Chris Vos wakes up to life as world champion...and being a year older

“I have been there training for two-and-half months prior to this and I have a good set up there with a good trainer and I am learning a lot of stuff,”

The teenager, who secured the world title in a thrilling head-to-head final against Norway’s Kristian Moen on Tuesday (24 February), woke up this morning in his hotel room to see the gold medal resting on the pillow next to him and said “it’s a very good present for my Birthday.”

Reflecting on the race itself Vos commented: “It was a good race and I’m feeling good, it was awesome to win the race and become world champion. We had a very good training day [ahead of the race] and the course was good and it was pretty fun, and I had lots of fun and I am glad I came in first.”

But unlike other 17-year-olds, partying is not on the agenda for Vos, who will compete on Saturday (28 February) in the banked slalom.

“Today I have rested and not done a lot,” Vos said. “Tonight I am going to eat with the whole family in the hotel, and I am really thankful that as well as my family; my girlfriend, my coach and trainer can all be here with me to celebrate not just my birthday but also yesterday’s result.

“But nothing crazy as I am already thinking about the banked slalom.”

It is an event he really enjoys and feels he is more suited to as an athlete: “I like banked slalom a lot because I am above the knee [amputee] and the rollers [in snowboard cross] are always a bit of a problem for me, especially at high speed.

“But in banked slalom I am always better at carving and the slalom. It’s a lot of fun especially in the half-pipe. I am just going for the best result and hope that I can leave a double world champion. I will do my best and hopefully it will turn out great.”

The banked slalom is likely to be the final race of the season for the Dutch rider who is heading back to Steamboat Springs in Colorado, USA, to train for the remainder of the winter.

“I have been there training for two-and-half months prior to this and I have a good set up there with a good trainer and I am learning a lot of stuff,” said Vos.

The teenage snowboarder potentially has years ahead of him. He hopes to help shape the sport and push it to new heights, with his second Paralympic Games in three years’ time at Pyeongchang 2018 the main focus.

“I want to snowboard as long as possible, and for as long as my disability allows,” Vos said. “To enjoy another Paralympics at Pyeongchang is definitely the plan, and maybe another after that in 2022 – wherever that may be.”

The 2015 IPC Snowboard World Championships continue on 28 February with banked slalom and features 42 of the world’s best para-snowboarders from 18 countries.

Live results will be available at the La Molina website. Updates will be posted to IPC Alpine Skiing Facebook page and Twitter, as well as @Paralympics Instagram.