Boy, 9, whose hip condition stopped him walking wins major snowboarding competition



A British youngster who took up snowboarding to help tackle a severe hip disorder has won a major European competition... at the age of nine.



Thomas Robinson only took to the slopes a year ago in the hope it would improve his movement and strengthen his legs.

Now he has triumphed at the European Westbeach Snowflex Freestyle finals in France, performing spectacular tricks to claim the under-16 title.

Airborne: Snowboarding prodigy Thomas Robinson wowed judges at the European Westbeach Snowflex Freestyle finals in France

His mother Lynda, who booked his first lessons in 2009, said she had almost banned him from competing as he was recovering from a broken arm.

'He had his cast off a week before the competition. He said: "Please let me compete!" I said we would take his equipment and play things by ear.

'I reluctantly let him take part but said he must not do any big tricks.'

Despite this warning Thomas - nicknamed Tomski - impressed the judges and won £3,000 worth of snow gear.

Thomas, who trains four times a week at the Chill Factore indoor slope in Trafford, now has his eyes set on being world snowboarding champion and competing in the Olympics.

Winning form: Tomski took up snowboarding to improve his balance

Lynda, 38, said that Tomski's school, allowed him to take time out to spend time on the slopes - 'as long he stays in the top set for everything.'

Thomas from Manchester was born with the condition excessive femoral anteversion, a rotation of the thigh bones that causes the feet to turn inwards, resulting in an awkward 'pigeon-toed' gait.

The childhood condition was historically treated with braces, casts and special shoes, but usually resolves itself without medical help as the child grows.

However Thomas continued to struggle with his walking, while riding a bike or playing football were almost impossible.

Lynda, who has two other children, Benjamin, 12 and Charlotte-Rene, 11, said: 'As a child he had real difficulty walking.



'He was always tripping and falling over. He used to get told off in school because the teachers thought he was messing about.

'He was also dangerous near the road, we couldn't leave him alone.'

Thomas was faced with the prospect of major surgery to cut and untwist his femur.

'We looked at all the options including sending him to America for surgery, but we were just too scared as the risks of paralysis were so high,' she said.

'I don't believe in braces and callipers and things like that, they would have left him walking like a robot.'

After learning of the possible benefits of snowboarding, she booked him a course of lessons at the Chill Factore indoor snow dome near Manchester.

While his ability to control his legs progressed rapidly, he also quickly showed himself a natural on the slopes.

At the Mini-Brits dry slope national championships, Thomas earned a bronze and silver medal.

Thomas and Lynda earlier this year. Lynda booked classes for Thomas in 2009 to help him with his balance

Deborah Eastwood, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said snowboarding helped children with the condition to control their feet better.

'We often recommend ballet dancing classes to girls for the same reason, but snowboarding may appeal more to some boys,' she said.

'By keeping their feet straight, or pointing slightly outwards, it helps them control their position while working on the range of movement at the hips.

'That in turn can help by stretching muscles and encouraging suppleness.

'Most children grow out of this condition, but physical activity like this can be a great help to those who continue to have a tendency to trip and fall.'

Watch Thomas in action. He is the snowboarder with a blue hoodie under a black top