Berkeley skier travels to the Alps (From Gazette Series)

Berkeley skier travels to the Alps

A YOUNG skier from Berkeley is travelling to the Alps to take on the best junior skiers from across Europe.

Thirteen-year-old Alice Williams will compete in the Downhill Only (DHO) Club races at Wengen in Switzerland before competing in further events in France. Alice will enter races in the slalom, giant slalom and super-giant slalom categories.

Last year she placed eighth overall at Wengen against racers from the UK, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

She said: "I'm taking part in the DHO races again in Wengen on December 28 and 29, then on New Year's Eve I am travelling to Les Menuires in France to the British Alpine races on the January 6-8.

"Then, on January 31, I am going to Flaine, France to the schoolgirls races and I am then going to Innsbruck, Austria, to another race."

Alice will also spend time this season at the British Ski Academy in Les Houches, France and will take part in the British inter-school ski race, as well as the English Alpine Championships in Puy-St-Vincent, France.

She will finish the season at the British Championships in Meribel, France, completing her programme of 18 races in the winter season before doing dry slope races from May.