Potters Bar alpine ski racer Robert Poth has turned to crowd funding in a unique attempt to support his career and participation in the European Youth Winter Olympic Games next year.

Poth, 17, has fulfilled his selection criteria already and has been put forward by the British Olympic Association (BOA) for the Games, which takes place in Austria and Liechtenstein next January.

But Poth needs the necessary funds in order to prepare to his best ability and not worry about financial issues.

“I’m in a costly sport with no government funding but I’m totally dedicated and for local people and businesses to have a chance to be part of my journey, it would be incredible," Poth said.

Poth is a member of the Great Britain Delancey Under-18 alpine ski race squad, and was the first British racer in more than 20 years to win an international alpine slalom ski race in the Czech Republic in 2013.

Poth has gone from strength to strength and after his first year of FIS racing, he is currently ranked as the British number one Slalom skier in the under-18 category.

The Mount Grace pupil is striving to become a dominant force in the Alpine ski racing world, and recently received a BOA Silver Passport.

Poth is offering sponsors a range of funding opportunities from £20 donations upwards. Poth has 45 days left in order to reach his fundraising target and you can donate by visiting the website www.makeachamp.com/RobertPoth.