Millfield skier represents Great Britain in Italy

Millfield skier Katie Saunders was selected to represent Great Britain at the world’s pre-eminent children’s ski race, the Alpe Cimbra FIS children’s cup in Italy.  

The event took place between the 25 and 28 January and saw 45 key ski nations travel to Folgaria to compete.

Katie’s selection followed her recent success as U16 girls English champion at the English Alpine Championships in Bormio in 2022, and victory at the Ambition Championships in Austria. She was one of only three U16 girls from Great Britain to have been selected to compete at the event. Katie came 20th in the Slalom and 10th in the Giant Slalom, racing against the top Alpine skiers in the world. The GB team came 7th overall against the 45 ski nations, which is their best result ever.

15-year-old Katie started skiing at the age of three at her local ski race club in Aldershot. She skis with the Millfield team every Wednesday in training sessions held at the Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre, and regularly represents the school in competitions.

Katie, said “On receiving my selection, I felt very happy as I have worked hard to get to where I am and the selection was the result of my good skiing over the winter. I was really excited for the event, and it was really fun to ski with my friends from Britain as well as ski against people from other countries.”

Katie, who is a day student at Millfield, chose to come to the school because of the unrivalled sports provision, as well as the high academic standard. Katie said, “When I’m competing, the school is very good at sending me the work that I would be doing in class, which means I can stay on top of the academic side of things whilst still focusing on my skiing. There are tutors available when I am away skiing who help me if I get stuck and need help.” She is studying PE, French, history and separate sciences alongside all of the core subjects, and hopes to work in science in the future whilst continuing to pursue her skiing.

Consistent performances in National Schools’ Championships prove how Millfield ranks as one of the best schools for Ski instruction and development on the British Isles. Training and conditioning is tailored to each student, allowing them to improve at a pace and style that they enjoy. Millfield enjoys close links with the major British Ski Race Academies, so high performers are supported when away from school at training camps or competitions.