Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

Spotlight On: British Ski star James 'Woodsy' Woods

Published 12 November 2013

James 'Woodsy' Woods learnt his trade on Sheffield’s dry slopes before graduating to the professional ranks and travelling the world with his sport. Woodsy has gone on to win World Championship silver, medal at two X-Games and claim an FIS overall world title. The 21-year-old is now preparing for his first Winter Olympics.

Woodsy took time away from his hectic schedule to discuss Sochi 2014, inspiration and his hair with us.

Can you describe yourself in 20 words?

That’s difficult, I babble a lot! I’m Woodsy, a freestyle skier, making the most of this whole thing, making the most of life and it’s wicked!

Were you inspired by London 2012?

London 2012 was so special and such a fantastic atmosphere. We did so incredibly well, which is just more than just the icing on the cake, it’s icing for days! It was so special, I’ve always watched the Olympics and enjoyed it as it’s the very pinnacle of sport and it’s the way a nation presents itself to the world.

Knowing that I’m a skier, it was always about the X-Games and that was my world, but the idea that I might get the chance to go to the Olympics dawned on me during London 2012, which was probably the most ‘wow this is happening’ moment for me, I certainly consider myself as part of the inspired generation!

What are the main differences between the X-Games and the Olympics?

For me personally, there’s no difference, I’m going to go and enjoy both events and give them my all. But the Olympics are truly global, the pinnacle of elite sport, it’s what competition is all about, you get your slot, you give it a bash and you do it just as much for your country as you do for yourself, the flag is by your name and your nation is behind you.

What are your personal expectations for Sochi 2014?

I certainly want to go and do my absolute best. Other than I just to take the whole experience in. Obviously it’s also a massive chance to expose the sport and myself to a global audience. The competition out there is going to be crazy, competing against the world’s best, testing myself, stretching myself, pushing myself, but I’ll be drawing on all my energy!

How has Lottery funding helped you and your sport?

It’s been fantastic and I genuinely believe the most beneficial thing from it is, yes the support we’ll get, but also that we get to go to the Olympics.

I think it’s also the recognition that we represent GB as a whole and the actual recognition that we have the country behind us. I’m very proud to be from GB, I’m a proud Sheffield lad and it’s certainly made me appreciate that.

As a sport, we’ve always strived for something, but the Olympics have given us that goal. With the support from UK Sport and the National Lottery it’s made this real and I think that’s pretty special.

Finally, can you tell us a quirky fact about yourself?

Have you seen my haircut? I don’t do my own hair as there’s not much to do with it, I generally get someone to give me a hand shaving the back but otherwise it’s all done by Woodsy!

Follow British Ski andSnowboards’ James ‘Woodsy’ Woods on Twitter @JamesWoodsy

Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Participants of the UK Sport Athlete To Coach programme taking part in a fireside conversation
UK Sport launches new programmes to support coaching across the high-performance community
21 May 2025
Headshot of Professor Nick Webborn CBE
Professor Nick Webborn CBE appointed new Chair of UK Sport
19 May 2025
Decoration image with the logos of UK Sport and Weirdo
Transforming fan experience: UK Sport introduces new engagement strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports
15 May 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025