EUROPEAN slopes are on the horizon for a champion teenage skier.
Murdo Watson begins the new season in Sweden on Saturday and Sunday as he looks to taste glory on the slopes.
The Dunbar Grammar School pupil is part of the Ambition Racing team and competes throughout Europe against rival skiers.
He told Courier Sport: “The racing starts in mid-November and then it will go on until March.
“Saturday and Sunday I am racing in Kabdalis [in northern Sweden].
“I am looking forward to it a lot.
“I have not raced in over a year because of Covid and I am looking forward to getting back to racing after last year was a lot of training.”
The 16-year-old is no stranger to success and has previously won the British Championships and the Scottish Championships, as well as finishing on the podium in the Anglo-Scottish and Welsh Championships.
The member of the Scottish Alpine Team stressed that his time in various countries, with his team training in Austria, was not a holiday.
The S5 pupil is studying Higher maths, English, history, physical education and engineering.
He said: “We actually have tutors and teachers out there which help us.
“We get given plenty of time to complete schoolwork.
“For me especially, school is more important than skiing this year and if I have to take a day off to do schoolwork then that is what I will do.
“Some people think I am going on holiday but I am really not.”
Watson has been backed in his sporting experiences by Community Windpower and 4J Studios, who are based in East Linton where he lives, as well as ski shop Alpine Imports. Community Windpower has backed the teenager with £2,500 for the third year running.
He said skiing was “definitely not the cheapest sport in the world” but he was looking forward to getting back on the snow.
When at home, training has been limited to working with a personal trainer but now the new season is getting under way.
Watson said: “I like going fast, I like the adrenaline and I just like all sports.
“I like the competitive nature of sport in general. I play basketball as just a fun thing to do with school as well.
“At the moment, I compete in all the disciplines – giant slalom (GS), super giant slalom (super G), downhill, slalom and alpine combined. I will maybe later on narrow it down a bit but it is better when you are younger to ski more and to learn different things. I prefer the more technical disciplines, the slalom and GS.”
Watson started skiing when he was just four years old and has been a regular on the slopes ever since.
He said: “It was just with my family and we are quite a snow sport orientated family.
“It just stemmed from there and I really got into it and racing at about 11 years old.”
Diane Wood, community benefits director at Community Windpower, wished Watson well for the coming season.
She said: “Murdo is a brilliant student athlete who shows great skill, drive and commitment to achieve his goals both on and off the slopes, and we are thrilled to be part of his journey.
“We want to help young people achieve their goals, whether that is through sport, education or charitable donations.
“We continually look at how we can best support members of the local community.”
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