An eighth-grader from the Copenhagen International School (CIS) hurtled to seventh place in the respected French ski competition L’étoile D’Or on March 20-21.

Nicolas Stewart – a member of the Ecole Ski Français (ESF) Club in La Clusaz that teaches children as young as three to ski – has already competed in a number of French National ESF Championships and this year was pitted against 120 other skiers in his age category.

Never gonna keep me down
The seasoned Alpine skier finished among the final top ten despite several falls during the first two races.

“The Sunday race was one run – only one chance to perform. I emptied my mind, trying to not think of the previous day’s falls. I believed in myself and in my equipment. I was supported by my coaches who also believed in me,” Stewart told CIS.

“Giving all I had, I took off. I knew I was skiing fast and I felt great all the way to the finish line. I felt a sense of achievement. I had the worst starting number in the top ten, yet I was seventh of 120 skiers. I am so glad that I did not give up!”