Newcastle University

Peter and Matthew are brothers and skiers at the top of their game. Peter is 19 and a 2^nd year Applied Biology student. Matthew has been a student at Newcastle University for four years and is currently a 1^st year Business Management student. They originate from Bishops Stortford. They are competing in this weeks BUDS (Britiish Universities Dryslope) championship in Edinburgh.

Talk me through upcoming events?

Matthew. This weekend is the first BUCS championships, which is the dry slope competition at Hillend, Edinburgh. There will be roughly 2,000 students at the event. In the slalom event alone there will be about 500 people competing. Newcastle University is taking around 50 skiers.

How good is the Newcastle Skiing team?

Mathew. We were BUCS champions last year. We are easily the best in the country. We have some great skiers and snowboarders, including the Parker sisters.

How are you enjoying the scholarship programme?

Matthew. Well I was an elite athlete for two years. I am now on the performance sports scholarship. The assistance with nutrition and psychology is second to none. The tutor support is excellent. It is also great that there is someone to tell you where you are going wrong and how you could improve. The scholarship gives you a focus. Belonging to a group of elite sports people increases the sense of competiveness. If other athletes secure some BUCS points, it makes you want to do it too.

Peter. This is my first year on the programme. I didn’t join last year because of a persistent back injury. From what I have seen so far the programme is great. The strength & conditioning coach has already discovered that my left side is dominant over my right. Over the last couple of years I have been getting muscles spasms on my right side and now I know why. I have been told I need to work on my back strength on my right side to counteract this. The only way I think the programme cold be improved is if it had a higher profile in the university, so the general student population was aware of the fine athletes at this great institution.

How can the programme help improve you?

Matthew.  I need to improve my dry slop starts. On snow you get up to speed quickly but with dry slopes there is more friction. I need to practice my technique

Peter. I need general strength and conditioning training, my dry slope is strong, but I need to do more physical work. The scholarship gives me the ability to do what I want to do within my sport, it helps you meet your aspirations. The recognition I receive from my tutors and fellow athletes will help me improve as a sportsman.

Do you compete with each other?

Matthew. We compete in everything we do, even down to who has the remote control

Peter. He is better than me at Halo, so I refuse to play it!

How do you enjoy Newcastle University?

Peter. I love Newcastle. It is the perfect town for students. Everything is within walking distance

Do you feel part of Team Newcastle?

Matthew. Well the skiers are a tightly knit group. We don’t get to mix with the others sporting team as much as we would like. For example the Stan Calvert Cup games are played within close proximity. We have to go to Manchester’s  Snow Dome. Also most others sports BUCS events are spread out, while ours are in November and then nothing until Easter.

Is it hard to fit in skiing with your studies?

Peter. Last year when I was a fresher it was fine. However, this year the extra workload has made it a little tough. Trying to get to training, the gym and race at the weekend is difficult. I guess it’s all about time management.

Do you have any world rankings?

Matthew. Well I represent the England Freestyle Ski Crosscountry team and I am 202^nd in the world at alpine. I am also 3 time overall university skiing champion

Peter. I am a member of the England alpine ski team. I am 750^th in world in downhill, and 14^th in Britain. I was also under 18 British slalom champion

Would you consider turning professional?

Peter. It is very hard to become a professional skier. I can’t really tell until I have finished university. Also it takes just one crash and that can be the end of your career. You can get up to 140km downhill, on two bits of wood on ice, it really isn’t that safe, but boy it’s fun!!

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Joe Mellor