Para skier Sam Cozens inspiring others while chasing his dreams

Sam Cozens has big dreams, but it is the little moments that are proving inspirational.

The para skier has his eyes on representing his country at the Paralympics one day but knows there are plenty of hard yards on the slope ahead of him.

The 18-year-old from Norwich is putting in the hours at both home and abroad in his bid to follow his dream, but is already inspiring others.

Cozens, who has a visual impairment, works in a ski shop when not on the slopes and was able to share his experiences with a young boy eyeing a para sport career of his own.

"I love meeting new people and seeing how they react to what I do," he said, "just telling people what I do is incredible."

"Where I work in a ski shop, I get to talk about it quite a bit and people are always amazed and think it's really cool.

"A young boy came in recently who only had one leg so we had made this boot for him to fit his prosthetic. I was speaking to his dad and told him I was a para skier and he was so shocked that you could compete in skiing if you're visually impaired. He asked me to talk to his son and tell him about all the pathways to get into the sport and what he could achieve.

"I told him about the different groups or groups that he could join to develop his skiing and how welcoming everyone is in the sport.

"I love sharing those experiences with people and it's great to show the sport more."

Cozens never imagined he would be in a place to even consider representing ParalympicsGB one day due to his visual impairment.

The teenager originally grew up playing football but found it difficult to follow the ball as a goal keeper due to his sight, so he decided to try skiing at his local dry slope in Norwich instead.

From there, the adrenaline hit and the freedom that hurtling down a mountain as a B4 visually impaired skier, along with guide Adam Hall, is proving irresistible on the journey to his Paralympic dreams.

"The environment within skiing is incredible," he said, "you're getting up at six in the morning and going out to the cold breeze with a sunrise over the mountains."

"Then the adrenaline rush hits. Standing in the gate of a race course knowing that the next 40 seconds are pure speed and focus is amazing. You have nothing else to focus on but finishing the run.

"I never thought I would be able to ski down a mountain at those speeds.

"Starting off on dry slope it was just always a hobby but all of a sudden I'm out racing for GB and I don't really know how I got here."

Cozens dreams of one day representing his country on the Paralympic stage, with Milan-Cortina 2026 less than two years away.

Witnessing fellow visually impaired skier Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew storm to gold at Beijing 2022 has only fuelled his desire to follow in their footsteps, or tracks, one day.

"I'm so envious of those who get to compete at a Paralympics or Olympics," he said.

"The thought of standing on a podium and representing your country and to know that I could be doing that one day is very exciting.

"I want to be where Neil and Andrew are. I really look up to them because of who they are and what they are achieving. It's what I want to do when I'm older."