Jamie Barrow's speed snowboarding record bid 'isn't without risk'
Living for Sport mentor Jamie Barrow is aiming to set the first British speed snowboarding record.
Last Updated: 17/04/13 3:06pm
The Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor is back in Verbier, Switzerland to attempt the feat after bad weather thwarted his bid last year.
Undaunted, 20-year-old Barrow is once again determined to make history even though he is still recovering from a back injury.
The Bath University graduate hopes that his efforts will encourage more youngsters to get involved in sport.
"I am only a few years older than the students that I mentor through Sky Sports Living for Sport and they are all right behind me in setting this new record," said the former British Junior Snowboard Champion.
"It will be a fantastic experience and achievement to share once the official record is set and hopefully I might even inspire some of the students to try out snowboarding for themselves."
Risk
At present there is no official British record for speed snowboarding, although Jamie's coach James Foster has clocked up 82mph.
The world speed snowboard record is held by Australian Darren Powell, who reached 125mph at Les Arcs, in France back in May 1999.
"The record attempt isn't without risk," admitted Barrow, who will be wearing body amour and a full face helmet when he undertakes the record attempt on Verbier's Mont Fort slope.
"I have had to compromise between aerodynamics and safety to ensure I am wearing the right equipment to see me through unscathed.
Benchmark
"The slope I will be using has a long flat run off area at the bottom which should enable me to keep the snowboard under control and stay upright to the end! I am confident I will reach between 140-160 km per hour - around 100mph.
"Achieving that level of speed would be a great benchmark record for Great Britain and hopefully one that will be challenged by other talented snowboarders in the country."
Barrow, part of the British Snowboardcross Team, became an Athlete Mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport last year.
Through the initiative, which is delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, Jamie visits secondary schools to encourage students to reach their full potential.
Since the initiative launched in 2003, around 74,000 young people in over a third of schools across the UK have benefitted by using sport to improve their lives - including the winner of this year's Sky Sports Living for Sport Awards, Wayne Instrell. Watch his story here...
Follow Jamie on Twitter at @BarrowBoarder and keep up to date with all the latest Sky Sports Living for Sport Mentor news at @SkySportsLFS and at @SkySportsOli.