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| Val Thorens Slalom |
Since the Interschools races, I managed to knuckle down and get more gate training in - working weekends and the occasional afternoon with the younger kids who were on their school holidays. In the run up to the British Championships in Meribel I went to Val Thorens to do two Citizen races - a slalom and a giant slalom. I used to do a lot of skiing in Val Thorens when I was younger and had done quite a bit of training with ESF on the stade. It was weird going back, I really miss skiing there and going back definitely reminded me why I love the place so much. With the resort being 400m higher than the very top of Les Houches the snow was perfect and managed to stay around freezing throughout the races. As far as results were concerned they were pretty average. I skied technically well but had many tactical errors and stupid mistakes. I was more annoyed I hadn't made the most out of the good conditions and my knowledge of the hill but the way I was skiing was encouraging for the British.
My team mates then went onto Meribel to take part in the speed events at the British, I returned to Les Houches to work. Luckily I managed to get 2 days of training in with the children, a morning off and I worked in the afternoons. Towards the end of the season, skiing any later than 11am in Les Houches became hard work as the snow would get so soft, it would reach termperatures of 18-20 degrees! I then joined my team mates in Brides Les Bains where we stayed throughout the races, the day before the National Championship GS. The GS didn't go to well, my first run lacked confidence and attack. I then failed to finish the second run. I think at this point I was beginning to feel the effects of working and training solidly for a week with only one morning off. I was just tired.
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| National Championship Slalom, Meribel |
My next race was the National Championship Slalom the next morning. Heavy rain made the conditions pretty tough but there was still a great atmosphere at the race. Due to the weather I was pretty relaxed, I didn't think I would make a great result so, my aim was just to ski as well as I could. I ended up doing two of the most solid slalom runs all season. I think it just shows I need to think more about my performances and skiing than chasing points. I've felt more pressure than ever to score points at every race due to the amount of time i've spent out on snow, its definitely had a negative effect on my performances in races - definitely something I need to work on!
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| With Steve Missillier and Alexis Pinturault |
That was the British Championships over and done with for me. I then joined the BSA minis at their Scottish and British races for 3 days. We had a fairly small team compared to usual with just 11 athletes, but we still got the results! It was an added bonus that Salomon were doing a ski test with Alexis Pinturault, Steve Missilier and Nastasia Noens in Slalom. It was great to watch and I managed to get a picture too!
On the GS in Courchevel BSA had the whole podium in the Under 12 girls, 1st and 2nd in the Under 12 Boys and a winner of the Under 10 boys. They kept up their performances in the Combi event too! A few more minis joined us for the British races in Mottaret in Meribel, we managed 5 podiums in the two events with great performances from Siena Horton, Nadine Hudec and Jo Christey.
I then had to get back into 'race mode' to compete in the Scottish Championships in Courchevel for 4 days. At this point I was exhausted and was fed up of the 5.30am wake up calls. Probably not the best race preparation but I made the most of it. For the girls the slalom was first. I got off to a shaky start, my first slalom run was slow and full of mistakes. With nothing to lose on the second run I took almost 4 seconds off my first run time on an almost identical course. This gave me the confidence boost I needed for the next day. In the second slalom my skiing was much better but I fell inside midway down my first run. My aim for the season was to get my slalom points under 100, although I didn't quite manage it I know I'm still happy with the progress I made this season.
My final two races of the season were GS, its probably been my strongest discipline all season. I'd forgotten about racing for points or podiums and just wanted to be happy with my skiing. I ended up on my final race scoring my best points of the season. I couldn't have asked for anything more!!
Although the racing has finished I'm still busy over the summer. Next weekend I am off to Aviemore in Scotland for my UKCP coaching Level 2 course. Then hopefully in May/June i'll finally have surgery on my thumb which will be a huge relief, it also means I can do more when it comes to dryland training!
I have loved this season, at times it has been hard and I have wondered to myself "why am I doing this?" but I am constantly reminded of why I love skiing and racing. I've had the best time and met some great people I don't really want it to end, so now the big decision will be what I do next year.....
