Reflections

When people asked me the goals for this season, I always struggled to answer. Usually everyone uses FIS points to base progress and how successful a season was. When I did my first attempt at a 'full time' season points were all I wanted. I became obsessive and when things didn't go well I got really down. I realised the focus had completely moved from how I was skiing to the numbers.

This season I made a real conscious effort to focus on how I was skiing, not the points. So when people asked me "Nia what are you aiming for this season?" I simply replied "to enjoy my skiing, love what I do and feel satisfied with any improvements I make" some people laughed, some people questioned whether I was actually taking racing seriously. If you look down my FIS biography page, the results I scored were nothing particularly special, I was consistent but I managed to make improvements, no matter how small, across all 3 disciplines. In my last 2 GS races in Pila, I skied some the best GS I have ever skied, the points didn't reflect this but I couldn't have asked myself for anything else.

I can't deny I wished my points had come down lower, even if it's for recognition or to stop people questioning me why I am continuing to race and not going to university. However when I take a step back and think about how many set backs I've had this season, how at times I felt like I was attempting to do it alone, and how I actually managed to get where I am now. I'm quite satisfied with how it's gone!

I don't think I'd recommend travelling a total of 3460km by public transport, alone with all of your ski gear. I probably won't be doing it again if I can help it. At times it was scary and there were too many near misses, but I am thankful to the people who helped me! Special thanks to the American ski team girls who lent me race suits to allow me to race at the Welsh Championships because my luggage was lost, the Swiss Army who at some crazy hour in the morning carried all of my luggage for me off the train and across the airport in Zurich, the countless people who attempted to help me carry luggage at stations in Austria and attempted to understand the request for directions in terrible German, and the taxi drivers in Slovenia and Croatia who hilariously requested photos and autographs but kept me entertained with funny stories. Some people would say I'm mad and to some extent I will agree with them, but I did it because I love my sport and I felt like I was doing what was best for me. It probably didn't do the best for my performance but I don't regret it at all!

Again even more thanks to my sponsors for this season who helped me on this crazy adventure - especially Jack Wills who show so much belief in me, 2Pure Active who provided me with awesome POC gear, Reusch gloves who came to the rescue when I injured my thumb again in January, X-Bionic UK for providing me with base layers I'm not sure how I managed to survive without before and Bounce Balls who kept my energy levels going all season whether on the race hill or on a 5am train across Europe!

Of course the biggest decision is where to go from here... At the end of May I embark on my crazy journey around the world provided by STA travel as part of my prize from Jack Wills. Importantly I am going to continue my summer with it mind to continue ski racing. It is a huge decision to make. I have deferred my entry for university twice now ( I am forever thankful for Manchester University for this!) but I cannot expect them to do it again a third time. Many people will think I am stupid for this. At the moment my true passion is skiing, and I don't want to throw myself into a degree when my heart is somewhere else. However realistically, if I can't get my funds together for a season I will have no choice but to finish, so i've got some hard work ahead!

Few days off for rest now then the summer physical training starts again, let's go!