World Cup Medals

22nd Jan 2009 – World Cup Downhill – Sestriere,Italy

Being back on the same hill where it all started for me was a strange and warm feeling. Staying in the same athletes’ accommodation (now a club Med Hotel), the Winter Paralympics in 2006 was the first time I put a decent score on the board and felt like I could actually cut it with the big boys. In the Downhill event back then, I came just 0.46 seconds off taking a paralympic medal, something I dream about regularly!

This time it’s a World cup event, with 3 years more experience, I remembered the hill was in my favour. It was seriously fast, had blind drops where you caught air and heart stopping sections where taking chances would pay off if you managed to survive and keep it upright?

After the first inspection of the course, it became clear it was there for the taking this time round, but putting it all together on the day was a different story, so many factors are taken into play where the difference between success and failure is measured in tenths of a second at speeds of 50mph, on a single knife edge, over rough terrain? Anything can happen?

In Downhill you manage to get at least one practise run of the course before you race, but after the first two days had to be cancelled due to soft snow it wasn’t looking like we’d get a race done at all? The course officials worked hard to get the run cleared after heavy snowfall and on the 21st Jan the green light was on, a training run in the morning, followed by a Downhill race in the afternoon.

The training run went great, just as I’d imagined posting the 3rd fastest time of the session, I was over the moon, but realised others may have kept a little in reserve so wasn’t counting my chickens just yet but, at least I was competitive. One area I was struggling with was my skis, the snow was cold and new which causes a lot of friction between your ski and the snow. I didn’t feel like the wax I had on was correct, so we changed it for the race. My race run underway, I attempted to adjust my line into the steepest section but dropped low and skidded the ski sideways to regain my line, losing speed. I knew it was costly and laid the rest of the course on the line. I finished a very creditable 6th place, my highest position in a World Cup race and the same as here in the Paralympics 2 years ago, this time only 2 seconds behind the leader after that mistake. I knew there was more in the tank and looked forward to the following day of racing.
22nd Jan 2009, a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The course was running faster today, perfect snow, my skis running well and personally feeling confident. There was only one way down this hill today and that was on the edge and taking chances. Luckily for me this paid off as I drifted in and out of control on numerous occasions nearly losing it into the safety fences, I picked my line just right, carried lots of speed in the technical areas and just ripped one out of the park. As the first skier on course that day, I had the painful task of sitting at the bottom and watching every other athlete down the course, my eyes fixed on the electronic scored board and timing. My heart was thumping as each Skier came towards the finishing line, it was one of the most exciting and painful moments I’d ever experienced. I managed to keep the lead on the board, but with only one skier left to go I realised at least I had a medal – but what colour? At that moment an unbelievable feeling came over me as my dreams and aspirations became a reality. The last skier down was Tyler Walker, the winner of the previous day’s event, saving the best for last he’d been yellow flagged for someone in the course and had to go back round for a re-run. I couldn’t stand it any longer waiting at the bottom and went in the tent for food, then I heard over the PA system, 1minute 12seconds, he’d done it again and posted the fastest time. Not a time to be disappointed as I’d just won my first World Cup medal, the first ever for a British Disabled Skier. I felt pride in myself, my Team and my country in what had just happened, putting Team GB on the podium at this level, ahead of the skiing nations had been a driving force in my training since I started racing – we’d done it!

Emotions on a high and still buzzing from the run, I had to re-focus on the afternoons race. As the weather forecast was poor, the organisers brought forward an event, which meant we’d take the result from the downhill, compete in a single Slalom run in the afternoon and add the times together to give a separate ‘Super Combined’ result, an event that shows off the best all round skier - Speed and Technical.

My slalom had not gone well the week before at the World Cup in La Molina, Spain where I crashed out in both races. With many Slalom specialists in the field having a good Downhill run, I didn’t fancy my chances. Saying that, the stars were definitely inline for me today as I ran a solid but careful run on a difficult course. The Combined times after some confusion at the bottom putting me in the bronze position.

Not one medal but two…… Incredible.

Up on the podium that evening was a special moment and a place I have a taste for.! Bring on the next challenge….?