A Keswick skier is looking forward to featuring in the upcoming English Alpine Skiing Championships in Italy.

Francesca Lee, 18, will compete across three disciplines as she chases a national title in Bormio, racing in the Slalom, Super-G and Super Combined in the Under-21 girls category.

The English Alpine Championships are a week of national-level racing and skiing camaraderie, featuring the best English skiers, ranging from Under-10s to senior athletes.

The former Keswick School pupil – currently enjoying a gap year – is no stranger to the Bormio snow.

And with slalom gold already to her name from 2014, Lee is chasing further titles to add to her collection.

“This will be my seventh time in Bormio for the English Championships,” she said. “I would say I have improved over the years.

“At my first slalom race there, I ended two minutes off the pace and a couple of years ago I won it, so I’m definitely getting better.

“This year, I just want to have fun and go as fast as I can.

"I can’t wait for the Super-G – last year I crashed in one of the races and made a huge mistake in the other, so I can’t wait to put a whole run together.

“Competing in Bormio is so much fun. I love the pistes there and it’s great to see so many people from other clubs who I haven’t seen in ages.”

From February 11-17, 350 of the best English Alpine skiers will descend on Bormio for the 21st English Alpine Championships, organised by national governing body Snowsport England.

The English Alpine Championships continue to feature the rising stars of alpine skiing in England, previously acting as a platform for the likes of Chemmy Alcott and Dave Ryding.

And Lee has high hopes for her future on the slopes.

“I started racing at Kendal Ski Club, racing on the dry slope at first, before I started training with Scottish Ski Club and FAST abroad,” she said.

“I’m now training and racing with the British Ski Academy in my gap year.

"After the English Championships are over, I’m working up to the British Championships in March.

“It has been an amazing season so far but I’m excited to get more races under my belt.

“I want to take my skiing as far as I can, so we’ll have to watch and see how I fare.”

Follow the English Alpine Championships on the Snowsport England Facebook page and get live updates on Twitter @SnowsportEng.

Full results will be available at www.snowsportengland.org.uk while you can find your nearest slope offering value-for-money GO SKI GO BOARD sessions at www.goskigoboard.org.uk