Cooper out to make mark in national skiing championships

The 16-year-old has had her fair share of letdowns after missing out on the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival and the World Junior Championships.

But while the downs have been hard to take, they have also brought with them a determination to improve.

And the Chichester High School pupil says she will use that energy in Tignes as she looks to produce her finest form and establish herself as a major player on the national stage when the British National Championships get under way today (March 22).

“My current season has been going well and I think it’s fair to say that so far I have got what I wanted from it,” she said. “There have been disappointments though and I missed out on the World Junior Championships and the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival so that was a setback.

“But I’ve been training hard and I think when you miss out on something it makes you more determined and I’ve tried to channel that into my training.

“That’s sport and you have to take the rough with the smooth and I’m upbeat about my chances going forward.

“It’s something that every young athlete has to go through because there will always be disappointments but it’s about how you recover.

“I just want to seize the opportunities I have and make sure I am doing all I can to do that.”

Cooper produced her fastest-ever slalom run at last month’s English Championships and she says that is the kind of form she wants to take with her into the British Championships.

“There have been some positives as well because at the English Championships I managed to get a personal best and finished third in the slalom,” she added. “I’m not going into the championships with any sort of expectations or anything like that I’ll just take it as it comes.

“I think that’s the best approach and if I just concentrate on doing the best that I can then everything else will be ok.

“I do have high hopes though and I want to do well because I have always really enjoyed the British Championships.

“I’ve been doing them for a long time and I know I’m better now than before so hopefully it will be a successful year.”

* As principal sponsor of British Ski and Snowboard, Delancey is proud to be able to provide British athletes with the support and training they require to continue to be a real force in winter sports on a world stage. Follow @teambss or visit www.teambss.org.uk and www.delancey.com