While 18-year-old Emma travelled out to the British winter Olympic base at Lofer in Austria and the Hintertux Glacier, her 16-year-old sister was on route for the French resort of Tignes.

Emma, who trains with the British Home Nations Development Team, is one of the UK's most promising young ski stars with a string of podium places chalked up over recent years including the British Junior Dowhill and Super G titles.

Although her run of success came to an untimely end in a high-speed crash in the British Junior's Super-G in 2006, she has made a determined recovery from major knee surgery and is hotly-tipped to make a name for herself this winter.

"I wasn't allowed back on snow until February so I missed out on most of last season and had to watch from the sidelines as my teammates competed in all the races," she said.

Despite still having some catching up to do, Emma is confident that all the fitness training she has been undertaking and the countless hours spent in the gym will pay off on the slopes.

Her fitness regime has already returned dividends during five weeks spent training in Chile over the summer.

"We were up at 6am every morning, skiing virtually right through the day and then finishing off in the gym.

"It was pretty exhausitng especially as we were living and training at altitude but all the work I had put into my fitness really helped me to keep going," she said.

Having enjoyed the chance to travel to South America and rejoin the rest of the team, the young racer is now keen to get back into the start gate.

"It's been tough going but I have been fortunate to have the support of the Highland Insitute of Sport who, as well as monitoring my fitness programme, have also helped in keeping up morale.

"I'm now looking forward to putting all the frustrations of injury behind me and focusing on the race season ahead," she said.

In looking to jump up the world ranking on the international race circuit, Emma's main aim for this season is to claim the position of being the UK's top junior ski racer.

Carrbridge sisters, Sarah (left) and Emma Norton.

Her sights are set on moving up to Europa Cup level and future selection to the GB team to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Following hot on Emma's heels is her sister, Sarah, who trains with the Scottish Ski Team and whose racing success - including the British Under-18 Super-G title at the British National Land Championships - has also led to her being selected for the British Youth Team.

A pupil at Grantown Grammar School, Sarah is away training every school holiday and this summer spent six weeks on the slopes in Australia.

Before leaving to spend the October holidays glacier training in Tignes, the young racer said she is equally determined to get to the top of her ski racing careeer.

"It can sometimes be difficult combining school work with skiing but my teachers have been really supportive and they know how important ski racing is to me. I just love the thrill and excitment of the sport and like Emma want to get all the way to the top and eventually compete in the Winter Olympics," she said.

Sarah is an all-round athlete, who also enjoys basketball, swiming, mountain biking and contemporary dance.

Her race programme this season includes representing Scotland at the World Schools' Ski Championships to be held in the French resort of Alpe d'Huez in March.

She commented: "Emma and I have both been very lucky to have travelled all over the world with our skiing and although its a lot of hard work, we know how many opportunities being involved in a sport can bring."

Meanwhile, the Norton sisters both have another shared goal - they want to chalk up medal success at the 2008 British Land National Ski Championships.

"Although this could see us competing against each other, it would be very exciting while the real icing on the cake would be to both end up on the winning podium at the same time," said Emma.

Both girls need to find sponsorship to help them get to the pinnacle of the sport and are keen to speak to any companies or individual benefactors who might be able to help. For more information contact Linda Jolly on 01479 841211.

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