Landgraaf - Round Two

After what felt like ages off training due to the surgery on my legs, I was more than ready to return to skiing, especially with feet that should hopefully stay in place on the footrest a bit better.

Last November I once again made the journey to Snowworld, Landgraaf (in The Netherlands) with the British Parasnowsport Team for the first races of the season. For anyone confused on how I was able to ski in Holland, it is a massive indoor ski slope, for more details I refer you both to the photos on this post and my write up of the place last year.

The camp began with a bit of training in slalom gates, where I was pleased to be told by the coaches that my skiing had improved quite a bit since they had last seen me. I definitely found it easier to deal with the ice and ruts on the course towards the end of the session caused by so many people racing. I also met a new coach for the first time who was great to work with.

Next it was time for the main event - the races (of which there were two, over two days, each consisting of three runs down 2 different slalom courses). You may remember that I did my first race here last year, but that was the youth race, this year I was doing the proper ones that I could actually gain points in.

On the day of the first race I decided to just take it steady and concentrate on getting down the course rather than focus on my time, a decision that was confirmed when I was in the start gate and the racer before me managed to crash repeatedly (not particularly helpful when you are already pretty nervous). After successfully getting through the first run I began to relax a bit, and that meant that on my second run I was able to take a much tighter line and improve my time quite a bit. The third and final run of the first race was somewhat interesting. On coming out of the start gate one of my outriggers failed to deploy  (most likely due to the spring freezing whilst waiting around in the cold) and I fell pretty much straight away. As I managed to get myself up straight away I was able to continue, but still slightly shaken from the first fall, I managed to topple over once again! Luckily I (somehow?) was able to get myself up again and finish the course (I found myself shouting at myself to stay upright for the remainder of the run) in a respectable ninth place, scoring my first points for slalom.

By the next day the effects of the week of training and racing were really beginning to take their toll on my body, and I really did not feel well, to the extent where I was seriously considering pulling out of that day’s race. However I couldn’t let myself come all that way to not race, so to the start I headed. The first run went remarkably well considering I felt half dead, not to mention how icy the slope was after the previous day’s races, and I managed to get down in a much better time than the day before.  Unfortunately the next run wasn’t quite as successful as the previous one, I had managed to get about three quarters of the way through before I realised I was moving with more speed than I could handle as I approached a more technical section of the course. In an attempt to quickly come onto the edge of my ski to slow myself down, I ended up skidding on a patch of ice, which would normally only cost me a few extra seconds, but this time I managed to slide past the next gate, so I was unable to finish the course and the rest of the race. On this occasion I wasn’t too bothered to have not finished, I was pleased with myself to have got this far, and somewhat relieved that I was now free to stop and rest.

Overall this was a camp of great success, I was thrilled to have finished one of the races and to get some points, giving me a starting point on the leaderboard. I also left being more comfortable with taking a tighter line through the course, meaning that next to work on is being happier with hitting the gates as I go past them.

A Brief Hiatus

Unfortunately this summer I will be taking a bit of a break from ski training, this is because I will be having an operation on my legs on the 27^th of July (as I am writing this - tomorrow). The operation will be to release tendons in my ankles and toes, to try and bring my heels down, as at the moment my feet are fixed in a pointed position with no movement at the ankle. Afterwards I will have both legs in casts for six weeks (hence why I will be unable to ski).

This surgery is much needed, as I haven’t been able to get my heels down to the floor for about five years now, and in the last couple of months the condition of my legs have worsened to the point where I can no longer put weight through my legs without my knees buckling, I am hoping that with better positioning and a lot of hard work in physio afterwards I will regain my ability to stand and take a few steps with my splints and walker (I will always need my wheelchair for functional mobility but I may be able to stand for and walk for physio purposes).

I am a bit nervous about this operation but I am excited to finally have it done (it has been 2 years since it became apparent that non-surgical methods would not help my ankles), I am looking forward to seeing what the result is and I hope that this will help me.

A successful operation will also have the side effect of helping my skiing a bit, as it has the potential to mean that my feet will sit much more comfortably on the footrest of my monoski, so they won’t fight the position quite so much (my legs like to try and wiggle out of the straps, which often throws my balance off whilst skiing).

I can’t wait to get this over with, and get back to skiing as much as I can.

Milton Keynes Snozone Summer Invitational Race

A couple of weeks ago I once again made the trek down to Milton Keynes for a day of skiing with the British Parasnowsport pathway team, this day began with training both in and out of gates, and finished with a mini GS race. This was a long day but well worth it to ski with and compete against my fellow monoskiers.

In the afternoon the Snozone Summer Invitational Race took place, the course set was based on a giant slalom course, which I was pleased with, as on indoor slopes, most races are of the slalom variety, a discipline I find more difficult. However, that did not mean that it would be easy, as after a full day of training, the snow had become quite rutted and bumpy, with some rather significant icy patches, which proved a bit of a challenge to navigate. The race consisted of four timed runs, with the fastest run being counted.

I initially skied the course with the aim of just getting down it, I was determined not to fall, however, I am quite aware of the fact that in race situations I tend to get nervous and stiffen my arms up, which has a major negative effect on the quality of my skiing. In this particular situation I played it safe and skied the course fairly wide to try to avoid any bumps that were trying to throw me over (although all this really did was bounce me about in the mounds of snow created by other racers). After successfully completing two runs of the course, I began to relax, and my skiing changed quite dramatically, I took a much tighter line and my whole skiing technique was closer to my best, I managed to knock three and a half seconds off my previous times! I have attached a video that shows this transformation between the first and second half of the race.

At the end of my four runs, all successful, it was time for the awards. Here I learnt that due to the risks I had taken on the last two runs, I had secured myself third place. I was very proud to have finally finished a race and to be with my friends as I did so. Hopefully with time and more races like this I can learn to not stress about racing and ski at my best every time.

Milton Keynes Training

Recently I have been attending training sessions at the Snozone in Milton Keynes, this is a bit of a trek from where we live but it has been worth the travel as these sessions are disability specific (my training in Manchester is with able-bodied athletes) which I find very useful. These sessions happen around once a month, and are put on for people on the development pathway for the British Parasnowsport Team. It is great for me to ski with other people with disabilities, especially those who ski in a monoski, as it gives me the chance to watch what other people do and implement it into my own skiing technique.

My training in much more difficult courses (designed to challenge able-bodied skiers) at the Chill Factor^e in Manchester has meant that I find courses set for skiers with disabilities much easier. This allows me to focus on increasing speed rather that just keeping my balance and not crashing out of the course.

Here is a video from the latest training session.

This Saturday I will be travelling to Milton Keynes once again for a whole day of skiing this time, in the morning there will be the usual race training, before an afternoon of racing in Disability Snowsport UK’s Access for All Race.

Exciting News!

A few weeks ago I found out that my application to the Chill Factor^e (the indoor ski slope in Manchester where I train) for sponsorship had been successful. Last night I had a meeting with the Chill Factor^e during which I received my sponsored athlete jacket, had my photo taken with the other sponsored athletes for the year, and was given information about what this entails.

 

I am very thankful for the opportunities both the Chill Factor^e and the Disability Snowsport UK base there have given me, without them I may never have learnt to ski again after my HSP took away the use of my legs, and I certainly wouldn’t have been aiming to ski in the Paralympics one day.

The help given to me by both the Chill Factor^e and DSUK has meant that I have gone from this…

to this.

Skiing has given me back a sense of freedom that my wheelchair can’t, and has massively helped me to accept my disability. Thank you very much to both the Chill Factor^e and Disability Snowsport UK, I am very proud to represent you.