A TEENAGER from Barnsley is a national skiing champion.

Finlay Parr, from Wombwell, who is studying for his A levels at Wath Academy, has been skiing for more than a decade. He won the under 19 title at the UK Schools Outdoor Championships in Swadlincote, Derbyshire on a dry slope.

Finlay, 18, has competed at national level in the last three years, winning two events in North Wales and finishing on the podium at a number of other races in the UK. He has also raced internationally in Bormio, Italy and both Tignes and Val-d’Isère, France.

Finlay said: “I won the race competing for Wath Academy and was fastest overall out of over 90 competitors. I felt really happy with my performance in the race and being fastest overall was a great bonus. I could see all the hard work I put in over the summer, training for dryslope, was paying off.

“I hope to take this winning performance in to my future races, and improve on my FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) points from 2024 into the 2025 winter season starting at the Scottish FIS over New Year.

“I will again be heading to Italy in January but, with my final A levels coming up, it may be my only international race in 2025.

“Wath Academy have been very supportive of my competitive sport, allowing me to balance that with my studies.

“My ultimate dream one day would be to compete in the Winter Olympics.”