News / Updates

Pitztal Europa Cup race - 10-12 dec 2010
Stormy weather and loads of snow cancelled first two day of play. The final day they managed to get a SuperG race done in tough conditions. Real cold, soft snow and bad visibility due to high winds. The only way to run it was to set an easy straight course for safety reasons. Didn't suit me too well as not technical enough for me to catch the heavy boys and better factors. Was happy with my run (when I could see the next gate) and good to have a SuperG run under my belt this year. Bring on Kuhtai next week, steeper and more tehcnical slope, although I hear typically forcast for -20c again..........

Charity bike Ride 11th Sept 2010: Fort William to Aviemore
On a traditional Scottish Morning, myself and 4 Teammates on handcycles and 20+ cyclists lined up in the Car Park of Nevis Range Ski Area ready to ride 70 miles, covering an altitude of 2500ft. We were raising funds for the British Disabled Ski Team and Disability Snow Sport UK

Pouring with rain the first 20 miles were generally uphill. Ahead of schedule at this point we all settled into a steady pace, soaked through to
the skin but feeling good. The next 40 odd miles came and went, stunning scenery taking our minds away from aching bones, the only reminders being another hill or restarting after lunch.
Getting closer to Aviemore the imposing Cairngorm mountain range started taking shape and looking bigger n bigger. Turning right at Feshiebridge after 5hrs of hand cranking we were on the final leg to the Ski hill, but that soon made us aware that the journey was just starting! Bottom gear being the weapon of choice most of the way up the mountain. It slowly headed up at first, then sustained sections where bottom gear wasn't even low enough and I struggled to keep the pedals moving. This carried on for a period of time where my shoulders were screaming for mercy, I had to stop every 20 pushes and my mind contemplated an alternative outcome? Even worse news followed, rounding a corner I saw a sign saying 3miles to go. At a snails pace that was an awful long time of intense work, but the feeling of seeing the Finish and hearing the welcoming committee was immense and an awesome feeling of satisfaction and pride. This was the most Physical achievement I've endured since my accident and maybe since my early days training to be a Physical Training Instructor in the RAF. Hugs and high fives all round at the top, we didn't sit around long to get cold as in typical Downhill Skiers fashion we headed the direction we loved more and that was using gravity. Clocking over 50mph downhill nearly on two wheels at times heart in our mouths this made it all worthwhile. A BBQ on the shores of Loch Morlich, a chance to thank the DSUK organizers for a well ran event,
we swapped stories and this finished off a tough day.
Thanks to Draft wheelchairs for loaning me the handcycle, to Cycle Surgery for supplying the necessary cycling clothing/gear.
Thanks to all the people who've donated to this challenge. As always, much appreciated.
www.justgiving.com/sean-rose - Peak2Peak Handcycle Ride (still open)
To my Sponsors and Supporters who make it possible for me to reach new goals and achieve! Sno!Zone, SnowandRock, Cooper One

17th May - Cooper Safety Presentation and Olympic meeting
At last, as cabin fever was settling in 2 weeks after my shoulder operation,
i finally get out the house thanks to my good friend Neil Primrose.
I was asked to make a presentation for my New Sponsor - Cooper Safety
during one of their meetings. It involverd many directors of the company,
the VP's and President. I was really pleased with the outcome, my chat
was well received and I met some great people throughout the day.
I also listened with interest to the business presentations and although
I'll stick to Sport there were a lot of similar comparisons about how to
make a company/athlete better by working as a Team and understanding
what it takes to get to the top. I wish them luck in gaining contracts at
major sporting events.
The day ended with a fantastic Bus tour round the London 2012 Olympic/
Paralympic site which was great to see, I'm looking forward to watching
some of the games. Thanks Neil and Cooper Safety for a great day out.

5th May 2010 - Shoulder Operation (Slap lession)
Just released from hospital three days after my shoulder operation and eventhough pretty drowsy and in a bit of pain, i'm told it was a success. Only days before the first race of the 2010 Winter Paralympics in a freak crash in Downhill trng, i tore the labrum in my shoulder, causing damage that would only repair with surgery. "The damage was worse than predicted", said the surgeon, "but is now repaired and after a few weeks Sean should be able to get into some rehabilitation and be back to full strength within a few months".
This gives me plenty of time to work on other aspects of the sport like development of equipment, new fairing, my itinerary and attend various talks and appearances before getting back on snow and ready for next season.

Apr 2010 - NEW SPONSOR - Cooper Safety
Huge thanks and look forward to working with you all.

It's all Over - The end of a fantastic journey! Winter Paralympics 2010
I poured my heart and sole into being as prepared as possible going into the Winter Paralympic 2010 games. I have no regrets and have really enjoyed the whole process of becoming an elite athlete, looking into and improving every aspect of the sport. My results this season have been fantastic, I took 3 world cup podiums and a number of Europa cup podiums as well. Arriving at the games i set myself achievable targets and was sure a medal was on the cards - but it wasn't meant to be?
It all started from the first day - My ski pre-released at the 7th gate in Downhill training, I crashed out and landed hard on my shoulder. An MRI scan from the village hospital showed i had a partial tear in my suprinatus muscle, a ligamanet tear, bruising and inflamation of the shouder bones. This reduced my movement and we worked hard to keep me fit with tablets and physio.
I was then yellow flagged in the middle of my first GS run (after an athlete in front of me had crashed), it meant I had to return up the gondola and race again (further down the field on a deteriorating course, rain and ruts). This run wasn't as good and placed me 14th. I pulled it all back in the second run at the split times, but pushed a little too hard and crashed out 2 gates from the finish!
Downhill race - my favorite discipline and confident to preform well based on results in world cup this year. Once out the gate and passed gate 7 the course felt a little unknown and made me hesitant going into some blind rises. This apprehension slowed me down enough at this level to lose a second or two. I finished a respectable 7th, but this wasn't where i wanted to be - very dissapointed as didn't ski like i wanted to!
in the SuperG race, i was on a stormer eventhough I was running quite late in the field. The best had been before me and at the split time i was up by 0.6 secs on the leader and flying. My binding pre-released again after a small jump and down i went.! looking back at the video of the crash, there was no reason for it to happen and hadn't done this all season?? But it meant another chance blown and this time not my fault.!
Super combined - last chance to shine! Out the gate with confidense and pushing hard on a tough, rutted and very icy course. It soon caught me out on a fall away turn and before i had chance to correct anything down i went.! (They'd watered certain sections of the course and it was brutal.! At least i wasn't the only one, as many top sitskiers crashed out at this point as well.)
All said and done, two top 10's weren't bad, but i was confident to be able to bring home a medal - so i'm real dissapointed with my games, but very pleased with my Skiing and season as a whole. Role on some family time now and then back into training ready for next year. I've got some unfinished business and something to prove. The world champs are next year In Sestriere, Italy - bring it on..................................!

THE PARALYMPIC VILLAGE. Whistler, BC - We're here.....!
Arrived afternoon 6th March to our new Home for the next couple of weeks. It's amazing to be back in this environment. Good accommodation, food and drink 24hrs, fitness suites, movie theatre, you name it.... The Canadians have done a great job. Only been here a few hours so more to check out. Got a day or two rest and light gym work before back on Snow after long week in Aspen.....

Aspen World Cup Finals 28 Feb - 5 Mar
5 Mar - World Cup SuperG - 3rd
4 Mar - World Cup Super Combined - 6th in SuperG and fell in Slalonm, got up and finished and still not far off.?
3 Mar - World Cup Downhill - 2nd. Finally managed to put a run togther to the end. The result was enough to place me 3rd in the World Cup Overall Downhill Standings as well, so i'm well happy.
2 Mar - World Cup Downhill - Crash
1 Mar - Downhill training run 2 - Crash
28 Feb: Downhill training run 1 - 5th place after a steady run, finding my bearings on a new course, more to come

Pre-Paralympic Training - Winter Park, Co (10-27 Feb)
We are now in Winter Park training. Arrived safe n sound, few weeks getting back to fitness and making sure my back is OK and then off to Aspen for the World Cup Finals, before the final trip to the Paralympics in Whistler. Big thanks to British Airways for there hospitality at Heathrow and getting all our bags onboard and arriving in one piece.

My NEW Carbon Fibre/Kevlar Fairing is the business
After spending the whole summer looking for a company to make me a new Aerodynamic and protective faring for my sitski it finally comes good. Harry from Moldex Composites with support from MCT, took an old fairing I had, reshaped it, made a mould and then approached ACG for the materials. I was real happy and surprised when Harry rang to say that all companies involved would not be charging me for the finished product and were delighted to be ab le to help me out. So a Big Thankyou to Moldex, MCT Ltd and ACG, I can't do what I do without support like this, cheers! It looks fantastic, it the envy of a lot of Sit skiers out here and hopefully will give me an aerodynamic advantage in the speed events at the games?

Sestrriere, Italy World Cup 18-23 Jan 2010
22nd and 23rd - Resting in the Hotel, very sore. Very envious of the guys out racing, wish I was out there.! Definate chance of adding to the medal tally, but will have to wait to Aspen for the World Cup Finals now then the Paralympics.!
21st DH Race2 - Big Crash. Another storming run, coming over the final jump into the Finish pitch, the backend kicked out, I landed slightly sideways and was not able to bring it back, rotated and eventually highsided at 70mph and through the crash fence. I was taken to Hospital in Pinerola, 5 hours later, lots of check ups, no broken bones, no internal issues, just severe trauma to my lower back. Feel like I've been ran over by a bus.!
20th DH Race1 - Gold. History in the making. What an amazing race, experience, feeling, the whole thing. Especially hearing the National anthem being played for the first time ever at a World Cup Alpine race.
19th DH (training) - 1st
18th DH (training) - 2nd

Abtenau World Cup 11-15 Jan 2010
SL - 11th Jan. 5th place- Was lying in 2nd place after the first run, flew down the course and carried great speed. Second run, I got a little hung up on a gate and rotated, got going again and great run to the finish, but the chance of a medal had slipped away with the big mistake.
SL - 12th Jan. 15th position. crashed in first run while going well. Finished dead last. Second run ran real well and was 6th fastest -moved up the field.
GS - 13th Jan - Not a great first run, oversteered the course, needed to let it go and dictate. 2nd run was going great, good line up top and dominating, got little late in the mid section and tried to catch up, worked too hard and lost the back end of the ski and spun out. DNF
GS - 14th Jan, good first run lying in 8th not too far away. Good line and didn't force it. You'd think i'd learn from this? Nope, seecond run flat out and paid the price - crashed. DNF

RollRinn World Cup 7/8 Jan 2010
Giant Slalom - 8th after the first run and not far off the lead. Learnt from my mistakes and went for it in the 2nd run, I was having a fantastic run and caught my rigger in the soft snow only 1 gate from the finish, it spun me round and carashed out. Gutted..!!
Slalom - 2nd after the first run, just laid it on the line and survived, well happy with my skiing. On the 4th gate on the 2nd run, made a big mistake and came to a stop, got mad, got going and nailed the rest of the course - probably my best Slalom skiing ever. Very happy to finish 5th today with the combined runs, against such a strong Slalom field.

Kuhtai Europa Cup
To be added soon

Pitztal Europa Cup
To be added soon

Stubai and Pitztal Europa Cup
After a bad weather week of training in Stubai we arrived in Pitztal, not the usual very cold conditions but lots of snow, soft and not great for racing. Hope it improves for Friday? (Keep an eye here for results)

Team Training Camp - Hintertux, Austria 2-20th Nov 09
Another fantastic course which has set us all up well for the coming season. I was proud to be part of such a talented group. Everyone brought there 'A' game and passed expectations from last season. Here's looking forward to a succesful medal tally for Team GB Skiers. Back home now for a week with the family and then back out to Stubai Glacier for more training prior to the first race of the season in Pitztal (Dec 09)

British Disabled Ski Team Calendar
New 2010 Calendar in stock now. Great Christmas present. Available from BritishDisabledSkiTeam.co.uk website, Snow and Rock Shops, and by emailing or ringing the DSUK office on admin@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk or 01479 861272. We really need your support and this is a vital fundraiser for the team, the athletes get to choose how it's spent, this year some of it is going towards the cost of a Ski Technician, to gain them valuable tenths of a second.

New Zealand, Team Summer Training Camp - Aug 09
Mount Hutt (Aug 3-7) - The hill is in excellent condition and apart from high winds on Tuesday training been going real well. GS gates all week, lots of new equipment to deal with and experiment with. Overall a brilliant first week, staff very organised, everything going to plan and loving the New Zealand way of life and gorgeous countryside. Even went to a speed shearing contest last night in the local, they pass the sheep through the pub window and the record for making one bald was 21 seconds...! Super G training starts tomorrow - bring on the speed !
Mount Hutt (Aug 10-14) - A pretty windy and wet week on the hill. Few days cancelled as they couldn't run the lifts safely (140kmh). Not the most productive week, but the time we did get was great, couldn't run SuperG as snow conditions too soft, Slalom and a great day of GS on Friday finished off the week well. Travelled to Mount Dobson (Fairlie) and had the weekend off.
Mount Dobson (Aug 17-21) - a prvately owned rural Hill, some 45 minute drive each morning from Fairlie. the week started with warm wet conditions and improved throughout the week. Great Slalom training this week and lots learnt.
Travelled to Queenstown through some gorgeous scenary. A few days recovery for the Team to get organised for the NZ Winter Games week ahead. Lots to do here on the adrenaline side, we all did a 200m canyon rope swing then a few laps down a Luge track. I travelled home to be back for my son's 1st Birthday. The rest of the Team did real well in some difficult conditions and more medals for Team GB.