10 British medal hopefuls for Sochi 2014: James Woods
- Published
Freestyle Skiing (Slopestyle)
Born: 19/01/92
Career highlights
In 2013, Woods became Britain's first freestyle skiing World Championship medallist for 20 years when he won slopestyle silver in Norway (Richard Cobbing won aerials silver in 1993).
He also cantered to the overall World Cup slopestyle title last season and took Winter X Games bronze.
Career background
Sheffield skier Woods began his sporting life as a skateboarder and rollerblader before starting his skiing career aged 10.
He originally learned both snowboarding and skiing, before specialising on the skis. He won Britain's first-ever major championship slopestyle medal when he took Euro Winter X Games bronze in March 2011.
Did you know?
Unlike his global rivals, Woods didn't learn to ski on snow, rather on a dry slope he describes as like "toothbrush bristles" - the Sheffield Ski Village. It has since shut down and Woods got emotional when taken back there for the first time since its closure on The Olympic Journey: Inspire.
- Published29 October 2013
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