St Albans skier Nia Boty is a speedster – no matter what sport she is taking part in. 

The 16-year-old will take to the slopes of Bormio later this month to take part in in the English Alpine Skiing Championships, where she hopes to be fast enough to challenge for a medal.

When she’s not flying down a hill on her skis, the teenager harbours ambitions to play on the wing for Hertfordshire in rugby, which matches up with her skills as a sprinter in athletics.

Balancing her sporting passions is not easy for the St Albans Girls’ School student but clearly the focus is on getting faster – whatever the sport.

It goes back to Boty’s times as a youngster when she was first hitting the slopes with her older siblings Harry, 21, and Carys, 19, trying to keep up.

“My siblings started skiing so I joined in with them and it got me going,” Boty said, ahead of the Championships which start on February 17.

“My older brother and sister helped me get into it. When we were going up we would go out and ski, to race together. 

“I would try to beat them when we would go skiing or go onto the dry slope.

“It’s quite tough balancing everything but I manage – it makes me feel organised and responsible. 

“I’ve got other sports commitments back in England. I play rugby and compete in athletics – mostly doing sprinting and sometimes some 800m racing. I’m doing country trials for Hertfordshire in rugby as well.

“I play wing or outside centre. It’s something which helps keep my fitness up while I’m away from skiing.”

Boty races later this month in the English Alpine Championships, where Olympian Dave Ryding started his career before competing in the World Cup, is one of the biggest annual competitions in the skiing calendar.

She will be representing the British Ski Academy, based in Italy, and has been on their books since 2015, joining from Hemel Ski Race Club.

Boty heads into the under-16s competition, where she will race the in the slalom, Super G and giant slalom disciplines, in good form having secured two podium places at the Welsh Alpine Championships last month.

Despite bringing home medals in the event at the end of January she expects it to be tough on the Italian slopes, with the nation's best taking part.

She said: “I’ve done the Welsh Alpine Championships, where I came second in GS and third in the slalom. 

“I’m quite happy with where I am when I came in but I think it’s going to be a lot tougher at the English. 

“There are more experienced skiers taking part. I love how well laid out the event is and how well organised. It just has a big feel to it.

“I’m feeling positive for my slalom races, I’m not sure or confident in my speed for the other events. I just have more confidence in my slalom."

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