Sean Rose - Winter Paralympian & World Cup Racer

News / Updates

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.

World Cup Final - Whistler, BC

9th/10th Downhill Trng - what an awesome course and set. I love this hill, it's great fun and keeps going and going.! I ran 3rd fastest on the first trng run then 5th on the 2nd (with a few mistakes), so was real excited to get in the race. This was for me the most important race of my career, currently lying second on the World Cup points list in Downhill a good finish would give me a World Cup globe and a dream come true.!

11th Downhill Race - Got into a good rythym, holding a clean line and carrying more speed than trng runs. It felt pretty effortless at speeds upto 70mph. Just one gate left before the 'Big Air' jump and into the finish! This is where it went all wrong and the moment that will fill my thoughts for years to come! I entered with good direction, but not enough pressure on this fall away turn as the front edge of the ski slipped away and down I went.... I try to take positive thoughts away from the fact next year will be great at the Paralaympics, coaches saying I was flying and the man to beat..etc etc but this one will take some time to shake off....!

12th Super Combined (SuperG then Slalom Combined) - Back to business and another chance to shine in a speed event. Unfortunately someone must not have told the course setter it was SuperG as the course was overly technical, unrythmical and slow. I worked hard, nearly went down three times trying to carry some speed on this course, Nightmare! All to no avail as a gate judge said I missed gate 15 and was disqualified. We checked a video later that day that showed I went round the correct side, although it was too late to contest the decision.!

13th Giant Slalom - Worked hard over both runs, never quite able to get upto my GS speed where things start happening more natural. Not my favorite discipline, but getting better and learning. Finished middle of the field.

14th Slalom - Been running Slalom badly all winter, blaming it on lack of practise and time on the Ski. But today managed to put together two awesome runs. Looked ahead and nailed some tricky sections carrying great speed with ease. Can't believe where this came from and a great way to finish off the season. At least a bit of sunshine at the end of a difficult few weeks. Great confiednse going into next season knowing I can Slalom with the best. Something i'll be working on through the summer in the Sno!Zone indoor slope at Milton Kynes.

20-28th Feb - World Championships, High1, Korea

28th Feb - Downhill.? The hill was not long enough or have enough vertical descent to qualify as a Downhill, so they ran it over two runs and added times together like GS/SL. It was flat, slow and icy as a few nights of colder temperatures had set up the course solid. Blue ice showing the ground underneath. Not my hill or favored conditions although was confident in my best discipline. A little too optimistic I'm afraid, as I sturggled to hold a good line and lucky to finish (almost half the field didn't). My dissapointing week at the World Champs continued. Hopefully, better next week at World Cup Final.......

24th Feb - SuperG. Warm conditions and the snow starting to soften up. I was first monoski out the start (as seeded in the top 15). Confident from the start, I worked hard, pushed the line and carried great speed. The hardest gates finished and into the final stretch, the snow was softening up at the lower altitude and I was getting late (again) and needed to catch up. I forced one turn too many and the snow gave away from under the front of the ski and I slid into the safety fence. I got up just 2 gates from the finish. Another squandered opportunity, World Cup points and FIS points wasted.! I know I have the ability, but this season not quite the consistancy! Don't think i need to say any more how I feel at the moment ......

Only my favoured event left - Downhill. But, will the snow hold up long enough for it to run. We have a day off then Downhill trng for 2 days, I hope the weather gets colder before the slope melts away, as by mid day at the moment the snow is far too soft to race?

23rd Feb - Super Combined. Never been so gutted. I raced an absolute stormer, clean line, carrying lots of speed and just ripping. Nailed the toughest section and came out onto the flats into the finish straight a little too hot! Got a little late on a delay gate and tried to adjust my line without losing speed but crashed straight through the next left turn gate and out the race. It's on video and I was on for a great finish ......... aaaaarrgh

21st Feb - Giant Slalom, a much better day even in my worst discipline. Put together two solid runs and racked up a top 10 finish. Ran a little late in the first run and a line error in the second cost me time but it's good to be skiing well after yesterday and a confidense boost for the next event.

20th Feb - Slalom. my Slalom season continues. Not enough time gate training this year, left me struggling to keep up with the course, finished the first run but off the pace, better 2nd run but skied out after missing a gate - pretty dissapointed.

5/6 Feb - Kimberley, BC NORAM - Downhill / SuperG

This year event was hugely competitve with World Cup SuperG Champion Chris Devlin Young and Tyler Walker current World Cup Downhill leader attending. I raced well on a tough course and finished 3 out the 4 events, crashing out in one of the Downhills - Only 0.3seconds off Chris in the first Downhill race and beating Tyler (a little revenge following the Sestriere result..lol) Both SuperG races went great, although a mistake in the first run put me a few seconds off Tyler. A better 2nd run had me up with two of the best SuperG racers in the World. So overall a great day at the office.

Results: 2nd Downhill - 2nd SuperG (1) - 3rd SuperG (2)

22 Jan - World Cup Sestriere, Italy - Downhill

2nd - Downhill

3rd - Super Combined

World Ranked 2nd in DH with a 6th and 2nd place and only one event to go at Whistler Mar09....!!

First time back here since the Paralympics in 2006 - Full Story - Click Here

15 Jan - World Cup Slalom race 2 - La Molina, Spain

Lots to think about overnight after the previous days trials and tribulations. Worked hard in the practise gates after inspection and the mojo came back with a few simple movement changes.

Raced the course well, survived the steep pitch that took half the field again, then coming out the bottom caught a rigger in a combination gate and spun out. I was in good company as only 13 monoskiers finished the punishing course.

Roll on Sestriere, long drive tomorrow then on snow Saturday ready for the Speed events.

n.b The last time in Sestriere was the Paralympics in 2006 and I put in a strong finish in Downhill, so looking to build on that?

14 Jan - World Cup Slalom Race 1 - La Molina, Spain

My favorite! Although had a few issues in the practise gates, not happy with the Ski tuning and also snapped the tip of my outrigger in a crash. No excuses, ran most of the course in survival mode, very tough course - Nearly half the monoski field didn't finish. Just never felt good from the start. Worked hard on the steeps and again coming out the bottom carried too much speed into a tight combination and couldn't make the exit gate (you would think I'd learn). Very dissapointed - not Skiing well and seem to have lost my mojo.!

13 Jan: Giant Slalom Race 2 - La Molina, Spain

Skiing better in the morning and feeling good, went into the first race with confidence. But, still something not right, crawled down ther steep/icy pitch, but at least finished. 2nd run much better and raced well for 95% of the course, came out the steeps too straight and had to shut down going onto the flat section to make a gate to the finish - lost lots of time.

GS is not my favourite discipline so hopefully better in Slalom tomorrow?

12 Jan: World Cup Giant Slalom Race1 - La Molina, Spain

Nice resort, great conditions and ready to let one fly. The best field possible is here.

The Race - i didn't find the rythym and got bounced around a lot, never quite found the race line. The only positive aspect I was carryiong lots of speed, came into the steepest section a little too hot, got bounced sideways and lost the edge, before I knew it - down i went. Luckily coming to a stop a few gates down (not like some that slid over a hundred metres). In the process I bent my race ski. Damn...... Another GS race tomorrow......

19 Dec- 6 Jan: Christmas, New Year and training (Kimberley,BC)

First Christmas with our little man, Thomas - not that he knew much about it, but we enjoyed it. Been up on the hill lots, early season conditions and lots of fresh stuff made any race training diffficult. Lots of play time and experiment with equipment. Off to Europe on 8th Jan for the first World Cup of the season. Watch this space for results??

Best wishes in 2009

17-18 Dec 08: Winter Parl, Colorado, USA - NorAm Race

Some up's and downs but definately on the right track.! On a steep course and with lots of fresh snow on the hill it made the event a tough one. Racing against muliple Paralympic medalists I posted the fastest time (of all categories) in the first run of the GS race. The 2nd race got underway and I was feeling confident, the course was real tough/soft and pushing hard onto the steepest section of the course, the back of my ski hit a hole and lost traction. It spun me round, caught the downhill edge and slammed me into the ground and out.! You could say, 'I was a little bit disappointed....??'

SuperG the following day in the same spot, I slid out, came to a stop, got up and this time finished - not the fastest way to set a good time.! I was so up for the 2nd SuerG race, but as we headed for the start a storm rolled in out of nowhere and the race had to be cancelled.

8-9 Dec 08: Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA - NorAm race

What a great start to the season!

Up against the best America and Canada have to offer, I took my first medal of the year in a very competitive field.

Slalom - went well with 2 solid runs placing me firmly in 2nd place.

Giant Slalom - had a disappointing first run and well off the pace, even though it felt good? Back to the drawing board on that one, but a storming second run moved me up the field and into 4th place, just outside the medals. Although, good points towards qualification for Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics. I'm now Winter Park, Colorado training for the next races on 17th/18th Dec (Giant Slalom and SuperG)

NEWS Update: they checked the timings and I actually finished 3rd by a good margin in GS - so that makes it 2 gongs!

28 Nov 08: Training in Panorama, BC, Canada

Flew out last Sunday to Canada, I'm using Kimberley as a base for the season to travel to races, also as my main training hill. Travelled upto Panorama on Friday as nowhere else open at the moment. Lots of able bodied National squads there and I managed to get in gates with a Japanese team. Training with them Mon-Wed before I head out to Brec\kenridge and Winter Park for the first NORAM races of the season.

17 Nov 08:Team Training - Hintertux

Pre season Team training on the Hintertuxer glacier was awesome. Lots of Technical work, equipment preparation and gate training. On top of this we had Sports Pyschologist (Jonathon Katz) and EIS/BPA Strength and Conditioning coaches out to futher enhance the training and make sure everything was in the right place.

This was definately the most professional ran training camp I've been on and shows we are on the right tracks to success this season and onwards to Vancouver 2010.

I was also very pleased with my skiing this early in the season, it felt like I hadn't been off snow. Roll on the first race of the season early Dec in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Check out the new video from Tux at Seanyrose YOUTUBE

28 Oct 08: Fly out to Hintertux, Austria for Pre Season Team Training

26 Oct 08: Final Day at the Ski Show

Team Calendar sales went well, great to catch up with people and do the final bits of shopping.

24 Oct 08: Testing Skis at SNO!zone - Milton Keynes

New HEAD race skis are tuned and ready to go, so took them to Milton Keynes for a testing session. Love them, well happy with first impressions, can't wait to get out to Austria next week.

22 Oct 08: London Olympia - Ski Show and NEW Team Sponsor 'COLMAR'

Opening day at the London Ski show, the Team attended in numbers to show support for SnowSportGB, DSUK, to sell our team calendars and also collect our new TEAM UNIFORMS from COLMAR. The gear is fantastic, very professional looking and the first time the Disabled Team have been given the same clothing as the Able bodied Team athletes. Many thanks to SnowSportGB and our Team Manager, Stuart for making this happen and a big Thank You to COLMAR for sponsoring the British Disabled Ski Team.!

Oct 08: NEW SPONSOR - SNO!zone

Following numerous discussions over the last few years with Regis (MD) I am happy to announce it's official - Welcome SNO!zone many thanks for your support this year and to a great partnership. SNO!zone operate three indoor real snow ski slopes around the country (Milton Keynes, Breahead and Castleford)

09 Oct 08: Picked up my new 'Head' skis from the gang at 'Snow + Rock'.

They look awesome, can't wait to get them tuned up and tried out! Thanks guys for your support again this year!

Oct 08: HOLMENKOL Wax and Tuning Gear

To be at the top of your game you need the best products. After much looking around, I took the plunge and renewed my whole box of tricks with a range of tuning gear and full range of race wax products from HOLMENKOL. A big Thanks to Pete and Chris at ANYTHING TECHNICAL for a great deal and top level service.

30 Sep 08: Joined 'BeNumber1' website

A new way to support British Sporting Excellence. The site is looking to raise the profile and sport of it's members and also raise funds for us poor athletes.....

27th Aug 08: I'M A DAD.!

Thomas Anthony Rose was born at 11.10am. 4wks early weighing 5lb. He's gorgeous.! Leana and Thomas both fit and well.!

July 08: British Disabled Team Calendar

The calendar's finished, look great and at the printers. They'll be available for sale mid August (£8 +pp). Email me to place your order: seanyrose at hotmail.com . Thanks!

Jun 08: British Disabled Ski Team Calendar

We're preparing photos and design plans for a team calendar (Dec08-Dec09) which will be ready for sale in August 08.

We're also looking for people or companies to sponsor a month. For a measily 200 GBP you get your name, logo, business card on a calendar month. This is part of our ongoing fundraising plan to raise valuable cash to help the team on our road to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics. If you're interested send me an email? Many thanks.....

May 08: Wyboston Harpers Fitness

Following a move from Northampton to St Neots, I needed to change gyms. A big thankyou to Esporta for your support over the last few years and now to Harpers Fitness at Wyboston Lakes. Great gym, lots on offer and a place to keep up my summer land training.! Thanks Harpers for your investment in my future goals....!!

Fat Face Night Series 2008 Events: Check it out !

Apr 08: Sponsors confirm continuing Support for 2008/9

Following a fanastic season both 'Snow and Rock' and 'Fat Face' continue their support of my sporting ambitions. A very big thankyou to both companies - great gear, very supportive and really nice people. Go visit or check out the websites.!

29Mar-5Apr: Meribel, France - British Land Championships

Struggling a little with jetlag, a late arrival time and a very early start not the ideal preparation for a big event. But, skiing down to the lift in the dark (7am) on a SuperG ski soon woke me up.! I'd raced by 8.30am when the couse was still solid before the sun got on it. Felt good and put in a solid run to take the Gold ahead of my Teammates.

The weather turned overnight forcing us to miss a day of Downhill training due to bad viz and soft snow. It didn't look good the following day either, but a decision was made to move the Start and Finish line further up the mountain to get better snow. It worked awesome as we managed a training run followed by a race run. A few scary moments getting air and landing tip first wasn't enough to slow me down, as I took my 2nd Win.

Slalom next and skiing well upto the point where i decided to cross the wrong finish line? Ooops - Disqualified.!

The last day on snow- After a poor first run in Giant Slalom, I gritted my teeth and went for it, putting in a storming time and enough to claw back the victory. With 3 Golds I took the Overall British Champion title.

Great event, especially racing alongside the Best of British (including the National able bodied Team) and opening peoples eyes to our world of Skiing. Was honored to sit with HRH Prince Edward for the gala dinner, he's a great patron for Snowsports GB and the British Paralympic Association

15-20 Mar 08: Whistler, BC - Recce the Paralympic Race Run

What a way to finish the trip! Spent a few days with video, pictures and mental preparation on the race run that we'll race firstly in the World Cup Final Mar 2009 and then the following year at the 2010 Parlympics. Great opportunity.

9-15 Mar 08: Sun Peaks, BC NorAm Race

Great Ski Area, stopping in the Nancy Green Hotel and met the lovely Gold medal Olympian herself..!! Well, it's official I'm Skiing like a demon at the moment, really finding my form and totally dismantling the opposition.

Day One - GS Canadian Nationals, was winnning after 1st run and crashed in 2nd run, got up and still managed to finish 3rd.

Day two - NorAm GS, two solid runs took the Gold by over 4 seconds.

Day three - Slalom Canadian Nationals, hadn't been in Slalom gates for a few weeks so was a little tentative on the first run, but still pulled out a 5 second lead to take the Gold.

Day four- Slalom NorAm - Real happy with my skiing, I've made incredible gains this year finishing off the IPC season by taking the Gold and totalling a tally of 7 Golds over the last 2 weeks and a bronze. Awesome.....!