Katie Summerhayes Nominated for Sunday Times Young Sportswoman of the Year
13 year old Katie Summerhayes was the talk of this year’s British Championships in Laax, Switzerland (April 2009). Katie took the Championships by storm, winning the overall Slopestyle and Big Air titles, thereby making history as the youngest ever British Freeeski Champion.
As a young girl from Sheffield Katie is perhaps not the most likely international ski champion: there are no mountains, only artificial ski centre’s to train on, and, unlike many sports, there is no government funding. Despite these hurdles, Katie has done the unimaginable and shown that natural talent, drive and love of a sport can get you to the top.
Achievements and Future Aspirations
For the last couple of years Katie has dominated all of the UK competitions (see results tables below), where she is pretty much untouchable by any other female athlete. She has performed in front of thousands of people at ski shows and been featured on many TV programs (Blue Peter, ITV etc). Everyone is always blown away with Katie’s natural talent and fearless attitude to such a dangerous sport.
Sponsored by Oakley, Salomon and Sno!zone Katie’s latest major championship titles are predicted to be the first of many. Katie’s world class status was further bolstered by her appearance at the World Cup Halfpipe event in Les Contamines, France, at the start of the winter, where once again all eyes were on Katie. Katie has also just returned from the states where she was the only female skier personally asked to ski at the opening of a new ski slope – Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre – in America. With Katie already showcasing her talents on an international stage, ambitions of X-Games and Olympic medals are most definitely within reach.
Reference by Pat Sharples (British ski team and world cup coach)
“Katie Summerhayes is one of the most naturally talented skiers I have ever seen. When she first came onto the Freeski scene at such a young age, I was blown away with her skills, enthusiasm and passion for her sport. What has always made Katie stand out is that she is prepared to step it up more than anyone else and push her limits to another level.
Katie trains super hard and always takes everything in when we’re coaching her. What is also great to see is that she is always having fun, which I do believe makes athletes much better than when they’re doing it just to get the competition results. It also makes her the perfect role model for new kids getting into the sport.
I cannot explain how excited I am to work with Katie and to watch her career over the years to come as I know it is going to be something special!”
Whilst Katie’s results table below (present-2008) might not mean much to those not in the industry it not only demonstrates Katie’s determination but it also shows that Katie is consistently winning every national event and is one of the ski industries greatest hopes for the future.
|
Date |
Competition |
Venue |
Discipline |
Category |
Result |
|
August 2009 |
Summer Heat Railbattle |
Castleford, Leeds |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
August 2009 |
Westbeach Big Air |
Glasgow |
Big Air |
Overall |
1st |
|
June 2009 |
The Afterbang Jam |
Milton Keynes |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
May 2009 |
Phat Rotations |
Bracknell |
Slopestyle |
U16 |
1st |
|
May 2009 |
Phat Rotations |
Bracknell |
Big Air |
U16 |
1st |
|
April 2009 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Big Air |
Overall |
1st |
|
April 2009 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
March 2009 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Halfpipe |
Overall |
2nd |
|
October 2008 |
The London Ride (International) |
London, Olympia |
Big Air |
Overall (mixed sex) |
19th |
|
October 2008 |
Metro Ski Show Invitational |
London, Olympia |
Big Air |
Overall (mixed sex) |
11th |
|
September 2008 |
British Snow Tour Indoor Champs |
Milton Keynes |
Big Air |
Overall |
1st |
|
September 2008 |
British Snow Tour Indoor Champs |
Castleford |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
September 2008 |
Westbeach Series |
Halifax |
Slopestyle |
U16 |
1st |
|
July 2008 |
British Snow Tour Outdoor Champs |
Chatham |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
May/June 2008 |
The Freeze |
Sheffield |
Big Air |
Overall |
1st |
|
May/June 2008 |
The Freeze |
Sheffield |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
May 2008 |
Fat Face Night Ski |
Manchester |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
|
April 2008 |
The North Face Challenge (International) |
Val Thorens, France |
Freeski and Slopestyle |
Overall |
6th |
|
April 2008 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Big Air |
Overall |
2nd |
|
April 2008 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Skiercross |
Kids |
3rd |
|
April 2008 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
4th |
|
March 2008 |
The British Championships |
Laax |
Halfpipe |
Overall Kids |
4th 1st |
|
January 2008 |
Rip Curl Girls Tour |
Milton Keynes |
Slopestyle |
Overall |
1st |
