Misticon ladies discount!

Misticon has loads of gorgeous stuff including accessories, Monkee Genes and sexy Love Burlesque Shoes. Here are some of my favourites.

Click on the title above to go to www.misticon.com and type 'anna' in the discount box to claim your 10% discount!

Happy shopping!

Cobblers Study Centre Interview

Students at the Cobblers Study Centre, Northampton are making a film about me! The Gateway Supporter 2 Reporters were shown my monoski and video footage and we spoke about my journey to the Paralympics and beyond. This was followed by an extremely professional, filmed interview with reporter, camera crew and producer (aged 14 to 16). I was impressed, good work lads!

Documentary to follow...!

DSUK Skiathon: £14,000 raised so far!

Last week,over 150 participants spent 6 gruelling hours on the slopes in indoor snowdomes across the UK to raise money for Disability Snowsport UK. Everyone made an outstanding effort - skiing indoors on the same run for so long is a real feat! Thank you to everyone who took part and sponsored teams.

The local Navigation Inn Team (above left) won the challenge at Milton Keynes Sno!Zone with an incredible 666 runs!

I enjoyed meeting Olympic medalist Leon Taylor, I don't know how he managed to be so enthusiastic and full of energy after hours of snowboarding indoors! Eddie the Eagle and Heather Mills also took part.

Check out the video from Hemel Hempstead by clicking on the title.

Disability Snowsport enables those with disabilities to access snowsports as a means of therapy, social inclusion and life-enhancing activity. People taking part often tell us that snowsports have changed their lives, it has certainly changed mine!

Oundle School Support

I've just got back from Oundle School, where I was interviewed by student journalists from The Oundelian, who plan to write a piece about me in this student run magazine. These pupils have far to go, good luck to them! I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to say!

It was lovely to see my tutor, Mrs Smedley and meet the Headmaster, Charles Bush. The school ethos of personality development and hard work doesn't seem to have changed. Oundle School certainly set me in good stead for life's challenges. It doesn't feel that long ago that I was there, running around with a hockey stick, or dressed in army uniform as a member of the Combined Cadet Force, building camps and polishing boots, trying to avoid getting caught breaking the rules (only the small and seemingly insignificant ones of course!).

The support I've received from the vast Oundle 'family' since becoming paralysed never ceases to surprise me. Sponsorship from both Mills and Reeve Law Firm and De Soutter Medical originated from Oundle roots. My old housemaster Mr Brittain and many fellow students have offered all sorts of support from friendly emails and donations to accommodation whilst I trained in the mountains. Lizzie Gent, Helen Barr, Caroline Bielby, Thorny and a great many others have been wonderfully supportive, thank you!

There are only Two Seasons!

When i first came out of hospital back in 2006, I did voluntary work at Abington Vale Primary in Northampton, teaching foreign children to speak English. I was fundraising for my first skiing trip and Two Seasons (Snow, Ski, Surf and Skate Shop) supported me from the start.

I'd like to say a huge thank you for all Two Seasons have done for me. Check out their funky clothes and big sale still on at www.twoseasons.co.uk

This week I went back to the school and talked about what I've achieved. The children were such a receptive audience, when asked to think of words to describe me, they came up with 'Inspiring, persistent, determined, cool and awesome!' Respect from 5-11 year olds, brilliant!

Misticon Lady and Proud!

Misticon discount: Click on the title above to access Misticon and type 'anna' in the discount box for your 10% discount!






Back in Feb, Charlotte Dutton, creator of Misticon and x pro-boarder invited me to become a ‘Misticon Lady’, hooked me up with some of their gorgeous, quirky, cool collection and organised a shoot with Fashion Photographer George Althaus. It was out of this world!

I was kind of freaked out by the camera at first but Charlotte is super laid back so I soon relaxed into it. For the first time in my life I actually enjoyed having my photo taken (being styled by x Topshop London designer obviously helped)!

Misticon clothes are beautiful, trendy, edgy and very London and the pics are crazy cool! They're also selling Monkee Genes and amazing Love Burlesque footwear.

The Misticon site is brilliant, really fun and dangerously addictive. Check out the Summer 2010 Lookbook. With Misticon you can't help but make your mark! And they’re doing a delicious organic T-shirt with a striking Staffie painting on the front to raise cash for Battersea Dog and Cat’s home. Just ordering mine now. Love it!

Photos by George Althaus www.georgegamedia.com

Thank you HEAD!

A huge thank you to Head, your skis are extremely responsive, the edges hold really well and the edge change is quick and smooth allowing me to really attack and focus on the race course. I get great feedback from them when I ski, which is especially important in a monoski because you have less direct contact with the ski.

A friend lent me some Head powder skis which are awesome too!

Since I have been using Head skis for the last season, they've helped me get to the next level. I have absolute confidence in my skis, which played a very real part in my success in the Paralympic Games. Thank you Head!

The Head team has been excellent and I sincerely hope we can carry on working together to help me on my journey to winning gold in Sochi!

Photo by George Althaus, www.georgegamedia.com

Deloitte and TASS Homecoming Celebration!

Racers Tim, Talan and I, and manager Dave, enjoyed a lovely 'Homecoming Celebration Evening' last night at the Deloitte Offices in London. Deloitte are sponsors of TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) whose funding was central in enabling me to race and train last year. It was great to meet the team backing us and to celebrate our team achievements at the Vancouver Paralympic Games: 4x top 8 finishes!

Deloitte Disability Sport - http://www.deloittelondon2012.co.uk/disability-sport

Anna's Paralympic Picture Story: Opening Ceremony to 6th in Slalom!

What a ride! The Paralympics were truly the most amazing experience of my life, no medals this time but I'm proud to have represented GB so soon after becoming paralysed whilst snowboard racing.

Four years ago I was in a hospital bed with broken back, fractured ribs, punctured lung; miserable!
Three years ago I tried monoskiing for the first time; frustrated!
Two years ago I'd just finished my first monoskiing season; independent!
Last year I came 4th in the World Championships and won a silver and tow bronze medals in North America Cup (NORAM); competitive!
This year I won silver medals in the New Zealand Winter Games and NORAM, bronze in Europa Cup and came 6th in the slalom in the Paralympics; proud!

Next time I plan to be holding a gold medal, rather than a torch!

Talks and Presentation Award Ceremonies

Presented and won Sports Achievement Awards at Sport MK Awards this week (very exciting becoming a minor celebrity!)

Also did talks at two school events; the MK Playground to Podium Schools Event in Milton Keynes and Team Super Sports Challenge in Ridgeway School, Bedford with Larry Achike (men's triple jump - 7th in Beijing), he's predictably huge and very nice!

Sport is such a powerful medium through which to motivate and inspire young people. I sincerely hope the next government will encourage much more participation in sport in schools.

Keynskiers have been a great help with fundraising last year, and I enjoyed giving a presentation at their monthly meeting, a big thank you.

Also met and had lunch with Gail Emms at the David Lloyd Leisure Open day where I was demonstrating my monoski and talking about the Paralympics. I can't believe how many Olympic Champions I've met this week!