Polstead's Honor Bartlett is already dreaming of Olympic glory but will need to conquer this month’s English Alpine Skiing Championships first – something she is confident of doing. 

Despite a third-place finish in the Super-G last year, the 13-year-old speed-demon was not satisfied with her performance in Bormio, Italy, and will be aiming to steal the show this time around. 

This year has already been once to celebrate for the Woodbridge School pupil after she was selected to represent Great Britain at the FIS Youth International Races in Andorra.  

But selection for the big events will count for little if she can’t bag the medals to match it – adamant she can deliver the goods when action gets under way on February 17.

“I have improved all around since last year and my times have definitely got quicker in training compared - so I am confident,” said the Suffolk-born speed-merchant 

“In Bormio I will be competing in the slalom, giant-slalom and the Super-G and I love them all the same – I don’t really have a speciality, but I think have probably done better in the giant slalom in the past.

“I’ve been out to the Championships for the last two years and last year I didn’t do as well as I would have hoped in the giant-slalom but I came third in the Super-G and I think I may have crashed in the slalom. 

“I am heading to Andorra with GB Snowsport beforehand too, which is amazing because it is my first selection and it is a step closer to the final goal.  

“I would love to go and compete at the World Cup and the represent Team GB at the Olympics too.”

Competing in the top bracket of the under-14s will play to her strengths this year and Bartlett will be riding the crest of a wave when she arrives at the English Alpine Championships, where Olympian Dave Ryding started his career before competing in the World Cup.  

The Ambition Race Team member has already picked up wins with her team in the run up to the competition in Italy, with one race in particular occupying plenty of her attention.

“My giant slalom training is going very well at the moment and I won one of the slalom events at the Ambition Championships and then I came first in both of the giant slalom events in the Evolution Speed Series too”, she explained. 

“It is a really great environment at Ambition because everyone is so positive.

“But you need to be careful not to mess about and focus – I think there is a good balance on the team.”

Snowsport England is the national governing body for skiing and snowboarding in England, aiming to inspire as many people as possible to try snow sports. Find out more about Snowsport England’s affiliated clubs, athletes, competitions, coaching and campaigns here: www.snowsportengland.org.uk