A SOLDIER has competed in a snowboarding championships just a week after being introduced to the sport.

Gunner Dean Fox, from Bishop Auckland, grabbed the chance to learn how to snowboard.

Seven days after taking up the winter sport he was asked to compete in the Army Snowboarding Championships at Stubai Glacier Austria.

He said: "I only started snowboarding last week. I was given the chance to take part and it looked like an exciting sport.''

The event was divided into four disciplines, slalom, giant slalom, duel slalom and boarder-cross.

The slaloms are similar to the ski event while the boarder-cross is a downhill race between four competitors and includes turns and jumps.

Gnr Fox, who attended Staindrop Comprehensive School and worked as a chef before joining the Army in 2000, said he would like to improve his technique so that he can compete in snowboarding at senior levels.

He said: "The Army encourages sport and adventure, which is good for us because we get time off for training and events like this.

"Units often help with funding, buying equipment and transport and we get a grant from the Army Sports Lottery, so it does not cost us much at all."