Shropshire snowboarder Gabriel Adams wins first international competition of the season

Thirteen-year-old Gabriel Adams, ranked as one of the top 10 snowboarders in the UK, took top spot in the Zillertal Valley Rally at Betterpark Hintertux.

The year nine pupil took part in the hotly contested event during three weeks of pre-season training in Austria.

Clinching the title is a massive boost for the young athlete who had not been on a snowboard since his summer training in Landgraff in Holland.

Last year he was the only GB rider to qualify for the World Rookie Tour and he is hoping to have further success again there this season in a series of international competitions.

The teenager is currently ranked eighth overall across all ages in the UK with all the other athletes in the top 10 aged between 19 and 27.

"We are so proud of Gabriel's achievement and his commitment to a punishing training schedule to get to the top of his sport at such a young age," said Wrekin College headmaster Tim Firth.

"We look forward to following his progress throughout the coming season and will support him all we can as he bids for further success.

"We encourage children to be the best version of themselves and to push and challenge their abilities across the board.

"All the staff are determined to help our pupils manage their time so there are no limits to what they can achieve."

Adams trains with his coach and the team in Kaltenbach, Austria. The tough routine includes fitness, body conditioning and then riding on the mountain.

It's six days a week, from 9am to 4pm with some additional fitness sessions in the evenings.

School work is done on Adams' day off and evenings. He then has to spend all school holidays and weekends when not in Austria catching up on school work.

Adams' passion for snowboarding was first sparked when living in Morzine, France when he was just eight years old. Great Britain coach Steve Addicot spotted him and has trained him ever since.