One of Britain’s top male ski racers, Ed Drake, is carrying the Olympic torch through Hastings in East Sussex tomorrow morning as it heads ever closer to London – ready for the start of the Games in just nine days time.

Twenty-five-year-old Ed Drake is already an Olympian and four times British champion in his sport.  He participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, participating in the Men’s Downhill, Men’s Super-G, Men’s Giant Slalom and Men’s Combined.  He now has his sights set on the next Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

In anticipation of the torch relay, he wrote the following on his Facebook page at the weekend:  “Right you lot my Olympic torch run is round the corner now, its on Wednesday (18th) in Hastings at aprox. 9:04! on the A259 Old London Road, near Ashburnham Road to Richmond Street; (between these roads is my stretch!) now i know its early and a week day but…… it would be great to see your faces and we can all go hang out at the beach the rest of the day!? I ordered SUN.”

Ed is one of several British winter sports athletes who have participated in the relay, as FamilySkiNews first reported here.  Torch-bearers to date have included Katie Summerhayes, Ellie Koyander, Zoe Gillings and Talan Skeels-Piggins.

Next Tuesday, it is the turn of Britain’s number one female ski racer, Chemmy Alcott.  FamilySkiNews.com will be reporting on her relay through the London borough of Ealing then.

Britain’s top male ski racers currently are TJ Baldwin and Dave Ryding.  TJ is also playing his part in the Olympic torch relay, at the Buckingham Palace handover on Thursday, when he will be meeting the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge & Prince Harry.   Click back later in the week to see our report.