BEN Sneesby didn’t finish his Winter Paralympic debut in the fashion he would have liked but the sit-skier insists his time in Sochi has been a real confidence boost.

The 19-year-old was looking to cap off an encouraging maiden Games appearance in the giant slalom on the final day but unfortunately crashed out during his second run.

Opening up with an 11th-place finish in the slalom at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre however was certainly a promising display with PyeongChang 2018 a real goal for Sneesby.

And Sneesby, who has only been skiing full-time for a year-and-a-half, is confident with more training under his belt he can certainly be a medal contender in the near future.

“I have loved every minute of being here. It has been a great experience and the slalom run was very pleasing and I did everything I could to ski to my best,” he said.

“In the second run of the giant slalom I wanted to finish so it was a bit disappointing but I was sitting in 21st after my first run and I wanted to get into the top 15 so I had to go for it.

“I didn’t produce that in the end but I tried my best. I went out on the first race wearing bib number 100 so the conditions were bumpy and it is slightly more difficult.

“But I just had to go for it no matter what. I watched back my slalom run and I can see myself skiing well and overall I am really pleased.

“I have only skied full-time with the team for about one-and-a-half years and so given four years of training I can make big improvements.

“I am hoping to get new equipment which will help my performance and with more and more time spent on the snow, the better I will get.”

Sneesby was only participating in the more technical events in Russia, not yet used to the demands and danger of the speed events like the downhill or super-G.

But, given time to gain confidence going at such high speeds, he believes that there could be a future for him in all of the sit-ski disciplines.

“I have only really skied the technical events, I was very close to doing the super-G but didn’t in the end,” he added.

“At the moment I am more of a technical skier and I don’t feel confident enough doing the speed just now.

“But the more practice I get going at those sort of speeds the more I will feel better about it and who knows they could be my events in the future.”

Sainsbury’s is a proud long-term supporter of the British Paralympic Association and a champion of inclusive sport for all. For more information on Sainsbury’s commitment to inclusive sport visit: http://www.Sainsburys.co.uk/activekids