Jackson’s career is going firmly downhill – but she just could not be happier!
AN ENGLAND CALL TO BE SO N-ICE FOR SKIER LOIS
A 15-YEAR-OLD skier from South Gosforth is celebrating after being selected to represent England,
Lois Jackson has been called up for the England under-18s alpine development team following her success in last season’s English and British Championships.
Her inclusion enables the youngster – a member of the Sunderlandbased Ravens Ski Club – to have her fitness and strength monitored.
Jackson said: “I have been selected for the England Development squad for the past five years at under-14, under-16 and now under-18 level.
“It is a great honour to be selected for the squad.
“It is good for my skiing and it also allows me to be an example to the younger squad members and I can help them out or answer any questions they might have.”
The 15-year-old added: “They have fitness test weekends where we compare our fitness to other members of the squad and I attended one of these weekends in November.
“My main training is with the Evolution Alpine Race Team, based in Austria.”
Snowsport England Talent Development Officer Ian Findlay said: “We are delighted Lois has been selected to be part of the England alpine squad.
“She has shown she has both the talent and attitude to become part of the squad, which will give her support alongside her existing training programme.
“Being part of the squad provides additional guidance both on and off the snow, which will aid Lois’ journey towards competing at a national level.”
Ravens head coach Lee Bennett said: “I am very proud of Lois’ achievements to date.
“She has always had that extra desire which all elite athletes require.
“The need to be on the slope first and off it last!
“The more Lois’ knowledge is growing the more she understands it is not about the amount of training runs but the quality of the runs she obtains.
“You can see her understanding of the sport increasing and that is making myself and all the coaches she has worked with at the club very happy.
“We are all excited to see how far she can go in the sport.
“Skiing is a tough sport to achieve in but the success of current GB athletes on the international stage is evidence it has become more of a possibility for athletes such as Lois to succeed – and we hope she does!”
The young skier has had lots of success on the slopes already in her burgeoning cxareer.
She has been victorious three times at the All-England Dry Slope Championships, and has also lifted the British Outdoor Dry Slope Championship.
The Newcastle School for Girls student also did well with the British under-16 ski team in Slovenia last February.
Jackson added: “Representing Great Britain at under-16 level is one of my career highlights, as was training in Chile over the summer with Evolution.”
The youngster, who is sponsored by Everyone Active, got into skiing on a family holiday aged three and then went on to join the Ravens Ski Club in Sunderland.
She is looking forward to what the future holds, saying: “My goals are the Youth Olympics, hopefully in 2019, and then to make the senior British ski team.”
Jackson was also one of the winners of this year’s Sport Newcastlebacked Rising Stars of Sport Award.