Scott Bryson,16, from Sunderland, the current British Junior Ski Champion has scored two major successes in the past week.

On Thursday he secured his first sponsorship deal when he signed up with Blizzard skis and the Ski Warehouse from Longtown in Cumbria. Both companies will be supporting Scott in the coming season as he strives to continue the excellent progress he has already made in his chosen sport.

On Saturday he competed in the All England Artificial Ski Slope Championships at High Wycombe and became the first North East skier ever to win the championship outright and also at 16 became one of the youngest ever winners.

Scott is currently attempting to combine the demands of an A level course at Durham Sixth Form with a full time ski programme based at the British Winter Olympic Centre in Austria.

He has recently been reselected for the British Youth Team - the only North East skier ever to make the team - and has again been awarded an Olympic Passport which identifies him as a potential Olympian.

He is very much looking forward to testing the new Blizzard skis when he flies out to Austria next weekend to train on the Hintertux Glacier.