Kingston ski racer Darcie Mead faces a stiff examination of her credentials to make it to the top this year, coach Paul Telling has warned.
 

The 16-year-old won the overall British junior girls title at the British Alpine Championships in France at the end of last season.
 

She has backed that up with strong results in France, Austria and South America over the summer, that should push the British number one junior girl into the world’s top 50.
 

But Teller, head coach at  Team Evolution in Austria where Mead is largely based, reckons tougher assignments are on the horizon.
 

“This year for Darcie is going to be the toughest to date,” he said.
 

“She has been selected to the British junior team, shortlisted to be part of Team GB for the European Youth Olympics, and will be moving into her A Level year.
 

“Luckily, she is focused on the bigger picture and has spent the summer putting in the hours to make sure she’s developing properly.”
 

* Former Surbiton High School student Chemmy Alcott is set to make her return to World Cup skiing at Lake Louise in Canada next week – the scene of a career threatening leg injury she suffered in 2010.