STAR SKIER Jamie Miles produced some magic on the mountians of Austria to take two gold medals in the annual British Land Junior Ski Championships.

The glacier resort of Pitzal was the scene of triumph for Jamie, 17, who lives in the Ridgeway in Chingford.

He finished as the most successful skier in the under-17 age group in the championships, which was held from April 9 to 14 and sponsored by British Land plc.

The event attracted entries from more than 300 young skiers from all over the UK and ten other nations.

Jamie opened up with a win in the Slalom event, but was then disappointed when he failed to finish the Giant Slalom. He recovered superbly on the final day to take gold in the Super Giant Slalom.

The Chingford champ said: 'It was definitely the highlight of my skiing career so far. I have won gold medals in the children's category (age 16 and under) before but this was my first time in the juniors.

'I also came third in the overall men's event in both the Slalom and the Super G which was really pleasing.'

Jamie spent most of the winter in a special training camp at Loon Mountain on the east coast of America and he reaped the benefits of the many months of intensive practise when he got to Austria.

He added: 'I had been in America since November skiing all the time so going into the championships I felt very sharp and confident and I was on top form.'

So good was his performance that Jamie is now considered a likely prospect for selection for the British Land Junior National Team, who compete in international events throughout the season.

In a recent meeting with Graham Bell and two British coaches Jamie was told that he was virtually guaranteed to be included in the team.

He first took to the slopes at age six when his father, a teacher, took him along on a school skiing trip. Jamie has now left Chingford School to concentrate on his career on the snow.