We
Arrived in Tignes. We stayed in an amazing apartment right at the bottom of the
valley, this wasn’t ideal but due to the time of year, it had to do. It did
mean we had a much higher quality apartment than we normally do. On-site pool,
Jacuzzi and Sauna…which did have its benefits :)
Tignes is quite a
self-indulgent resort for myself, I have skied there a number of different
times over the past couple of years and it is very satisfying to ski there. It
provides a visual benefit on how much I have improved.
We
had a few days free skiing, working on the fundamentals and our overall goals. At
this point, Tignes had become overrun with English people. There were a number
of different races over the week, which meant there was always something
interesting to watch.
Training
went well, I felt like I was getting a higher hip position and was able to
influence the ski more. The pool and Jacuzzi definitely helped with this…
On
the Thursday, I received a phone call from Andy Barlow saying he had just
broken one of his outriggers, he had been racing in the French National champs
and was just about to head to Tignes. He was going to need the borrowed
outrigger back. The first race was on Saturday. I began to panic. I rang
up Tessier, which is the company in France that supply adaptive equipment. They
said that the quickest delivery time is 2 days once the order has been
made. I explained the situation and they said the only other option would
be to pick up the part myself (a two hour drive.) I said I would call
back once I had spoken to the coaches. We finished the training session
and just as I was packing my stuff up, my phone rang. It was Tessier again.
They explained they had a client that was visiting La Rosiere (just round the
corner) and would be willing to drop it off for me. MEGA !! I jumped at the
opportunity. The gentlemen dropped it off a couple of hours later, free of
charge and my payment hadn’t even cleared yet. Amazing Service!! I couldn’t
believe my luck. I was back in business.
Saturday
brought the start of the slalom. We were racing with the women’s able bodied.
There was some fantastic skiers there and it was great to be skiing alongside
them. As the day started it was very much an us and them situation, but
as the day went on, we all began to bond and really became a team. We all
cheered each other and wanted everyone to do well.
It
was the first time adaptive skiers have raced alongside able bodied. We were
the first to go down. I had been having problems with the bar on my skis
that day that keep the skis tips apart. The extra movement I am getting from
the chiropractor has changed my body that much that I need to look at new ways
of doing things.
I
dropped onto the course but just as I dropped in, my skis crossed due to my bar
and I ended up sliding, missing the first gate…BUGGER. I put my outriggers into
crutch mode and started to hike back up. John Clark one of the coaches shouted
to me to “Push Alex” the next moment, the whole of the women’s able bodied were
shouting “PUSH ALEX !” (This helped). I reached the gate, dropped back onto the
course and started to ski back down. I was already out of breathe from the hike
but I was taking deep breaths trying to recover. I dropped onto the steep
section, I was skiing quite well, I was active but I could feel myself tiring.
I got around half way down the steep section, My skis crossed because of the
bar again, I ended up skiing a gate backwards (not intentional), catching
myself off balance and throwing myself down the hill. It was quite a
spectacular fall. I got up ,skied two turns and straight lined it to the
bottom to watch the rest of the race. The end results for GB.
Womens
VI
- Menna Fitzpatrick and Jen Kehoe
- Millie Knight and Brett Wild
Womens
Standing
- Molly Griffith
Mens
Vi
- John Dickinson-lilley and Jack Davey
- Michael kear and Rufus Allcott
Mens
Standing
- James Whitley
- Matt Short
- Andy Barlow
Men’s
Sitting
2. Ben Sneesby
3.Benji Milliard
As
you can see it was very much a GB Podium :)
The
second day brought the Giant Slalom. We were racing on the downhill course.
This run is closed off to the public and has lots of terrain to deal with. It
was a fantastic course, with a punchy start but I was very excited.
The
weather had been cloudy and there was flat light for inspection which made it
quite difficult to inspect. As we queued in the start gate to start the
race, the clouds parted and the sun came out. I dropped in and after a
few gates I really let the skis run. I was flying. I was making sure to finish
my turn and trying my best to stand up to get more drive through the ski and to
keep my weight forward. The course was awesome, I was loving every minute of
it. I got to the last couple of gates, letting the skis run even more, I hit a
bump in the snow and ended up hip sliding. I quickly pushed myself up, dropped
in on the right side of the gate and passed the finish line. I was knackered
but that was the best I have ever skied. I was proud to have skied like that
and it was a good reflection on the year but I was frustrated I had fallen at
the last gate.
(Photo Credit Racer Ready, Cannot be used without permission)
We inspected the course for second run, it looked good. I
could feel myself beginning to tire. I checked my ski spreader bar. It was
twisted and was causing the skis to cross more. I rushed to the top and started trying to work on it. Abi Okell (the team physio) and John Clark worked
tirelessly to get it ready for the next run. The start referee let me start a
few numbers later in order to resolve the problems I had with the equipment.
I dropped in. I didn’t have confidence in the equipment that I wanted, so I was
tentative (and tired.) I worked my way down the slope, making sure to look
ahead and not get too focussed on my bar. I got to the bottom, exhausted but I
made it. It was a small field but I managed to clinch a 4th
place finish, which was awesome :)
It
was a great feeling to have come to the end of my most successful season yet. I
have had some ups and some downs, some frustrations and elations but that is
ski racing. I have never experienced a sport that is so challenging but so
rewarding at the same time.
I
strive for a challenge and I am motivated to keep on pushing to be the best I
can be.
So
what’s next for me ?
The
chiropractor has had more of an impact on me than I realised, my personal goal
at the moment is to improve my stamina to how it was and to go one step
further.
I am cycling more in order to do this and hoping to increase the
intensity of this. We are currently working together to get the summer season plan
together to understand when I am next on snow and my goals for next season.
I started my next placement on Monday 11th
of April, I am working in Telephony, looking at the Post Office Homephone
and Broadband offers. This is an exciting area and will be a great
challenge.
Love
Alex
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