Olympic ski training on the Bridgnorth bypass

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. This really is Shropshire youngster Fern Cates SKIING up the Bridgnorth by-pass.

The 15-year-old from nearby village Quatford - who is the newly-crowned under-16s British cross-country skiing champion - is not one to let the lack of actual snow get in the way of her training programme.

And she can regularly be seen on her roller-skis pushing her way up the side of the A458 after a hard day's study at Bridgnorth Endowed School.

"She often has cars slowing down as they come past her because they are so surprised," said mum Sarah Cates.

"She uses the same binding and boots as she does on normal skis so she can transfer the same techniques onto snow.

"It's the method used when there's no snow around, a bit like a downhill skier using a dry slope."

Fern won the classic and freestyle events at the Army Inter Service and British National Nordic Ski Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany, last month.

And she will be off to Sweden in April for the latest training camp with the British Nordic Development squad as she aims for the European Youth Olympics in Romania in 2013.

The training runs on the Bridgnorth by-pass are central to her development, along with weekly practice with the Midlands Ski Club - where her coach Anne Ford oversees roller-ski sessions on the Solihull Cycle Track.

"It's quite a good way for her to relax," added her mother.

"Other kids may hang out or go to the cinema but Fern relaxes by going out training."

Fern is a true sporting allrounder and secured a seventh place finish in the semi-finals of the British Schools Biathlon Championships in Macclesfield last weekend.

The event sees competitors run 1,000m and swim 100m.

Fern must wait until after the third semi-final later this month before she knows whether that is enough to secure a place in the finals at Crystal Palace in March.

With 40 places up for grabs, the teenager's chances of qualification look good as she currently lies 14th overall.