Where to Ski And Snowboard - Jenny Jones wins historic medal

Jenny Jones wins historic medal

10th February 2014, by Abi Butcher

Snowboarder Jenny Jones says her historic win is still "sinking in"

The UK ski and snowboard industry is in full celebration mode following Jenny Jones’s historic medal in the Sochi Winter Olympics yesterday.

Jenny took bronze in the Snowboard Slopestyle, Britain’s first ever medal on snow. Her result seems all the more remarkable considering she took up snowboarding aged 16 and worked as a chalet girl in Tignes for a couple of seasons.

She said today that the result was still “sinking in”.

“The last few hours has been full of lots of emotions,” said Jenny, 33. “Walking out on the podium was a fantastic experience — I never thought it’d be in this position when I was a chalet maid. I was cooking breakfasts and cleaning toilets and just snowboarding every day and having fun. At the beginning it was just about snowboarding and enjoying your sport.”

Jenny only began her Sochi quest two years ago — and described her journey as a “rollercoaster” filled with challenges and injury.

She added: “I’m going to enjoy this moment for a little bit. I’ll keep snowboarding, I’ve a few more years left in me, but I’d like to go surfing first.”

This morning Chemmy Alcott finished 16th in the Women’s Super Combined Downhill in a time of 1.44.83. She did not go on to take part in the Super Combined Slalom, preferring to concentrate on Wednesday’s Downhill.

Chemmy said: “There were a couple of turns up there that really challenged my leg, so I just had to muscle through them and know where my strengths are, and charge it where I can.”

For a full list of when British athletes are in action at the Sochi Winter Olympics, see our story from Friday.