CHRISTCHURCH skier Jen Kehoe is brimming with confidence as she looks to guide para-athlete Menna Fitzpatrick to golden glory at the Winter Paralympic Games in South Korea.

Kehoe and Fitzpatrick, who has just five per cent vision, hit new heights in January when they won bronze at the World Para Alpine Ski Championship before adding a World Cup bronze last month.

Their success came as something of a surprise after Fitzpatrick had experienced a lengthy spell off the slopes with a broken hand.

But having backed up their triumph with their World Cup success two months later, in an event that doubled up as the test event for the Paralympic Games, Kehoe – a captain in the Royal Engineers – insists there is only one colour they are going for in 2018.

“The highlight of our season has definitely been the bronze medal at the World Championship,” she said.

“After the challenge of coming back from injury and being thrown quickly into World Cups without much preparation, it was just amazing to get our bronze medal.

“We were really on the back foot and all our rivals were on the top of their game and we had only really started our season.

“It was quite demoralising, but we got through it and then came away with a medal!

“The pistes were great in PyeongChang at the test event which we went to a few weeks ago.

“We wouldn’t be in the sport if we didn’t want to go to a Paralympics and not try to win a gold medal. At the same time, we are realistic about our performance and our competition. We have lots of time to get stronger and faster.”

Kehoe was speaking at the Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championship in Tignes where she and Fitzpatrick clinched victory in both the visually-impaired giant slalom and slalom.

And with opportunities to compete in the same events as able-bodied skiers few and far between, Kehoe insisted she and Fitzpatrick relished every second of the experience.

“We came here to build confidence and that is exactly what we have done,” she said.

“The course flowed nicely and we were both happy with how we skied.

“We have enjoyed our time here. It is brilliant to be part of the championship and be here with the whole of British skiing.”

To follow the Delancey British Alpine Ski Team visit www.teambss.org.uk or follow @teambss on Twitter.

As principal sponsor of British Ski and Snowboard, specialist real estate investment and advisory company Delancey is proud to be able to support British athletes – visit www.delancey.com