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Celeb Interview - Harry Brown

Harry Brown is the British Giant Slalom Champion 2007. He is already sponsored at the ripe old age of 16 by two major international companies, Sub-Zero and Wolf. Travelling around more miles than most people twice his age, the young slalom superstar has already achieved great things, including Double Gold – for the slalom and GS – in the Chamkoria Cup in Bulgaria 2006 and Bronze in the Czech National Championships the same year. Now with his sights set firmly on the 2010 Winter Olympics, for Harry Brown it’s all downhill from here…

Successes:

• Britain’s most successful international child skier ever.
• Three times top 15 at Topolino Children’s World Championships.
• Represented Great Britain in Youth Olympics.
• British Giant Slalom Champion 2007
• Four international podium finishes.
• Five years British Ski Team.

Facts:

Harry is a member of the GB youth team, skiing and living full time at the British Olympic base in Lofer, Austria. Since successfully completing his GCSEs Harry has started an academic sports management programmes for talented athletes and recognised future Olympians. The programme is based at Loughborough University, with tuition in Austria enabling him to race and train.

He has visited 22 different countries in the course of his ski career. Each year he takes at least fifty flights and spends many days travelling thousands of miles in the back of a mini bus. He has recently crossed The Andes in Chile. He usually needs two baggage trolleys, as he travels with eight sets of skis, his 25kg holdall and a 15kg backpack. More often than not he gets stuffed for excess luggage even when he is representing our country!

He says: “One day soon I am going to the Olympics and maybe then the airlines will let me pop me and my skis on board those big planes for FREE.”

iN: As Britain’s most successful child skier, what age did you start skiing?

HB: I started skiing when I was three years old. My dad took me and I actually didn’t like it, but then it grew on me and I started to compete when I was 9.

iN: You represented Great Britain in the Winter Youth Olympics. How was that experience for you?

HB: It was a great experience and gave me a good insight into the major competitions. I am hoping to compete again in the 2010 Olympics, so fingers crossed.

iN: Being such a jet-setter where do you actually call home?

HB: I live in Austria for the ski season and I live in the South of France out of season. When I am in Austria I live in the Great Britain Team Olympic base.

iN: What is your training regime there?

HB: I ski five or six days on and one day off per week. Skiing starts at 5.30am and we usually finish by 2pm, it’s an early start because no one else is out on the slopes.

iN: Where did you live when you were in Essex and do you get to come back much?

HB: I lived in Epping and I do sometimes come back, maybe once a year, but not as much as I would like.

iN: What is your favourite ski destination in the world?

HB: Portes du Soleil in France, it’s just amazing.

iN: What’s in store for Harry Brown for the future – what are your goals?

HB: Make a name for myself in skiing; be the best I can be and win an Olympic medal for my country and be World Champion.