I have now been home for almost two weeks and after a long season feeling very happy and relieved for the break from skiing and rest! I am thankful for the fact that I will no longer have to cope with jet lag and get to sleep in my own bed for a while.
My last two weeks in France despite mixed emotions and drama have gone very well. After only a couple of days at home returning from Canada and recovering from jet lag we were all off again to Meribel for the last race of the season the British Land Champs. Despite not been a points race for us. It is an important race for us to gain experience on a great race hill professionally run. It’s also important for us as a team to compete next to the able bodied athletes and show them what we can do and impress!
Conditions throughout the week were spring like and a little on the warm side for ski racing but all the events successfully went ahead. On the first day while warming up for the Super G race the frame of my sit ski snapped leaving me to have to slide down off the hill and frustratingly have to sit out and watch the first race not knowing if I would be able to get it fixed and ski all week. Thankfully the piesters were on hand to do an excellent welding job and get me back on the snow.
All I could muster for the Downhill was 4th behind the other boys as I battled with my own demons, been tentative on my newly fixed rig and letting the mountain get the better of me thinking it would run faster than it did.
This year was the first that we have been allowed to do the slalom which was moved to the evening to make the most of the conditions. I was able to pull myself together to take first place. (Thanks to Sean needing SatNav!) I had the honour to be awarded my plate by HRH The Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward)
The GS turned out to be the battle of the week with less than a second splitting Russ, Sean and myself. With the Girls all falling on the icy 8 o’clock morning conditions they threatened to pull us till later while I was in the gate and in the zone. After some debate I went coming 2nd to Russ but ahead of Sean the 2nd run saw a complete change of conditions becoming very soft this time it was Sean the took the 1st place doing enough to take first overall while despite coming 2nd again just ahead of Russ not enough to take 2nd overall and had to settle for third. Russ and myself then came 2nd joint overall with Sean deservedly after a great season taking the top spot!
