Ski star Anna Kamaly-Asl was quite literally born into a love of skiing after she was delivered in the midst of a Valentine’s Day snowstorm.

That was in Toronto where she lived for the first five months of her life before she moved to the North West, where she has harnessed a passion for skiing.

The 13-year-old now races for Manchester Ski Racing Club and spent the winter training in the Alps with the British Ski Academy.

Now the talented teen is relishing heading off to this week’s English Alpine Skiing Championships in Bormio for a third consecutive year.

“I have skied at the English Championships for the last three years and finished on the podium before,” said Kamaly-Asl.

“I love the race and I think it has an amazing atmosphere but what I am most looking forward to is seeing friends that I have not seen in a while, seeing how well I can do and pushing myself. 

“I want to keep improving and getting quicker. I would like to get good results in Bormio and take that to Val D’Isere where I will be racing for Team GB.

“I would love to become the overall English champion and I am feeling good and confident in my skiing at the moment.”

The English Alpine Skiing 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.

Taking place in the Italian resort of Bormio, racers will compete across slalom, giant slalom and Super-G disciplines, with the Championships beginning on February 17.

Kamaly-Asl, competing in all three disciplines at this year’s Championship, has been on skis since she was just one-and-a-half years old. 

Now she dreams of a Harvard University education and one day representing her country at the Olympics.

“My ski career has only just taken off but every year at Christmas I go back to America and train with the team that I always looked up to,” said the Manchester High School for Girls student.

“I would love to get into Harvard University, and ski for them on the American college ski circuit while also getting an amazing education.

“After that I would love to go pro and ski in the world cup and Olympics.”

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: http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk