James interviews teamArchie Snow Camp Apprentice Robyn (and Jenny Jones!)
Our Snow Camp Charity Apprentice, Robyn, came to the rescue at the end of the season when veteran fundraiser, skier, and endurance runner Paul Bowker had to withdraw with a torn leg muscle from teamArchie’s campaign in the AJ Bell Three Valleys Rally. Robyn stepped up in the team slalom with James Lloyd, Jamie Mcgrigor, and David Rodney, and skied three clean runs to get teamArchie into the quarter finals.
The Three Valleys Rally is an opportunity for Snow Camp supporters to come together, raise money and take part in some highly competitive snowsports challenges with the inspiring graduates from Snow Camp’s programmes.
teamArchie has been supporting Robyn through her apprenticeship since September. James caught up with her and Snow Camp ambassador, Jenny Jones, to find out just what a difference being part of teamArchie and Snow Camp has made to her life.
Okay, Hi its Jenny Jones here Olympic bronze medallist in snowboarding. I’m a huge advocate for the SnowCamp charity and an ambassador for them.
I've been supporting then probably about over 15 years now because the way that they bring young people to the snow, and bring them out of their shells, out of any problems or issues that they've been having in their lives, and just give them a change of scene through skiing and snowboarding.
To see them thrive in that environment and give them some amazing experiences, and not only that, they then go on to make careers. They improve their own confidence in so many different ways.
We are out here in Val Thorens for the AJ Bell Three Valley Rally, and I am a lucky enough to be here with Robyn, who is one of the apprentices with Snow Camp, one of the young people. Absolutely fantastic to talk to you Robyn. I wanted to chat to you because I know that you are part of teamArchie that did amazing over these two days here at this event.
What have you taken from the two days and how has it been with teamArchie?
Robyn
These past two days have been absolutely amazing. Like just seeing everyone here, how much everyone actually just cares about it. And they've, everyone's actually got like so many people behind them like cheering them on.
Jenny
For you, what has being part of Snow Camp meant and especially that apprenticeship?
Robyn
So Snow Camp for me, it's been like somewhere I can go to, like just be myself and have fun. And, like, it's a safe place, away from all the personal difficulties in my life, and the sports amazing. And then it's also giving me a career, an opportunity to like work with Disability Snowsports UK because that's like part of my placement. And hopefully I'll go into like do that as a job because I really love it and it's so rewarding like seeing how you can just change someone's day just from helping them around the slopes and stuff like that.
Jenny
How did you feel it’s affected your confidence or your morale?
Robyn
Well, it's definitely helped because it's been knocked a bit. Sometimes like over, like things happening that haven't been great, but like Morv, my programme manager, she's always like this to help me out. It's like without that support, it was really more difficult.
Jenny
Does it feel like there's a real community spirit and feel for you within Snow Camp?
Robyn
Yeah, definitely. It's like walk through the doors and everyone's just so lovely and caring and like everyone just wants you there and having fun.
Jenny
So thank you so much, Robyn, talking to us. There we have it. See you later from Snow Camp.