QTS Youth Athlete makes history!

September 2018

QTS Youth athlete, Nicole Ritchie, from Glasgow Ski Racing, has made history this weekend by becoming the only athlete – male or female – to win the Scottish Dry Slope Slalom Championships for the eighth time.

She secured her latest title at Hillend, just outside Edinburgh, the longest and steepest artificial ski slope in Europe.

There was a 125-competitor field, which was slightly down on the 133 competitors from 2017.

Hillend coaches, Callum Henderson and Murray Howie, set the technical slalom courses.

The first course, set by Callum Henderson, was set with more technical gates.

Ritchie favours steep difficult courses and Hillend suits her.

After the first run, she held a small margin over fellow Glasgow Ski Racing competitor, Eilidh Ryan – of 0.18 second. Lothian Ski Racing’s Jemma Clark followed in third place, with a gap of 1.96.

In the second course, set by Murray Howie, Ritchie used her experience to increase her lead, winning with an overall margin of 1.57 seconds to take the title, for the eight consecutive year as Scottish Dry Slope champion.

Glasgow Ski Racing also won the team dual slalom.