A YOUNG Wharfedale skier insists he expects nothing less than a podium finish as he prepares to step onto the slopes at next month’s English Alpine Ski Championships in Italy.

Lucas Ellis, 12, of Pool-in-Wharfedale, will compete across three disciplines as he chases a national title in Bormio, racing in the Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G in the under-14 age category.

The English Alpine Championships are a week of national-level racing and skiing camaraderie, featuring the best English skiers in the country, ranging from under-10s up to senior athletes.

The Caldicott Preparatory School pupil is no stranger to the Bormio snow however, having competed at the Championships in previous years.

But Ellis, who trains in Tignes and is a member of the Apex 2100 Ski Programme, insists this is his year to shine.

“I’m going to be competing in the Slalom, the Giant Slalom and a Super-G race, and I’m so excited to get out to Bormio,” he said.

“I’ll be staying in a hotel with lots of my old friends, and it will be really good to see them again and have fun. It’s a really nice place.

“Now I’m in the under-14 category, we get to ski on even nicer hills.

“Last year, I messed up a bit in the GS, but I still managed to finish fourth, but then in the combined event, I did well and I won.

“I was given a really cool plate trophy, but I had to give it back so hopefully I’ll win it again.

“I’m going to try and finish in the top three in all of my races, and I feel confident that I can do that.”

From February 11-17, 350 of the best English Alpine skiers will descend on Bormio, Italy for the 21st English Alpine Championships, organised by national governing body Snowsport England.

The English Alpine Championships continue to feature the rising stars of alpine skiing in England, previously acting as a platform for the likes of Chemmy Alcott and Dave Ryding.

And as his love for his sport continues to flourish, Ellis has big ambitions for his future on the slopes.

“I got into the sport when I went on a ski holiday to Val d’Isere when I was four, but then I didn’t ski again until I was seven. I started training a year later,” he said.

“Last year in Tignes, I won the GS at the British Championships, and just after Christmas that year, I won two GS races at the Ambition Championships, one slalom, and I came third in a slalom too.

“This season is going good so far. In the Anglo-Scottish Championships, I was winning on the first run of the GS but I missed the last gate on the second run so I didn’t run.

“I finished third place in one of the slalom events, and got a fourth as well.

“My ambition is to make it to World Cup-level one day, and then hopefully I can make it to the Olympics.”

Follow the English Alpine Championships on the Snowsport England Facebook page and get live updates on Twitter @SnowsportEng. Full results will be available at www.snowsportengland.org.uk while you can find your nearest slope offering value-for-money GO SKI GO BOARD sessions at www.goskigoboard.org.uk