Two of the Kent SLYDE Kings heat leaders, James Shanes and Danny Ayres are to be introduced to another heart stopping sport by the Central Park-based club’s co- promoter, Len Silver.

The veteran Speedway administrator, former rider and World Cup winning England Team Manager now runs a successful winter sports company, Silverski and will be undertaking the two speed merchants’ – who ride for the club based at the Sittingbourne Greyhound Stadium – training in downhill skiing in the French resort of La Plagne.

Both Ayres and Shanes will arrive in mid December for a pre-Christmas holiday and live at 7,000 feet where the air is low in oxygen.

They will join a growing band of Speedway riders including World Champion, Tai Woffinden, who have been taught to ski by the octogenarian.

“Riders have a natural feel for the snow sport” says Silver.

“And their daring attitude makes it easy for them to master it. I am looking forward to James and Danny challenging me!”

Both riders had hugely successful seasons with the Kent SLYDE Kings: Ayres winning a first major title partnering club skipper Ben Morley to take the National Pairs title and then finishing runner up to Morley in the divisional individual Riders Championship.

For the Dorset-based Shanes, his titles came in a trio of Speedway’s ‘sister’ disciplines: the UK Championship at Sand Racing, the British Masters at Grass Track and a Gold Medal as a member of the GB team which won the World Long Track Team Cup.

A winter spent on the slopes is preparation for the tasks which will follow when the 2016 Speedway season begins next March, when it is highly likely that one or both of the pair of Kings will also double up with a Premier League team.

“The experience at the higher level will undoubtedly bring them forward in their careers”, said Kent Team Manager, Chris Hunt,

” So it will be a win win situation”.

Picture supplied by Elizabeth Leslie.