At just 14 years old, Jake Armitstead has been titled U16 dry ski slope British Champion for the second consecutive year! After winning the Inaugural Maison Sport Grant last year, we caught up with Jake to discuss his ski racing journey, including how he got into ski racing and where his sights are set for his ski racing career. 

Where did you grow up and when did you first start skiing?

I’m from Kendal but my family emigrated to Australia when I was young. We moved back to the UK when I was 7 and my dad took me to the local dry ski slope to start beginner lessons.

How did you get into ski racing and what made you decide to pursue it at a high level?

I really enjoyed learning to ski and was awarded the most improved beginner award in my first year. Someone suggested I might like to try the race club, so I gave it a go and loved it. I started entering some local fun races and did quite well and then over the next couple of years progressed to travelling around the country competing at a national level and then started to compete abroad in the alpine races.

How did you use the Maison Sport Grant to support your training?

It was amazing to get the Maison Sport Grant, as it helped me access more training abroad. This helped to develop my skills on snow and allowed me to be able to compete with the best British alpine skiers.

What has been your biggest achievement since you were awarded the Maison Sport Grant?

Since being awarded the grant, I became the U16 British Dry Slope Champion. In my alpine races, I achieved 11th place in the English Alpine Children’s Championships slalom in Bormio (5th year of birth) and 5th place in the Anglo Scottish Cup slalom.

What are the plans for your upcoming ski season? Where will we find you racing and training? 

I got back from racing abroad in April and now the UK dry and indoor season has started. I train weekly at Rossendale and the Chill Factore in Manchester and there are races nearly every weekend, all over the country. The season finishes with the All National Championships at the end of the summer.

What are your goals for next season and the next few years?

Over the next alpine season, I will be trying to lower my seed points, get closer to the top British racers and I would love to be selected for the GB Children’s Team. At the end of the next Alpine season, I move from the children’s competitions to the adult FIS competitions, which will be really tough.

Who is your biggest role model in the ski racing world and why?

My biggest role model is Lucas Braathen who used to race for Norway because he is an amazing skier and speaks up about issues in the sport.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring ski racers?

Stick at it, keep training, listen to all the advice from your coaches and have fun.

Where can people follow you on your journey? 

You can find me on Instagram @jake_armitstead_ski and on TikTok @jake_skiracing

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We are very pleased to have been able to support Jake over the past year and help him achieve his goals. We look forward to following his ski racing journey – this is just the beginning!

At Maison Sport, we strive to make skiing more accessible at all levels, so supporting and showcasing young talent in ski racing is incredibly important to us. Ski racing is a particularly challenging sport for British athletes to break into, demanding much dedication and extensive travel abroad. We are proud to support young British talent like Jake and look forward to seeing future ski stars emerge on the British and international circuit.  

The Maison Sport Grant for 24/25 is now open for applications! Head over to our application page to apply today. 

You might also like: Book Ski Lessons With Graham Bell, 5-time Olympic Skier and Presenter of BBC Ski Sunday, on Maison Sport!