"I'm Florence (Flo) Bell, I am 15 years old and I am proud to now be skiing for Ireland in my first season of FIS racing.  I will be competing in the Alpine Skiing events of Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Super Combined.  My season kicked off with training and racing alongside my sister, Victoria, in New Zealand and Australia where I took part in my first FIS races.  I am really excited to have been chosen to represent Ireland at the inaugural World Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in January 2012.  I am honoured to have been selected.

FIS World Snow Day - 22nd January 2012
Snowsports Association of Ireland announces ‘A Day of Firsts for Ireland’
The plans for a First festival at the Ski Club of Ireland, which runs on a voluntary basis an artificial

 ski and snowboard slope are now well in hand, and we are looking forward to a great family fun day, celebrating the First season of their New Snowflex Slope and the First FIS World Snow Day. We will also be celebrating Ireland’s participation in the First World Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, where we are represented in the ladies alpine competition. During the day we will also announce the team that will be representing Ireland for the First time in the World School Championships taking place in March in Italy. All in all it is a day of Firsts and celebration for the nation as we participate in this World Wide Event. The significance of this is beyond price for a small non-snow country such as ours, and allows us to feel very much part of the world skiing family.
The day will be preceded by a promotion in the Dundrum Town Centre in partnership with the Ice Rink on Saturday 21st January.
As part of the celebration we have an airbag, climbing wall, and snow tubes for a day of family fun. There will also be face painting, music, bratwurst sausages, refreshments, balloons and sweets, while those present will be able to record their presence by being photographed in a snow globe.
A local Dublin radio station will be broadcasting directly from the slope, and providing music and commentary as the events unfold.
A local member of the Irish Parliament will also be attending, and in recognition of the club contribution to blind skiers we are inviting them to come along and join in.
All this will take place underneath the Olympic Flag which will be flying at the festival, and a firework display will close the day, coinciding with the closing ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck.
The Snowsports Association of Ireland thanks the FIS World Snow Day Team for their encouragement and support and for making this day a reality.

First FIS World Snow Day
First Festival at the Ski Club of Ireland, Dublin
First World Youth Olympic Games, Innsbruck
First Irish Team to represent Ireland at the World School Championships, Italy
First season of Snowflex at the Ski Club of Ireland, Dublin