Silver in First races!

Soft snowy conditions at Copper Mountain caused problems for some racers but I made it down the Giant Slalom course and finished 4th. I was pleased to be first loser behind the World, Paralympic and US National Champions.

Slalom was even more successful; A PB won me my first medal of the season: Silver!

Unfortunately the Speed races in the Winter Park Open were not as successful for me but I managed 4th place in the Super Combined (Super G followed with Slalom).

I’m now working towards the technical events in the Park City NORAM in Utah in the first week of January where I aim to sneak in front of those experienced American racers!

Training for Copper races

Spent the week training hard, working out in the gym and pool, doing yoga and getting fast turns in. Now packing for Copper Mountain NORAM races... Slalom on Monday, Giant Slalom Tuesday, back Wednesday and racing speed in Winter Park Thurs, Friday. Bring it on!

Race Prep.

At the top of the Zephyr chair, Winter Park with guys I trained with last season: Aussie Mark, American Alana and my Icelandic roommate Erna. It's so good to be back in Colorado! Had a few great days training slalom in preparation for the races in Copper in a week! I'm making progress. Conditions are hard packed, icy snow which is great for training although a couple of feet more snow would open more of the resort. I've also been working hard in the gym and pool, yoga class this evening.

Back in WP and on film!

I arrived in Colorado feeling much more human than usual after a Trans Atlantic flight, having sat in a comfy chair and been spoilt by gracious flight attendants, thanks for the upgrade British Airways!

There's plenty of snow and I'm really looking forward to the next two months of intensive training and racing with the NSCD (National Sports Centre for the Disabled) Alpine Race Team who I trained with last winter.

I hope you enjoy the documentary (click on the title), thanks Georgia! Please vote for it via the link!

Hintertux Pre-Season Team Training ‘09

Three weeks excellent training in Hintertux, Austria, sets me in good stead for the coming season. After a few days free-skiing in powder with teammates and super-buddies Johnny and Georgia, I was ready for gates training when the management team arrived. In typical Tux style we spent a few days in cloud but the ‘hero snow’ kept us smiling!

The team’s been really supportive as always, and GS training was fun but I was most pleased with the last week of Slalom training. Video analysis provided evidence of significant improvements and I feel positive about the December NORAM races in Copper Mountain and Winter Park, Colorado. I really feel huge benefits from summer training in New Zealand, Many thanks to GetKidsGoing! for making this possible.

For the first time, the team's worked with a Ski Tech (to tune skis) and it was great to learn from Spike and ski on perfectly tuned skis for the conditions. Looking forward to building on the relationship.

Lifestyle Support provided by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) looks to offer dependable backing.

Best wishes to my teammate Jane for a speedy recovery from a fractured collarbone.

Pre-season Preparations

A busy off-season; training at MK SnoZONE 2-3 times a week, in the gym everyday, sorting out skis and kit for the coming season, teaching and getting engaged! I’ve made rather an unromantic rule banning wedding planning until after the 21st March (the Paralympics)! Focus is key!

Last week’s trip to Austria was cancelled due to lack of snow, but it’s been coming down ever since and I’m looking forward to 3weeks training on the glacier in Hintertux, Austria with the team from next Sunday.

Thanks so much to Two Seasons for sorting me out with various bits of kit, I don’t know how I’d manage without you!

I’ve now joined twitter and tweet regularly, follow me! It’s really easy and fun: www.twitter.com/skiraceanna

Here's me winning silver in the NZ Winter Games!

A big thank you to Ali, Glen and Matt and the guys at the Milton Keynes
SNOzone for the excellent training sessions. I've been training regularly in slalom courses, and even raced there on Monday and can see my improvement. Hard training in the lovely David Lloyd Gym is also paying off.

I'm off to a Paralympics GB team training camp for the weekend to train on the new Hemel Hempstead indoor ski slope, discuss goals and season plans. Can't wait!