UNIVERSITY of York graduate Tom Farrow has gone from philosophy to snowboarding and is setting his sights on the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Farrow, 24, had been snowboarding for four years before moving to York to study. He then joined YUsnow and 18 months ago won selection for the Great Britain team.

“Olympics 2018 is my plan.

That’s why I’m here, I’m here because I want to get there,”

Farrow explained. “I joined 18 months ago, and I’m not saying I can’t make it to 2014, I just think it’s not a realistic target.”

Farrow, who works in partnership with York Sport Village, has come on leaps and bounds since joining the GB set-up, climbing 461 places up the world rankings to 299th. Two gold medallists in the 2010 Olympics were aged 34 and 35, so there is plenty of time for Farrow.

He has been competing in the European Cup, which is ranked as a fifth level competition by the International Governing Body for Snowboarding. Doing well in such competitions will increase Farrow’s ranking and help him collect points ahead of the snowboarding World Cup. Farrow said: “I’m focused on winning. I want to win and, based on my potential, I think it’s a realistic aim.”

The young snowboarder is not sort of confidence and is now looking forward to the English National Championships on June 22, and the chance to again prove how far he has come.