Strath teens Emily Rothney and Tia Freshwater prepare to take on the best at European Youth Olympics

Two fast-rising teen talents from the strath are gearing up to compete for Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Georgia which get underway this weekend.

Europa Cup snowboard star Emily Rothney and slalom prospect Tia Freshwater, who are both aged 16, will be taking on the Continent’s best young talent.

Emily, who recently secured her first Europa Cup win in Italy, will be competing in the freestyle snowboarding competition.

Tia is the daughter of ex-ski star Andrew Freshwater, of Loch Insh, who competed for GB in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano in Japan, and she is currently ranked GB under-18 number one in the slalom.

The games start on Sunday and run until February 16.

Team GB’s 20-strong squad of young athletes, all aged between 14 and 17, will compete in Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freeski, freestyle snowboard and biathlon.

Emily told the Strathy: “I’ve been trying lots of new skills and jumps this season, and it’s found me some success.

“This event gives me a fantastic opportunity to continue that and fully immerse myself in something new with sports and athletes I’ve not been around before.”

Tia said: “After a solid block of training and racing in Italy, I’m delighted to now be the U18 GB number one in slalom and to have been selected to the EYOF.

“I always aim to give my best and try to be a little bit better every day - that’s what I’ll be bringing to Georgia - along with my Moggans ski socks!”

She hopes that this is just the start of an exciting career in slalom racing.

“It is my ambition to represent Great Britain in ski racing and perhaps one day compete each week on the World Cup circuit and follow in the footsteps of the current British Alpine team.

“The team has just finished its most successful year to date.

“It proves that with hard work and a little support even a non-Alpine nation like Great Britain can regularly finish on the podium at international events.”

Tia was introduced to the sport by her father and ski structor Andrew when he was working in Canada.

She first put skis on age 18 months there in 2010.

But back home in Scotland it became clear the options to train were limited and in 2013 the family decided to move to the Alps to train on a more guaranteed basis.

They now live and train in the Porte du Soleil ski area near La Chapelle D’abondance.

The EYOF provides crucial multi-sport event experience and guides them towards realising their Olympic ambitions as they compete alongside over 1600 athletes from 44 countries.

The full GBs squad is:

Cross Country: Ewan McAdam, Elspeth Cruickshank, Sophie Forth and Rasmus Ipsen.

Alpine: Tia Freshwater and Hamish Blyth.

Freeski: Sandra Caune.

Freestyle Snowboard: Emily Rothney and Roahan Duncan.

Follow the games at https://bakuriani2025.sporteurope.org/

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