Skier Cooper savours Winter Youth Olympics experience

Chichester skier Yasmin Cooper has been part of the GB team at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer this week.

At the Hafjell Olympic Slope, alpine skier Cooper and Iain Innes had her first taste of Youth Olympic competition in the Super-G event.

Cooper, a student at Chichester High School for Girls, pushed hard but missed a gate and failed to finish her first run.

The next day, Cooper skied superbly to finish in 13th place in the ladies’ alpine combined.

Cooper finished the Super-G in 19th (1:17.49) and came down the slalom 16th quickest (45.40) to finish with a combined time of 2:02.89.

On Tuesday, Cooper’s giant slalom race ended in disappointment after the 17-year-old skied out during the top section of her first run after pushing hard on the Hafjell Olympic Slope course.

Despite the result, Cooper – who finished 13th in the super combined event and was visited by Olympic Champion Lindsey Vonn – was upbeat following the race and insisted she needed to test herself in order to progress, advice heeded from the Olympic Champion and winner of 75 World Cup races.

“I skied out because I was attacking and really going for it at the top section,” said Cooper.

“I really don’t mind because I know I was going for it and trying my hardest, which is all you can do.

“I took a couple of risks on the super combined day and those paid off and today they didn’t – some days you win and some days to lose and I know that I won’t progress unless I push myself so I’m proud.”

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