Its a strange feeling to be out in Saas Fee, Switzerland, skiing in the middle of July. Jane Sowerby, myself and Stuart Dickson (Team manager) took the 10 hour drive from England in the old trusty team van. (plus the other 9 hrs for stuart from Scotland!) Even when the van started to struggle up the mountains towards the resort I didn’t really feel like I was off skiing. The Sun had been beaming down all journey and we were surrounded by green grass and trees, not the white powder I would normally expect or want going in to the mountains, not a flake of snow in sight. Then as you get to the car free, gorgeous old mountain town of Saas Fee you see the glacier rise up. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Even without snow covering everything!
The week has been a great success. We came out to train with the able bodied team to see if we could work closer in the future and if it works. It was great to ski next to the future of Snowsport GB and the existing greats like Alain Baxter. Not only was it great to have more contact with the team other than at the British Nationals in Meribel but to show what we can do on the snow and that we are equals. Getting tips from the coaches and athletes was of great benefit to us, to see their programme on and off snow and dedication.
We could not have asked for better conditions the sun was shining all week except for one afternoon when it rained in the afternoon when we were down from the mountain and it snowed up top! other than that the snow held up really well till around 12:30. We got 7 days of really good training on snow. In the Afternoon we went for a couple of big handcycles through the mountains. Was glad I had borrowed the bike as they were amazing rides and now really want one myself. we also did a couple of swims and stretches so had a good programme all week.
On top of all the fitness and skiing and other than the Snowsports GB guys and girls we met some great people and contacts. There was a real core of the skiing community out there who were great to meet and were really interested in us and our story. Check out the following features coming out soon www.snowzone.tv did a feature on Jane and myself and we were interviewed by www.welovetoski.com and the sunday mail both of which will hopefully have features later on in the year as the ski season kicks off. Watch this space.
A big thank you to Wolfgang and all the Snowsports GB team, The Guys at Warren Smiths Ski Accadamy, and Nick Southwell. I look forward to doing things with all of you again in the future.
