Tideswell skier Ellie Koyander, 18, has enjoyed a successful 12 months. Dad Peter believes his daughter, who is currently Britain's top freestyle mogul skier, is "99.9 per cent" certain of securing a coveted place at the Vancouver games, which get underway in 22 days' time.

Peter, himself a former competitive mogul skier, said: "I'm really proud of Ellie, but really pleased for her as well because she's worked incredibly hard to get this far."

Freestyle mogul skiing involves navigating around bumps, or moguls, while executing tricks such as backflips and 360-degree turns.

Chesterfield-born Ellie (pictured) spends much of her time away from the family home in Tideswell, instead chasing the snow around the world.

During the off-season she has been training hard on her fitness and technique with top American coach Pat Deneen.

Meanwhile, on the slopes, she has been competing for a second season on the FIS Freestyle World Cup circuit.

And her results have surpassed expectations, including a fourth-place finish in the Australian-New Zealand Cup last September, just behind world number one Aiko Uemura.

Peter said: "It is a phenomenal achievement to be so young and competing on the World Cup circuit.

"The girls she is going up against are aged in their mid-20s upwards.

"She is probably the youngest skier on the circuit. Sometimes I have to take a reality check and realise how far she has come. This year has been a real landmark, and to go on and reach the Winter Olympics will be the icing on the cake."