VIDEO: Skier Cooper edges towards 2022 Winter Olympics dream

Chichester skier Yasmin Cooper has just completed the sort of season most can only dream of '“ and is dreaming of Olympic glory in the future.
Yasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in LillehammerYasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in Lillehammer
Yasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in Lillehammer

Cooper’s early-season performances saw her selected for the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, where the 17-year-old got to compete against the world’s best in her age group and more than held her own.

She went on to clean up at the Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships in Tignes in March, winning six golds, two silvers and a bronze in addition to the overall U18 and U21 titles.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Afterwards Cooper was straight back into training and is convinced a summer training trip to Chile will see her take the next step in her skiing development.

Yasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in LillehammerYasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in Lillehammer
Yasmin Cooper in action at the Youth Winter Olympics in Lillehammer

“At Lillehammer and in Tignes, I surpassed what I thought I could achieve,” said Cooper.

“I feel really good. But after the British champs I just got back to training straight away basically. I’ve been really focusing on getting my fitness up to go away to do some camps in Chile and Europe in the summer.

“Competition-wise I would like to get my FIS points into the low 50s or the 40s next season and I’d definitely like to come back to the British Championships again and try to retain some of my titles.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ll be moving into the U21 category so I won’t be able to retain any of the U18 titles but it will be good to see myself competing at that higher level. That will be really interesting.

“I’ve got some speed training for four weeks in Chile in August and I’ve never been there, so I’m really excited for that.

“What everyone is trying to push me for is to develop my speed skiing and get some more confidence in those disciplines. Developing my speed skiing in Chile will help my other disciplines because if I can pull off turns at such high speeds, then I’ll be able to pull them off at a slower pace in slalom or GS and it will all come together.”

Longer-term, she would love to make her mark at a senior Olympics.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cooper, who has been skiing since she was six and competively since she was eight, said: “I’d love to get the senior Winter Olympics eventually. The next one’s in two years and that’s quite close and probably less achieveable than the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, which I’m hoping to get to – that’s the ultimate goal.

“That sounds a long way but it will fly around – it’s only six years.”

Cooper’s recent success has seen her named as one of five nominees for the Ski Club of Great Britain Evie Pinching award which celebrates the next generation of snow-sport athletes considered ‘ones to watch’.

The award forms part of the Ski Club’s INSPIRE programme which recognises and rewards the those making a positive contribution to snow sports.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There are six categories of awards and funding which include the Thomas Lang Schools Bursary, Student Bursary and The Green Award, which are yearly funding schemes available for schools, students and snow sports enthusiasts, aiming to develop and encourage participation in snow sports.

Voting is open until May 26 and the winning athlete will be awarded a one-off bursary of £1,000 for the year to help with training and competing.

Cooper is up against freestyle skier Lloyd Wallace, snowboarder Matt McCormick and visually impaired skiers Menna Fitzpatrick and Millie Knight but says just being nominated for the award is special.

“It’s amazing to get this sort of recognition, I’ve never had anything like it before and to have people contact me about it is definitely a first,” added Cooper. “I think winning the award would be proving to myself what I can do. It would show I can put myself out there and I can rival some of these other great athletes.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

* For more information and to vote for Yasmin Cooper in the Evie Pinching award visit www.skiclub.co.uk/eviepinchingaward

LUKE BAKER & STEVE BONE

Get your Chichester Observer newspaper for just 38p per week for a year!

Your Chichester Observer newspaper costs £1.05 each week - BUT if you buy a year’s subscription before June 4, 2016, you can enjoy a massive saving which works out at just 38p an edition.

Subscribe and read your favourite weekly, the Chichester, or Bognor Regis, or Midhurst & Petworth Observer, for 12 months for a one off advance payment of £19.76 - that works out at just 38p a copy for an entire year!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And as a valued subscriber you’ll continue to receive a 20% discount even after the initial 12 month offer has ended.

Once you’ve subscribed we’ll send you dated coupons to use instead of cash when paying for your Observer.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply click here and enter the offer code - 277PA-CCO.

Terms & Conditions: Offer valid to new customers only when paying by a one off direct debit charge of £19.76. Minimum 12 months subscription. Offer ends Saturday 4th June 2016. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.