Just four years ago, Lesley McKenna took up boarding full-time after leaving the Scottish Ski Team (she was British Champion in 1994). This week she showed just why she is so highly regarded by finishing the 00/01 FIS World Cup Half Pipe season in 3rd place.

This is an exceptional achievement from any boarder, but reflects the determination and belief to success that has typified her progress. Last winter she reached a ranking of 11th on the World Cup half-pipe circuit. Two second place results in Germany and Japan this year mean that she has now secured a place in the 2002 Olympics, where she will hopefully be joined by friend and team member, Mel Leando, who finished the winter 36th overall.

The Force is obviously strong in her family as her cousin is a certain Alain Baxter, Britain's leading alpine skier. Then again, if you can win the Scottish Disco Dancing Championships, as Lesley did in 1985, presumably you can do anything...

Find out more about Lesley on her rider profile at Soulsports

FINAL HALFPIPE WORLD CUP STANDINGS after 10 events:

WOMEN:
1. WEHR-HASLER, Sabine (GER)
2. KJELDAAS, Stine-Brun (NOR)
3. McKENNA, Lesley (GBR)
36. Leando, Melanie(GBR)

MEN:
1. STERNER, Magnus (SWE)
2. KARLSSON, Stefan (SWE)
3. MICHAELIS, Jan (GER)

Detailed British Results:

Tignes (FRA)18 Nov (Lesley=8th, Melanie=DNS)
Tandadalen (SWE) 3 Dec (Cancelled)
Whistler (CAN) 10 Dec (Les=7th, Mel=18th)
Mt Ste Anne (CAN) 17 Dec (Les=18th, Mel=29th)
Schonried (SUI) 11 Jan (Cancelled)
Kronplatz (ITA) 18 Jan (Les=12th, Mel=DNS)
Madonna di Campiglio (ITA) 21-28 Jan (World Champs) (Les=17th, Mel=24th)
Berchtesgaden (GER) 8 Feb (Les=12th, Mel=16th)
Berchtesgaden (GER) 10 Feb (Les=2nd, Mel=18th)
Sapporo (JAP) 18 Feb (Les=2nd, Mel=23rd)
Asahikawa (JAP) 25 Feb (Les=11th, Mel=29th)
Park City (USA) 1 March (Pre Olympic World Cup) (Les=7th, Mel=36th)
Ruka (USA) 16 March (World Cup Finals) (Les=9th, Mel=36th)