Hannington skiing starlet Jess Anderson is hoping her road to recovery is almost complete after coming back from a serious back injury to become the overall English national alpine champion in Bormio last week.
The English Alpine Championships, organised by the national governing body, Snowsport England, help to provide an early glimpse of the stars of tomorrow.
And with 400 of the country's best alpine skiers descending upon the Italian resort this week for the 20th running of the event Anderson - who trains with the Ambition Racing team - had her work cut out for her.
But the 17 year old Moulton College student proved she is one of the ones to watch as she collected the Overall English crown after she won the national U18 Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Alpine Combined titles over the course of the week.
And after a long period on the sidelines having picked up a back injury at the 2015 British Championships, Anderson admits there is no sweeter feeling than being back on top.
"I am still coming back from my injury so I'm taking it step by step but this is a big one for me," she said
"The courses throughout the week were challenging but I'm really glad I got down. I won the GS last year but to win so many English titles is an amazing feeling.
"My training since my injury has been going really well but its been a bit annoying not to be able to put that into my races - hopefully thats behind me now.
"I was injured initially at the British Champs last year, and I took a bit of time out, but have had to ski back into it as the operation to fix it is probably not worth it at the moment.
"I haven't really thought about winning it as the week went on, I've just taken each race as it comes because if you over think thing you can mess yourself up.
"These still work to be done from here though and I need to stop starting my turns too early and I'm still trying to build my confidence up after injury.
"Every day its a little bit better which is what I need to do. I'm heading home now to get back to school before I start training again for the British, and the aim there will be to win the overall title again."
http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Skiing/story-28790392-detail/story.html
Northampton Herald & Post 23.Feb 2016
Hannington skier Jessica Anderson has been named in the Team GB squad for the European Youth Olympic Festival in Vorarlberg Austria.
The event plays host to over 900 winter athletes later this month including 15 of Great Britain's brightest sporting stars. It runs from January 25 to 30 and will welcome 45 nations who will compete across eight winter sports disciplines.
Team GB will be represented in four - alpine and cross country skiing, figure skating and snowboarding - with Anderson chosen for the alpine event.
A delighted Jessica commented “I loved watching the skiing at Sochi 2014 last year and it’s always great to see British athletes involved in the Olympic Games. My goal is to compete at the Olympic Winter Games one day and EYOF 2015 is a great opportunity for me to learn and experience a part of Olympic life. It’s a huge honour to be selected and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Anderson trains with her Ambition Racing team - who are based in Austria - as well as being a sponsored rider for Snozone Milton Keynes where she trains when not away competing.
She currently attends Moulton College who have been tailored her studies to cope with her being away through the winter.
Northants Telegraph 15.01.15
Today, Team GB announced their team of athletes that they are taking to the 2015 EYOF and Northamptonshire ski racer Jessica Anderson, aged 16 from Hannington, has been named in the team of four girls to represent Team GB in the Alpine ski racing events.
Vorarlberg Austria and Liechtenstein plays host to over 900 winter athletes later this month, including 15 of Team GB’s brightest sporting talents.
EYOF 2015, and other similar Youth Olympic events, plays a crucial role in the development of young British athletes in providing a multi-sport experience as well as a first taste of life in the Olympic Movement.
Jessica is following in the footsteps of alpine skier Chemmy Alcott, who made her Team GB debut at EYOF 1999, went on to race at four Olympic Winter Games, notching up seven top 20 finishes along the way.
This year’s EYOF, which runs from 25th-30th January 2015 and will welcome 45 competing nations, will be the first time that the event has been hosted by two separate countries, with the majority of the action in the Montafon Valley, Austria.
Eight winter sport disciplines make up the programme for the week, with Team GB competing in four; alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating and snowboarding. Biathlon, ice hockey, Nordic combined and ski jumping.
A delighted Jessica commented “I loved watching the skiing at Sochi 2014 last year and it’s always great to see British athletes involved in the Olympic Games. My goal is to compete at the Olympic Winter Games one day and EYOF 2015 is a great opportunity for me to learn and experience a part of Olympic life. It’s a huge honour to be selected and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Jessica trains in the winter with her team Ambition Racing based in Austria as well as being a sponsored rider for SnozZone Milton Keynes where she trains when not away competing. She is currently attending Mouton College who are very supportive of her skiing helping her maintain her education whilst away through the winter.
Jessica would also like to thank her sponsors, especially Vincent Sykes and Higham Solicitors in Thrapston who have supported her for a number of years.
Northants Herald & Post
Read more: http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Skiing-Northamptonshire-s-Jessica-Anderson-called/story-25825869-detail/story.html#ixzz3OKZiRjVT
It’s been a great start to the winter season for Oundle skier Jessica Anderson where she has just returned from competing in the Anglo Scottish Championships in Chamonix, France.
Jessica was 2nd in the Giant Slalom, won the Slalom and also won the overall girl trophy. Based on her performance, Jessica has just received the news that she has been chosen to represent Great Britain in Topolino Italy which is regarded as the equivalent of the World Championships for children.
A delighted Jessica comments “I am extremely pleased with my results from the Anglo Scottish and to win the overall trophy as well was a nice addition. I am very proud to have been chosen to represent GB at Topolino as this has been one of my major goals since last year and to compete against racers from all over the world will be a brilliant experience.”
Jessica is also off to represent GB in Czech Republic at the end of January and then back to her training base at the British Ski Academy in Les Houches France from more training before her next set of races.
It’s been a fantastic end to the winter ski race season for Jessica Anderson, who has just returned from competing in the British and Scottish Championships in France.
Over the two events Jessica accumulated a total of 8 medals, 6 individual and 2 team, and was on the podium in every discipline of slalom, giant slalom and super g.
A delighted Jessica comments “I have had a great season this year with an international podium for Great Britain but to come away from the British and Scottish Championships with this many podiums was excellent. I was also awarded 2nd in the overall category for Children 1 girls which is also a great result plus two 1st places in team awards. I was very honoured to receive my medals from Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex who stayed over from the Senior Championships the week before, so that was great surprise. The British Championships is probably the most pressurising week of races as this is where next seasons GB team is picked and as I move up to a new age group next season it was really important that I put together a good set of results”.
Jessica will have a few weeks rest before the indoor races begin at venues like SNO!Zone Milton Keynes and will hopefully be getting some glacier training during the summer months to prepare for next winter. She will also be focussing on her fitness back at Corby Athletics and her Karate in Thrapston.
Local ski racer, Jessica Anderson from Oundle has taken her first international podium in the Czech Republic where she was competing for GB.
Jessica came 5th in the slalom against girls from a host of other countries including Czech, Russia, Slovenia, Belgium and Holland amongst others.
A delighted Jessica said “It’s been a tough start to the season as I broke my thumb and knuckle in the races in the New Year so have had to race with a cast which Kettering Fracture Clinic built for me so I could still hold my pole. To finish on the podium in Czech Republic is definitely my highest achievement to date and I am the best placed GB girl out of all the girls who have ever raced there over the years, which is a great honour”.
Jessica has a hectic schedule ahead of her for February which sees her competing for GB in the international race in Slovenia and then on to Italy to compete in the English Championships.
Jessica Anderson, the young skiing sensation from Oundle, reached a new career high when she took the top prize in the British Alpine Championships, the final competition of the ski season.
The competition, which is held in Meribel in France, attracts hundreds of competitors from all over the United Kingdom, each contending for the top prize. Eleven year old Jessica clinched the title from over forty other competitors, competing in the "Mini" category where she finished first and second in her two races.
Young skier Jessica Anderson has won her third major title of the season by winning the European Indoor Ski Championships.
The 11 year old from Oundle won the title for the second year running after a successful season winning the British Indoor Championship and British Indoor Grand Prix Series.
Jessica, who skis for the Sno!Zone Milton Keynes-based Ski MK Race Team, said: Moving up into a new age group means I am one of the youngest competitors, so to win three indoor titles over the summer was brilliant.
The European was the closest race I have been in. I am now looking forward to the winter season which starts with a race in Austria over New Year and then straight to France the following week.
I will be training most weeks from now at Milton Keynes to prepare, as well as getting my dad out of bed each morning to go for a run and keep my fitness up.
In her first major ski race of the season, Oundle based Jessica Anderson returned from Les Houches, Chamonix, France where she was competing in the Anglo Scottish Cup. She won the Bairns female race.
Jessica said I have trained hard during the autumn at SNO!zone Milton Keynes and to get out onto the mountain to compete again was great. I was really pleased with the results as all the main girl racers were from the UK so it was a good opportunity to see how well I was skiing this early in the season.
Peterborough Evening Telegraph September 2008
Local ski racer Jessica Anderson has just completed a memorable championship double.
The 10 year old from Oundle followed up her recent British Indoor success by winning the Scottish Indoor Championship as well.
And the youngster not only won her age group by over seven seconds, she was also quicker than all the boys as well and her time would have placed her in the top 10 of all the females racing.
A delighted Jessica said: To win the Scottish Championships to add to my success in the British is great. What made it even more special was that I also met Alain Baxter, who is one of my ski heroes. He was there to open the race and to see a World Cup skier in action was brilliant!
Jessica is now looking forward to the European Indoor Championships in October when she hopes to make it three major titles in a row.
Jessica received a boast this week by securing a major local sponsor who has committed to supporting her for the next five years. Vincent Sykes and Higham Solicitors are based in Thrapston and have been following Jessica’s progress with interest.
Jessica’s father, Stuart, commented: This is fantastic news for Jessica as the investment for training will be over £18,000 per year from now on as she develops and has to spend more time away training.
Sponsors like Vincent, Sykes and Higham will receive a link on Jessica’s website, a newsletter about her progress and the connection to Jessica for their own company promotional benefit.
A young skier has won her second national competition of the year, taking the title seven seconds ahead of her nearest rivals.
Jessica Anderson, 10, from Oundle, won the Scottish Indoor Ski Championships just weeks after her British Indoor success.
The youngster recorded such a quick time, she beat the time of all the boys who entered and would have been placed in the top 10 of the adult women’s competition.
Jessica said: To win the Scottish Championships to add to my success in the British is great. What made it even more special was that I also met Alain Baxter, who is one of my ski heroes. He was there to open the race and to see a World Cup skier in action was brilliant!
Jessica is now preparing for the European Indoor Championship next month when she hopes to make it three major titles in a row.
Evening Telegraph February 2008
A nine year old ski racer is moving closer to her dreams of Olympic glory after getting another championship success under her belt.
British Indoor Slalom Champion Jessica Anderson walked away with the silver medal in the English Alpine Championships which were held in Italy last weekend, meaning that she is on course to realise her dream of representing Great Britain at the sport.
The Oundle Youngster, who trains at the SNO!zone Xscape venues in Milton Keynes and is part of the Xsape racing team, came second in the Mini Giant Slalom event and put up the third quickest timeout of all the girls and boys racing.
This was despite suffering a freak accident which broke her ski binding, forcing her to complete the race on just one ski.
The King’s Cliffe Middle School pupil said I was determined to finish the race even though I knew I had lost my chance of being on the podium in both races.
I remembered my favourite film, Cool Runnings, when the Jamaican bobsleigh team crash but carry the bobsleigh over the line and said to myself, if they can do it, so can I.
Finishing second in the English Alpine Championships is an excellent achievement following on from my third place at New Year and I am now looking to go one better with the National Ski Championships in France in April.
Jessica was introduced to the sport at the age of three and then found she had a natural talent. Her father, Stuart, said she is making great progress all the time. As far as Olympic dreams, it takes years of development, with most not achieving until their early 20s.
Although the outdoor season ends in April, there is no letting up as the indoor season begins in May.
Jessica trains once a week in Milton Keynes and despite having free slopes to use, the family will have to pay out a lot of money to help their daughter achieve her dream, with all the racing equipment falling on their shoulders.
Local ski racer, Jessica Anderson returned from the first major race of the season with excellent results. Jessica, aged 9 from Oundle, was competing in the British Alpine Racing Ski Clubs championships at Les Menuires. She finished 5th, 2nd and 3rd in her three races, becoming the youngest girl to stand on the podium over the two races.
Jessica was representing SNO!zone Xscape Race Team, where she trains every week when not competing out on snow. She said: I worked really hard over the summer and autumn twice a week so I was not happy with my result in the first race and was determined to make up for it in the second. Finishing third and being the youngest girl to get on the podium was great as I was competing against the best girl skiers in the country.
Jessica is now preparing for the next of the season, the Engish Alpine championships in Italy during February.
Oundle skier Jessica Anderson has completed her indoor season in style by winning the British Indoor Championships. It has been a great summer for Jessica as she also won all five races in the Xscape Race Series, held at Xscape Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Castleford, and became the Overall Series Champion as well.
Jessica skis for the Xscape Race Team, based at the real Sno!Zone in Milton Keynes where she trains every week. She says: I have had a great indoor season this year as I stepped up to the next age group, so to be the only competitor in the whole Xscape Series to win all five races in their age group was brilliant. Then to finish the season by winning the British Indoor Championship was fantastic.
She now has a few more months of training at Xscape Milton Keynes as well as abroad before the winter race season begins in December in France.
A British ski star in the making: Oundle’s Jessica Anderson. Despite three times having her first even delayed, local ski champion Jessica Anderson started the competitive ski season in style while racing in the Inter–Schools Challenge in Les Houches, Chamonix on the 12–13 March this year.
The eight–year old ski fanatic, whose full name is Jessica Tignes Annette Anderson, is totally committed to the sport. I must have been born to ski as my parents named me after the French Ski resort, she says. A bit odd I know but that’s parents for you!
Representing Warmington Primary School, Jessica, competing in the Mini 1 category, achieved first in both the Slalom and the Giant Slalom whilst setting the fastest times for both the girls’ and boy’s competition.
After this great start Jessica moved on in early April to Meribel for the British Land Ski Championships, competing in the Giant Slalom and the Combined. She took the bronze medal in both events, progressing from 5th place in the same competition last year.
For Jessica the ski season never stops, and the summer will be spent training with the Xscape team and competing in the various indoor races and championships which are organised when skiing in the Alps is over.
Jessica started skiing in La Plagne, France, at the age of two and from that point she has rapidly improved ahead of her age group. At the age of six she was competing with 12–year–olds in slaloms when most of her peers would only be starting out in ski school. When not in the Alps, Jessica skis in Milton Keynes for the Xscape Race Team. The SnoZone is a good place for any budding skier to train, at 170m and with 1,500 tonnes of real, the real snow slope is the longest in the country.
Skiing is a great sport and I hope that more children take up ski racing after reading me, she says. If you ever in Milton Keynes on Sunday mornings, why don’t you come and check out the slopes and see my team mates in action?
Seb Graves
2 May 2007
This year’s ski season has been one of the worst in Europe for a long time due to lack of snow. This has not only affected family holidays but also the race season. Local ski racer, Jessica Anderson aged 8 from Oundle has been waiting since December to get her season underway as three races have been cancelled due to lack of snow. But all that changed on 12 and 13 March where Jessica was in Les Houches, Chamonix, taking part in the British Interschool Challenge, representing Warmington Primary School.
Jessica was competing in the Mini 1 category and won the gold in both the slalom and Giant Slalom (GS) by setting not only the quickest times in the girls section, but by also beating all of the boys as well.
I am proud to have finished first in slalom and GS for my school and am looking forward to competing in the British and English championships in France in a few weeks time, said Jessica.
This year’s ski season has been one of the worst in Europe for a long time due to lack of snow. This has not only affected family holidays but also the race season.
Local ski racer, Jessica Anderson, aged eight from Oundle, has been waiting since December to get her season underway as three races have been cancelled due to lack of snow. But all of that changed last week when Jessica was in Les Houches, Chamonic, taking part in the British Inter-school Challenge representing Warmington School.
Jessica was competing in the Mini 1 category and won the gold in both slalom and giant slalom (GS) by setting not only the quickest times in the girl’s section but also beating all the boys.
I am proud to have finished first in the slalom and GS for my school and am looking forward to competing in the British and English championships in France in a few weeks time, said Jessica.
Jessica Anderson from Oundle has had a fantastic first ski season competing for Milton Keynes Xscape Race Team.
Jessica, aged 8, has just completed the 5-race Xscape Race Series held around the UK at Xscape Milton Keynes, Castleford and Glasgow, winning all 5 races. She then completed the season by achieving second in the British Indoor Ski Championships where she was competing with girls up to 10 years old.
Earlier this year, Jessica won the prestigious Bairns Bucket in Scotland and also performed well in both the English and British Championships held in France.
Jessica trains twice a week at the real Snowzone at Xscape Milton Keynes and the Xscape Race Team and is fast gaining a reputation for producing the next generation of ski racers. A number of the team are now members of the children’s GB ski team. Jessica is already looking forward to the new season where her first race will be in December in Norway.
When Jessica Anderson got into her tiny ski boots at just two years old, her parents had no idea she had already found her passion in life.
After taking her first tentative steps into the picturesque ski slopes in France while on a family holiday, little Jessica has never looked back.
Now the sporty schoolgirl has completed an impressive first season competing for the Milton Keynes Xscape racing team.
Still just eight years old, ice–cool Jessica recently won every race in a five series across the country against children more than two years older than her.
Parents Julia and Stuart, who live in Oundle, near Peterborough, say she has won the admiration of her fellow skiers and is the little darling of the racing team.
Julia (45) said: We are both very keen skiers and were hoping she would take to it – but we never dreamed it would be on this scale.
She was a complete natural from the start. She’s got natural balance and obviously had a very low centre of gravity at the time!
Jessica is just born to ski – she absolutely loves it and can already beat us both down a run. As she got older, we asked around to find out about what options were open to her to compete in races, and came across the Snowzone.
The family now travel to Milton Keynes twice a week for Jessica to train and perfect her slalom skills on the real snow surface.
She finished her first season in the sport by winning the prestigious Bairn’s Bucket in Scotland and finishing first and second in the British Indoor Ski Championships.
Jessica who is a pupil at Warmington Village School, said: I like skiing because I like to win the races. One day I want to race in the Winter Olympics.
The family are now looking forward to the new season, where Jessica’s first race will be in Norway, in December.
Local ski racer, Jessica Anderson from Oundle has been chosen to represent Great Britain in the GB Children’s ski team for the second year in a row.
Last winter Jessica represented GB in Andorra and Italy and finished 8th in her first race out of 26 nations.
Jessica has been chosen again based on her results from the British Championships in Meribel France in April where she finished 2nd in the Slalom.
A delighted Jessica said “I am looking forward to the new season beginning over Christmas where I am competing in France and Italy in two important National races before going to represent GB in the Czech Republic at the end of January. I have been working hard on my fitness over the summer and autumn and have also been training every week at Corby Athletics for my stamina, which helped me receive really high marks in the GB fitness tests.”
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