While most youngsters of 11 are into their football, rugby or cricket, James Greenwood of Badshot Lea is showing distinct promise as a ski racer.

A member of the Aldershot Ski Race Club and Southern Region squad, he has won many medals and awards, and is highly rated by race coaches.

More important, he has a burning ambition to succeed and that competitive streak, his mother Sandra Greenwood believes, sets him apart.

"We ski for fun," said Mrs Greenwood, who introduced James to the sport on a family skiing holiday, "but it soon became clear that James would take skiing very seriously."

James finished second overall in his age group in the Southern Championships in 2001. He was also fourth in the Children's World Championships and finished sixth in the All-England Championships.

James, a former South Farnham School pupil, relies heavily on sponsorship because his father, John, is confined to a nursing home after suffering a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage.

Sandra Greenwood is on a fixed income and is unable to support her son's efforts to reach the higher levels of the sport because this would mean competing regularly on snow rather than dry slopes.

She said: "Because of the expense involved, his experience on snow has been very limited, but on his first time out he finished ninth out of 23.

"His coaches firmly believe that, with regular outings on snow, he has the talent to reach the national squad."

There are also the travelling expenses of enabling James to attend his other club, Wycombe Summit.

The Greenwoods are keen to attract support from local businesses. Any business or individual interested in supporting a young ski racer of great potential should contact Sandra Greenwood on 01252 653009 (mobile 079884 851110).