McKenna has been one of the most high profile names in British winter sport over the last two decades and will bring with her a wealth of experience garnered over her career.

After beginning as a member of the British ski team, who won the national giant slalom title in 1994, she made the switch to the snowboarding half pipe discipline and never looked back.

Before her retirement in 2010, she competed at the Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 Olympics in addition to enjoying six podium finishes, including two victories, on the World Cup circuit.

She has since enjoyed a successful tenure as a coach and brings to her new role vast experience as an athlete, coach and manager.

"I am very excited to be working with such a great team of athletes, coaches and support staff under the British Ski and Snowboard banner in the run up to the Sochi Winter Olympics and also looking forward to Pyeongchang in 2018," said McKenna.

"The freestyle snowboard and freeski scene in the UK has gone from strength to strength in the last years and there is so much potential within the  programme.

"It is nice to have come full circle and be behind the scenes helping our current crop of very talented athletes and staff challenge the best in the world."

Leslie McKenna competing at her debut Olympics at Salt Lake City in 2002 in the snowboarding half-pipe event


The position will involve managing the park and pipe programme for both freeski and freestyle snowboard as well as all the athletes, coaches and staff involved in the programme.

Many of these are outside contenders for medals in Sochi, including the likes of Ben Kilner who was a teammate of McKenna at Vancouver 2010, and has since won medals at World Cup level.

Although the four month period before Sochi does not seem long it could be time enough for McKenna to use her experience to galvanise those, like Kilner, from medal outsiders to medal contenders.

Her appointment however is also a more long term measure and represents Great Britain's desire for greater success at the 2018 Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang.

This was a view reflected by the chief executive of British Ski and Snowboard, Dave Edwards, who expressed his "delight that Lesley has decided to join our team."

"She brings a wealth of experience as a competitor and manager from a range of disciplines," he said.

"Her input to our plans and our programmes will be invaluable as we build for success at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi next February, and as we look ahead four years and plot for bigger targets in Pyeongchang in 2018."