Kimberley NorAm proved successful with a silver in the Super G (my first medal!) and a 4th in the downhill. The fog came down and visibility was terrible in the Super G but I made it! I was going for it in the second Super G race but caught some air and crashed out.
Now in Park City, preparing for GS and Slalom races here, and hungry for metal! Then I'll join the rest of the GB team in Korea for the World Championships.
8 February 2009
23 January 2009
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!
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!
12 January 2009
Training Speed and Road Jumps!
Training's going great, if you'll excuse the Americanism! Last week we trained speed (Super G) for 4 days last week, and it's been a treat to train on a 2m ski, on a sectioned off course with no other skiers to worry about. I trained on a course with a jump for the first time (a road cuts across the pitch) with it's added technical and adrenaline angle and picked up a fair bit of speed, it was awesome!
I have made some real improvements in my GS skiing in the last week. I find gathering speed relatively easy but skiing a good line more of a challenge, and as coach says, 'Racing is a balance between speed Vs line', so I've followed instructions, slowed down and been concentrating on my line. Coach thinks I'm 'trainable' which I took as a complement, something must be going in!
At the end of the week, my last run of the day I decided to race the course but unfortunately let my focus on line slip. The course had got very chopped up, I skied one gate too direct, bounced out of a big rut and had a real slammer of a crash, flipping over and taking out the next gate with my head. Neither head, body nor confidence seem to have been dented and the lesson about sticking to that good line is being hammered in. Don't worry Mum, I'm fine, just aching a bit now and enjoying a much needed day off!
I'm loving skiing gates this season. The desire to ski trees and powder has been put aside and my race technique is coming on. I am working really hard and aim to be 'haulin' ass' down race courses and to prove my talent in the February races. I'm off to race in Kimberley, BC, then Park City, Utah, before the World Championships in Korea!
The strength and conditioning side is going well. Physical off-snow training was tapered during the pre-Christmas races and it feels fantastic be back in the 'Specific Conditioning Phase' which comprises of 3 weights sessions a week, daily core and injury prevention exercises and 2-3 swim sessions on top of skiing. I'm sleeping very well as a result!
Many thanks to my friend Charlie Murray for editing the attached video of pre-season training in Austria.
I have made some real improvements in my GS skiing in the last week. I find gathering speed relatively easy but skiing a good line more of a challenge, and as coach says, 'Racing is a balance between speed Vs line', so I've followed instructions, slowed down and been concentrating on my line. Coach thinks I'm 'trainable' which I took as a complement, something must be going in!
At the end of the week, my last run of the day I decided to race the course but unfortunately let my focus on line slip. The course had got very chopped up, I skied one gate too direct, bounced out of a big rut and had a real slammer of a crash, flipping over and taking out the next gate with my head. Neither head, body nor confidence seem to have been dented and the lesson about sticking to that good line is being hammered in. Don't worry Mum, I'm fine, just aching a bit now and enjoying a much needed day off!
I'm loving skiing gates this season. The desire to ski trees and powder has been put aside and my race technique is coming on. I am working really hard and aim to be 'haulin' ass' down race courses and to prove my talent in the February races. I'm off to race in Kimberley, BC, then Park City, Utah, before the World Championships in Korea!
The strength and conditioning side is going well. Physical off-snow training was tapered during the pre-Christmas races and it feels fantastic be back in the 'Specific Conditioning Phase' which comprises of 3 weights sessions a week, daily core and injury prevention exercises and 2-3 swim sessions on top of skiing. I'm sleeping very well as a result!
Many thanks to my friend Charlie Murray for editing the attached video of pre-season training in Austria.
2 January 2009
Winter Park Take 2
I'm pleased to be back in Colorado, where I first tried monoskiing nearly two years ago. The team flew out at the beginning of December and trained in Breckenridge for a week, getting accustomed to the conditions and altitude - the resort's at 3000m - before the NorAm races at Copper Mountain and Winter Park. There was a good turn out with teams from America, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and of course Great Britain.
Well done to the GB team, winning three silver medals. I had a frustrating start to the season, falling but managing to complete the slalom and GS races at Copper. I hoped for a bit more success in Winter Park and managed a 4th in the GS but was disappointed with my time.
Conditions for the Super G were challengingly soft and I pushed it beyond the limits and crashed, breaking a ski. The second race was cancelled due to unsafe conditions.
I am now training in Winter Park, working hard on technique, especially body position, movement and timing to work the ski. Skiing gates daily is a great way to learn about tactics (race line, reading the course and much more) and I can already see considerable improvements from daily video analysis with the coaches.
The sun's finally come out after a cold and snowy December, where I've enjoyed two great powder days and some Mary Jane mogul training, which is great for balance training as one has to be very light on the outriggers.
With this intense training I should be well prepared to attack the races in the beginning of February. Happy New Year to all, my resolution is to ski faster!
Well done to the GB team, winning three silver medals. I had a frustrating start to the season, falling but managing to complete the slalom and GS races at Copper. I hoped for a bit more success in Winter Park and managed a 4th in the GS but was disappointed with my time.
Conditions for the Super G were challengingly soft and I pushed it beyond the limits and crashed, breaking a ski. The second race was cancelled due to unsafe conditions.
I am now training in Winter Park, working hard on technique, especially body position, movement and timing to work the ski. Skiing gates daily is a great way to learn about tactics (race line, reading the course and much more) and I can already see considerable improvements from daily video analysis with the coaches.
The sun's finally come out after a cold and snowy December, where I've enjoyed two great powder days and some Mary Jane mogul training, which is great for balance training as one has to be very light on the outriggers.
With this intense training I should be well prepared to attack the races in the beginning of February. Happy New Year to all, my resolution is to ski faster!
17 November 2008
Hintertux '08
Two weeks back in the mountains has certainly revived my passion for skiing! It's been a busy couple of weeks in Austria with the team, but it didn't take long to get back into skiing. A great start to a demanding season ahead.
I have really enjoyed training in gates as well as free skiing. We started the week with speed training then trained GS over some ferocious rollers which we were aiming to suck up rather than get air over, lots of fun! We’ve also worked on slalom, starts and timing in gates and technical work out of gates, with daily reviews and video analysis. Coach is pleased with my progress and expects me to qualify for the World Championships in Korea in February so fingers crossed.
The team psychologist came out so we did some valuable work together, and Paralympics GB Strength and Conditioning Trainers spent a couple of days with us working out exactly how to prepare ourselves physically. Skiing with the heart rate monitors proves that adrenaline really works, got mine up to 212!
The mountain was closed for a day due to wind, and we finally had some snow towards the end of the 2nd week, which meant a well deserved powder day. Great to be back enjoying, I mean ‘balance training’ in powder although it was somewhat heavy.
My new sitski, kindly funded by the John R. Murray Charitable Trust, has arrived and it’s BRILLIANT! Thank you! She’s called Emilie, named after the best female snowboarder I’ve ever ridden with; winner of le Derby de La Meige; the incredibly determined Emilie Corouge. Tragically Emilie passed away this summer in a yachting accident. Emilie’s spirit will live on.
I have really enjoyed training in gates as well as free skiing. We started the week with speed training then trained GS over some ferocious rollers which we were aiming to suck up rather than get air over, lots of fun! We’ve also worked on slalom, starts and timing in gates and technical work out of gates, with daily reviews and video analysis. Coach is pleased with my progress and expects me to qualify for the World Championships in Korea in February so fingers crossed.
The team psychologist came out so we did some valuable work together, and Paralympics GB Strength and Conditioning Trainers spent a couple of days with us working out exactly how to prepare ourselves physically. Skiing with the heart rate monitors proves that adrenaline really works, got mine up to 212!
The mountain was closed for a day due to wind, and we finally had some snow towards the end of the 2nd week, which meant a well deserved powder day. Great to be back enjoying, I mean ‘balance training’ in powder although it was somewhat heavy.
My new sitski, kindly funded by the John R. Murray Charitable Trust, has arrived and it’s BRILLIANT! Thank you! She’s called Emilie, named after the best female snowboarder I’ve ever ridden with; winner of le Derby de La Meige; the incredibly determined Emilie Corouge. Tragically Emilie passed away this summer in a yachting accident. Emilie’s spirit will live on.
20 August 2008
Words For Each Day
Each day in life is training
Training for myself.
Though failure is possible,
Living each moment,
Equal to anything,
Ready for everything,
I am alive - I am this moment!
My future is here and now.
For if i cannot endure today,
When and where will I?
Soen Ozeki,
Daisen-in
I just had another Paralympic GB scientific testing day with the rest of the team. Statistics were taken on body composition and balance, flexibility, strength and power, endurance testing, a medical analysis and nutritional consultations as well as sweat loss monitor testing and overall fitness. Improvements were measured in my respectable results showing that my fitness training’s all worth it!
I put the stats to the tests at the
I ran with the Project VIper team and was second in my section and the fastest wheelchair user in the sprint, surprisingly good results for a first attempt. Funnily enough swimming in Victoria Dock in the
I’m feeling really positive about fitness and getting ready for the ski season. Loving watching the Olympics whenever I get a minute too, fantastic achievements, what an inspiration! Here's to living training.
23 June 2008
Juggling Training and Work
It's been an incredibly busy couple of months. The Paralympics GB Fast-track training camp was highly informative, I have learnt a lot throught the Scheme, from preparation, planning, travel and how to deal with the pressures of being an elite athlete to juggling life, training, work and relationships. I really appreciate the support.
I'm now back at work teaching English as a Foreign Language and French, which is keeping me very busy alongside training. Really enjoying teaching again and earning some money!
My women's wheelchair basketball team, Vixens, came runners up in the Nationals in May. A great experience for me, and basketball's great for fitness and balance. Also been swimming, started training in a wheelchair racing chair and handcycling. Unfortunately I sustained a minor injury and have consequently been in and out of training for nearly a month, very frustrating. I had to forgo the British Triathlon Championships on 1st June which was disappointing. I'm hoing to be back on form for the London triathlon in August, so getting back in training.
I'm now back at work teaching English as a Foreign Language and French, which is keeping me very busy alongside training. Really enjoying teaching again and earning some money!
My women's wheelchair basketball team, Vixens, came runners up in the Nationals in May. A great experience for me, and basketball's great for fitness and balance. Also been swimming, started training in a wheelchair racing chair and handcycling. Unfortunately I sustained a minor injury and have consequently been in and out of training for nearly a month, very frustrating. I had to forgo the British Triathlon Championships on 1st June which was disappointing. I'm hoing to be back on form for the London triathlon in August, so getting back in training.
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