15 Snowsport athletes among 20-strong Team GB EYOF delegation

Brits to be represented in Alpine skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freeski, and Freestyle Snowboard

15 snowsport athletes have been named among a 20-strong Team GB squad announced by the British Olympic Association for this year’s European Youth Olympic Festival in Bakuriani.

Running from 9-16 February, Team GB’s young athletes, all agend between 14 and 17, will compete in seven of teh right sports on the programme: Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freeski, Freestyle Snowboard, Biathlon, Figure Skating, and Short Track Speed Skating.

EYOFs play an important roles in the development of young British athletes, providing crucial multi-sport event experience and guiding them towards realising their Olympic ambitions as they compete alongside over 1600 athletes from 44 countries.

Bakuriani has recently hosted winter sport events and was the venue where Mia Brookes won her Snowboard Slopestyle title at the 2023 Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Chamionships.

The squad features multiple snowsport atheltes who return after representing Team GB in Gangwon at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympic Games. Elspeth Cruickshank, Sophie Forth, Freddy Carrick-Smith and Zak Carrick-Smith all took to the snow in South Korea, with the latter making history as he secured Britain’s first ever Alpine gold medal at an Olympic event – a feat which he backed up with a further gold and silver.

Charlie Burn, Team GB’s Chef de Mission for Bakuriani 2025, said: “It is a huge honour to be the Chef de Mission and lead Team GB in Bakuriani. It will be the first time many of our young athletes experience the Olympic movement and is an invaluable opportunity for them to develop in an international competition of this level.

“While it may be many of the athletes’ first exposure to a multi-sport event environment, we are also excited to welcome back three of the team from Gangwon 2024. Team GB has a great history of youth athletes taking part in an EYOF and going on to become senior Olympians, so it will be great to support our athletes as they use Bakuriani 2025 as a foundation for development at future Games. We hope that the 2025 edition of the Winter EYOF will continue to build on the success of recent events.”

Former GB Snowsport Alpine World Cup Squad athlete, Charlie Guest, will take on the role of Athelte Ambassador for Bakuriani, offering advice and support as the athletes come together as one team GB.

Charlie Guest said: : “I am very proud to be named the Athlete Ambassador for the Bakuriani Winter European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. I have always been very passionate about sport and Team GB is such an incredibly special team. To have the chance to hopefully inspire and pass on knowledge to the next generation is something that I am really looking forward to.”

“Having competed at an EYOF myself back in 2009, I know just how these athletes are feeling. So, I’ll be looking to give them some useful information to make sure they can best use this opportunity to further their careers.”

Freestyle Snowboarder, Emily Rothney said: “I’m really excited to be selected for Team GB. I can’t wait to get out there, meet all my teammates and start learning.”

“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.”