AVIEMORE skier Calum Irvine admits he has not been left wondering where to turn for advice as his preparations for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics reach their head.
Irvine was officially announced back in December as part of a 24-strong British team that will start competing in Innsbruck later this week, and as the only representative in the biathlon.
He is no stranger to such experiences having travelled to the Czech Republic last year for the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, breaking into the top 25 on the continent.
And he will not be short of inspiration with 2003 Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward the Chef de Mission in Austria, and six-time Olympian Mike Dixon, his coach, the biathlon team leader.
Add to that time spent with Lee Jackson, Britain's sole biathlon representative at last year's senior Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and Irvine will be more than ready to take to the slopes.
"I was really pleased about the selection. It's what I've been aiming for and it was really good to finally hear it," said Irvine - who benefits from the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes initiative.
"Sir Clive Woodward is experienced so I imagine he'll be brilliant but I have only met him briefly so I don't really know, and just to take part is going to be amazing.
"Definitely, this is a huge help in gaining experience and just doing more racing. Mental preparation has never really been a problem because I've got a really good coach in Mike Dixon.
"Lee Jackson is doing really well too and that is quite inspirational. Meeting the other athletes is always a great thing as you get to see how they train and how they react to the competition."
While Irvine will be alone in competing in the biathlon he will be joined on the team by friend and fellow Aviemore skier Scott Dixon, who will compete in the cross-country discipline.
Irvine competed in Sweden, Italy and Austria in the senior IBU Cup in December and is adamant he is shaping up nicely ahead of the first Winter Youth Olympics.
"It will be quite strange being the only one from Britain in biathlon at the games but I've trained with Scott so it is good that he will be there too," he added.
"I've been racing with the British team and it's going really well. Any prior experience is great because it helps get rid of the nerves before racing."
The Winter Youth Olympics get under way this Friday and run until January 22.
The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk
