Three Years On!

Downhill Training (the straightest and fastest discipline), what an exciting way to celebrate my 'salvatory day' as a guy on a chairlift called it, somewhat more PC than coach, Erik Petersen's expression, 'gimp day' but I feel my progress from a hospital bed is something to celebrate! At the bottom of the run, Erik said 'I think we've made a breakthrough and found your discipline!' and I have to admit, the speed and direct route of downhill certainly gets the adrenaline flowing! Breaking my back was obviously a horrific, life changing experience; life is more challenging in many ways but it is still a lot of fun! Here I am, living in the mountains, developing my skills, getting physically and mentally stronger, battling to achieve the increasingly realistic dream of racing in the 2010 Paralympics.

I've continued working on technique, race line through gates and speeding up my reactions. The transition from a downhill course of 16 gates to a GS course of over 30 over the same slope was a shock to the system but I managed it in the end. Coaches tell me I should be satisfied with my performance and the improvements I've made.

We also trained slalom which felt dreadful and i allowed myself to get frustrated, but my early runs looked surprisingly fluid, highlighting the importance of judging performance by measures other than personal perception, and of keeping emotions balanced.

One of the bolts sheared out of my monoski so I escaped Winter Park while it was being fixed by Pat, the wonderful technician in the NSCD, to enjoy warm weather, some perfect brews of Tetley's (proper English tea - in American English a brew is a pint!) and a couple of good nights sleep in a bed. I've spent the last month on a mattress on the floor which has been great for my floor to chair transfers, but a bed's a treat and there's no beating being woken up with a cuppa!

I've moved into a flat with three American lads, who I hope feel the morning porridge I cook and rent make up for the increased pressure on the bathroom and space in general due to a fourth wheelchair.

Fitness training's going well, and I'll be tapering my gym and pool workouts, as specified by the Paralympics GB Strength and Conditioning coach, in preparation for the races. We leave next Saturday for the speed races in Kimberley, where I trained last year. Apparently they are lacking snow up there so I'm praying for more snow so they run the downhill!