12 at the London Oratory School in Fulham, and studying chemistry, biology, mathematics and economics.
“I’m hoping to get a result, but unfortunately I have beeen unable to train as much as I’d like to, but that just means I need to work a bit harder when I’m at home,” she added.
“I need to make sure I’m going to the gym, and keep up my physical training, so when I am away it makes my time worthwhile when I’m out there training.”
Krahelski has been skiing since the tender age of two, and racing on slopes since she was six, having started when her parents took her and her brother on family skiing holidays.
“I was just being dragged along and sat on the side of the slopes with just me and my mum, so I suppose I got into it when my parents got sick of sitting on the sides,” she added.
To follow the Delancey British Alpine Ski Team visit www.teambss.org.uk or follow @teambss on Twitter.
As Principal Sponsor of British Ski and Snowboard, specialist real estate investment and advisory company Delancey is proud to be able to support British athletes – visit www.delancey.com
Featured image courtesy of Richard Jones, with thanks
