Alex Standen

Basic information

World Junior Team 2009,    World Cup Team

Achievement and Awards

I was lucky enough to go to the European Winter Youth Olympics and had the great honour of being the flag bearer for the Great Britain Team in 2007.  In the last two years I have been at the world junior championships as well as the 2009 world championships in Liberec. I have also been runner up in both the British and Scottish roller ski series. 

Previous/current sponsors

I currently get discounts from Fischer and High 5

Other funding

I have received a number of sports grants over the years including a large grant from the Burnie trust as well as a grant from Sports Aid. The Aberdeenshire sports grant is a grant I have gratefully received since the age of 13 which has been very helpful.  Last year as a part time student and athlete I received TASS funding which is a substantial amount for both me and the sport. Ever since I could I have been working to fund my skiing especially over the last couple of years were working 7 days a week were often a usual occurrence. Most of my work has been with the council but I have done many jobs for other people. However my main funder over the year has definitely been my family.

Personal interest information –

I first started skiing when I went along to my local ski club in Huntly for an open day with my dad. I then joined Huntly Nordic ski club and my dad taught me to ski before I started being coached by the club and later became part of the British Nordic development squad which was run by the late great Robin Lacy. Over the last few years as the skiing level and expectations have got higher the balance between skiing and life has become harder and harder. Firstly it was juggling school work and going abroad for large periods and now it is between earning enough money to ski during the winter and being able to train in the quantity and quality that is required to make into the top level of cross country skiing.