LAURENCE WILLOWS

The ski cross athlete on touring the world, juggling two very different careers – and why his sport is the ultimate rush

Laurence has skied since he was two, switching to ski cross at 16

How it all began

My mother and father were keen skiers and would go on yearly ski holidays as a couple. Not willing to stop once I was born, I was put on skis just before my second birthday. When I was seven we went on a trip to Cortina in Italy, and after a week of ski lessons I entered a race. To my parents’ surprise, I not only won in my age group, but placed highly among the older age groups too. I was hooked!

I joined Bromley Race Club, which was my local dry ski slope. A few years later I went on my first ski camp abroad with the British Ski Academy, before switching from alpine to ski cross at 16. Having always enjoyed heading into the freestyle parks in resorts, it was the perfect fit, combining racing with jumps, bumps and various other features found in a ski cross course

My typical day

I differ from many other athletes on the Europa Cup tour, as my typical day is spent in the UK, working full-time for IG Group in London. I train every evening after work in the gym, with remote support from my strength and conditioning coach at Portsmouth University, and I see my physio at Surrey Physio weekly. I have the best of both worlds, being able to ski three months a year – following the Europa Cup tour in Europe – while working the other nine. Days on the hill are different from those behind a computer screen!

Highlight of my career so far

Competing at the 2017 and 2019 World University Games in Kazakhstan and Russia. Being at a huge multi-sport event hosting over 2,000 athletes, with a buzzing athletes village, it’s how I imagine the Olympic Games to be. Not only that but having a doctor, physio, and coach on the hill helped me perform at my best, reaching the quarter-finals of both events.

What I love most about competing...

First off , there is nothing better than being up in the mountains among nature when you’re skiing. My love for ski cross has to be the adrenaline in the start gate before setting off against three competitors, all racing to the fi nish line... it’s a rush.

The hardest part is…

The sacrifices I’ve made over the years, such as losing friendships and missing out on holidays with friends and family. Training daily, organising ski trips as well as being abroad training and competing leaves little time to do much else.

If I had to choose one place to ski for the rest of my life…

It would have to be Saas Fee in Switzerland. Being such a short distance from the UK, I love the fact it gives you the ability to ski in the summer and winter, as well as off ering vast amounts of backcountry skiing

My future plans

I have too many to write! In the short term, my plans are to continue competing on the Europa Cup circuit and push towards the World Cup, while completing my Internal Audit Qualifications. Longer-term plans are to continue balancing my ski career and financial services career, which will depend on my performance in the coming seasons. I do want to ski in some exotic locations such as Alaska and Japan. I also want to continue giving back to the younger generation in the form of ski coaching, which I enjoy.

From local dry ski slope to the world stage…