Former Bishop Barrington student, Ryan Smith, is living his dream in the Canadian Rockies.

He was made redundant last year, from his job as a storeman, when the Electrolux factory in Spennymoor closed. He researched and was accepted on a Canadian skiing course and was delighted to learn that all his training costs would be met by Electrolux.

Twenty-year-old Ryan, who first took to the ski slopes at the age of nine, improved his skills on the school’s annual ski trip during his years at Bishop Barrington and joined in a couple more after leaving school in 2004.

PE teacher, Linda Johnson, organiser of the annual school ski trip, recently spoke to Ryan’s mother, Mandy.

“Ryan is a lovely lad and is doing really well,” said Mrs Johnson. “He has now completed his level 1 and level 2 Canadian Ski Instructors Award (level 2 is slightly higher than BASI level 2 British Association of Ski Instructors).”

“He has also done a course on teaching skiing to disabled people and a race coaching award. He will be in Jasper, Canada, until April 23.”

In an interview with The Northern Echo, Ryan said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic; this is something I’ve always wanted to do. I love skiing. I think it’s just the fact that you are outdoors, you can go where you want without boundaries and, of course, there’s the apres-ski.”