A NATIONAL champion in the making has been working on her skills and race strategy this season.

Weymouth windsurfer Lily Young currently competes in the RS:X fleet, which is an Olympic windsurfing class.

This year, the 17-year-old has competed at an international windsurfing event, which she enjoyed very much.

Previously, her international experience was in paddleboarding where she won a youth championship.

Young said: “It was one of my best moments this year going to the Youth World Championships in Poland. It was an amazing experience, a great event and I learnt a lot.”

The talented windsurfer was also selected to be a member of the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) Transitional Training Squad.

This has given her access to elite coaching from some of the country’s best coaches.

She said: “Another highlight was spending the year as a member of the Transitional Training Squad.

"We had a great year training which has helped me to make big improvements in my sailing.”

Now the season is over, Young is dedicating much of her time to improving her performance next year when she hopes to attend a number of major events.

Talking about her training plan, she said: “I’m now starting my winter training, which means lots and lots of gym to get super fit before the season begins again.

"I’ll also be training on the water at every possible opportunity and attending training camps throughout the winter. I will have to face the cold.”

Already, Young has a busy schedule planned for 2016.

The next event will be the RYA Youth National Championships.

The event will commence in April and be held in Wales.

At this year’s championship she secured forth place and next year she aims to improve on her result and hopes to win a medal.

Additionally, she is intending to compete at the Youth European Championships in Finland and in the Summer and the Youth World Championships in Cyprus in November.

Tris Best, managing director of the Official Test Centre, said: “Whenever I see Lily, she is always smiling. She always seems happy and relaxed, but beneath that bubbly character is a tremendously gritty competitor.

"She is incredibly determined and I think really surprised a few regulars in the RYA’s youth development squad when she first entered the camp, especially with her tenacity in strong winds."

She added: "I know many love to train with her as they always know they’re going to get 100 per cent from her and she will push them.”

Young has received much support this year.

She said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, particularly the Osprey Leisure Centre for their continued assistance.”

Young had a great season in 2015 and with her dedication, is sure to produce some good performances in 2016.