GUILDFORD alpine skier Rachelle Rogers refused to be too disheartened despite her Winter Youth Olympic debut not exactly going to plan in Austria.

Rogers, a pupil at St Catherine’s School in Bramley, only managed to record a finishing time in one of the four disciplines that she took to in Innsbruck.

That finish came in the Super G, traditionally Rogers’ weakest event, with the 16-year-old coming home 24th overall in a time of 1:11.05minutes.

But a string of missed gates in the Super Combined, the Giant Slalom and finally the Slalom left Rogers to rue what might have been.

"It was so frustrating not to finish many races especially the last one, the slalom, because I was skiing really well and it is my best event," said Rogers.

"I had a very good top section while lots of the other girls were struggling there. I skied that part really well and also on the flat section down the course.

"There were ruts and it was quite difficult in the slalom and the giant slalom but once you miss a gate then there is no way back.

"The conditions were changing from day to day and also during the day. It was raining when we first got up there but during the week we also had light snow, and then it snowed really hard."

But, despite the disappointment, Rogers was adamant that she had learned a great deal from her Youth Olympic debut in the Austrian Tyrol.

"Overall, the Youth Olympics were a really great experience and I won’t forget them for as long as I live," she added.

"I’ve learnt so much from the culture and education programme and from just talking to other people from other countries.

"I’ve learnt what it’s like being at an Olympic event and being an athlete because on TV you only see the performances and the ceremonies. Now I know what it’s like behind the scenes.

"My future ambition is to one day compete in the proper Olympic Games. I think 2018 is a more realistic goal for me than Sochi in 2014.

"But for now I’m going back home to train and work on my technique before the British Championships in Meribel in March."

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values.