The chances of the north east of Scotland producing future Olympic champions in Freestyle Snowboarding and Skiing are set to increase dramatically with the recruitment of the UK’s first specialist development coach in those particular disciplines.
Applications for newly created position of Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Development Coach for the area are now invited.
Garthdee Alpine Sports General Manager Dave Jacobs believes the successful applicant, who will commence his or her new role in June, will have a massive part to play in further developing a sport that already enjoys a substantial profile:
“Thanks to support from UK Sport, Aberdeen Snowsports Centre and The Aberdeen Snowsports Club, we have a fantastic opportunity to develop the sport through a programme that encompasses the use of available facilities in the locality as well as other sporting facilities to participate in a range of cross training activities.
“We anticipate interest from throughout the country and beyond and the successful candidate will develop, promote and run programme that will complement the objectives set out by the three supporting organisations. Having an individual dedicated to these disciplines can only improve the overall standard of our athletes and I am certain this will be reflected by our accomplishments in the years to come.”
The potential referred to was underlined at the British Freestyle Championships in Tignes, France with six medals won as follows :-
Gold
Ben Kilner [snowboard] – men’s ½ pipe
Finlay Bremner [snowboard] x2 golds – youth ½ pipe and slope style
Silver
Grant Donald –[ski] men’s slopestyle
Abbie Dorwood – [snowboard] girls Slope Style
Bronze
Abbie Dorwood[snowboard] – girls ½ pipe
Finlay Jacobs[ski] – kids slope style
Other places
Finlay Jacobs[ski] – 6th Kids ½ pipe
Cameron Smith [snowboard] 7th Snowboard, Kids slope style, 8th Boarder Cross, 4th kids half pipe
Abbie Dorwood [snowboard] – snowboard cross 5th