It’s been over two years since I last picked up a pen (or a put a finger to a keyboard) to update my blog. Time has flown by and part of me is a bit embarrassed I left my blog so long. As the start of my last blog, a lot has changed.
I left Post Office in May this year after a very enjoyable career there, I enjoyed my time there but it came very apparent the last year I yurned for a change and PA Consulting appeared at the right time to facilitate that change. PA was a massive culture shock joining them but one that was definitely for the better, I have a lot more freedom over my career that I did before. PA see you as an individual that is running your own business, you have complete control over your future and it’s up to you to make the best of it…something that definitely resides well with me. Plus the people are awesome.
To take this role, it meant I had to up sticks and move down south (or to put it better dahhhhn South.) I decided on St Albans as this had great commuter lines and was green enough to make feel like I’m not living in the city. I have a flat 5 minute walk from the station which is mega.
Anyway back to the main reason for this blog, I’m still skiing and this year, I’ve ski’d more than I have done. I took a year out of racing to rekindle my love for the sport and focus on the fundamentals again. Racing was not the right thing for me at this time and I needed to focus on learning how to kick ass in a sit ski….which I’m still doing and the races will come.
There was a lot of cuts made when the programme went from being ran by DSUK (disabled ski charity) to British Snowsports. This, although frustrating, was understandable whilst funding and ways of working were being ironed out as this is something completely new for British Snowsports. I found that the costs of training increased astronomically and accessibility to training dramatically dropped. Frustration in lack of personal ability set in but no way to remedy this appeared and lack of time due to work life put skiing on a bit of a back burner, something that I regret. It took a long hard look at myself, a lads ski holiday to Hintertux and a theoretical slap to the face to realise. “WHAT THE F*CK am I doing with myself?!?” I decided from there I need to own this myself and make my own programme.
I found my why again.
From there, I’ve trained more with Scott in Arinsal and found a brilliant race coach through Ben Reid where I’ve managed to get more practice in racing conditions. This is lots of fun, Ben trains an able bodied team, which means the conditions are a lot harder than what I’d be racing in at my current adaptive level.
I’ve finally bitten the bullet and bought a brand new sit ski, I went for the Tessier Scarver after months (and MONTHS) of deliberating. Sit ski’s are very expensive and being northern and tight…this wasn’t a decision I took lightly. It should arrive in the next week or so, I’m very excited to start testing. The chief engineer is just as excited as I am, although I’m sure he’s a bit disappointed he won’t need to get the burning tackle out.
Outside of skiing and work, I’ve recently competed in my first crossfit tournament after starting the sport last year. Crossfit is a sport built up of weightlifting, aerobics and high intensity training. I love the variety and every day is something different. The competition consisted of 5 workouts over the course of a day and you get points for each one with the best person overall winning the day, this was done in a pair. I competed with the legend that is Rob T. I was surprisingly nervous to start the day and many a nervous wee was had. I did the first workout and I didn’t know what hit me, I knew that the day was going to be a tough one. As the day I went on, I started to enjoy it more and more.
Overall, I had amazing day and the feeling in the room was electric. Crossfit is more than just a sport and there is a huge community that comes with it that urges you on to just do your best. I was lucky enough to have the last workout filmed and here is just a sample of the camaraderie in the room for you to witness.
I picked up my new sit ski this week from Seated Sports in St Neots, I absolutely love it, I am very excited to try it out. I went for the Tessier Scarver all in white, I think all I need now to finish the look is a white full-face helmet and I’ll look like a stormtrooper. I am just on my way to Turracher Hoehe in Austria for a week’s training with Ben Reid. We will be focussing on Giant slalom and Slalom training, I’ll update you when I get back.
Love Alex
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