Back on the skis!

After my crash on Monday I was forced to take 2 days off skiing to recover. Being at BSA and not being able to ski is torture! Definitely think the days off we're needed though!

Yesterday I got back on my slalom skis, we focused mainly on our free skiing but managed to get a few runs in the gates. Free skiing turns are starting to feel pretty good, just need to transfer it into the gates! Some of us went up in the afternoon to get some more gate training in but just after we set the course the lift broke! The cable had come off so we had to walk back to the top so the course was pulled and I took one of the minis free skiing instead. 

(Broken lift)

Today we trained on the stade chamois and did a BSA fun race through some stubbies with the minis and children. 

(Me and Jazzy Butcher racing today)

I'm currently preparing for two slalom races in Combloux this weekend, I've never raced there before but I'm so excited. I definitely have enough snacks for the hill thanks to Bounce Foods! Peanut protein blast will keep me going all day!! It's easy to just eat sugary foods like sweets and chocolate on race days to keep your energy levels high. These are all completely natural, gluten free, have no added sugar and are high in protein! Perfect!

Also a HUGE well done to my little sister Megs who was racing with the U16 British Alpine Ski Team in Andorra! Managed to pick up 3 medals - two 2nd and a 4th!

(Meg on the podium in 2nd place in the Super G)

xx

Welsh Alpine Championships

ÛIt hasn't been the best week or so for me. Last Tuesday and Wednesday I went over to Champery in Switzerland for the Welsh FIS races. 

In the slalom the conditions were pretty difficult, there was poor visibility and soft snow. I completed my first run in a reasonable time but was angry with myself due the number of silly mistakes I kept making. I made the top 30 flip for the second and going down 4th gave me a good opportunity to make up some time, but I made a huge mistake halfway down the course and didn't finish.

(FIS Slalom start area)

Wednesday was my first GS race of the season. I think I was more anxious than necessary as I'd put a lot of pressure on myself to better my points along with adapting to the new ski. The conditions were brilliant with grippy snow and sunshine and I really enjoyed the first course! I skied solidly on my first run and made the 30 flip. I was so up for the second run and skied well but I didn't ski with my head, completely misinterpretating my line over the terrain changes I missed a gate and skied out.

To get more race practice I fore ran the children's BASS GS. Conditions weren't as good as the FIS race and the course was tough as it was set slightly tighter for children's skis but I think it was a good experience.

(Me and Jazzy Butcher inspecting the BASS GS)

(Me in the start gate)

I was meant to be competing in an GS race in Italy on Sunday but that was cancelled due to poor snow conditions so I spent the weekend coaching the under 10 and 12 weekend skiers in Les Houches. We did a mixture of free skiing and technical work, gates and off piste jumps in the trees. We definitely covered a few miles on the skis and it was good fun.

Yesterday I was back into training, due to the GS in Italy being cancelled we found a double Super G in Meribel to enter, so we got out the speed skis. As it had snowed overnight the conditions were too soft to set, so we just free skied. Unfortunately I managed to crash going over a roller 4th run into the day. I can't really remember what happened...... But I was put in a blood wagon and sent in an ambulance to Sallanches hospital. After spending 6 hours in a neck brace getting a nice view of the hospital ceiling I found out I had concussion and sprained the top 2 vertebrae in my neck. This means I can no longer race in Meribel but fingers crossed I'll be ok to race in two slaloms in Combloux at the weekend!

(On the Super G skis)

X

Quick New Year Update!

Happy New Year!!

I arrived back in Les Houches on the 28th of December. New Year is one of the busiest weeks in Les Houches and at BSA so I was helping out coaching the minis and providing race support.

I managed to squeeze in some training on New Year's Day for the Scottish FIS night slaloms in Chamonix.

On the 5th and 6th of Jan, I helped out with the under 10s race support before heading off to Chamonix to race.  Very tiring but worth it. On the first day I DNF first run, I was really frustrated as I felt quite confident in training but was unable to put the confidence into my race runs. The second day was much better. I skied technically well but could have taken more risks. I still ended up scoring a personal best for my SL points. 

As soon as the children's races had finished I had the chance to go free skiing on my super G skis before 2 Super G races in Tignes. Originally I hadn't planned on skiing Super G at all this season. In previous seasons I hadn't had much training so my confidence was pretty low and I didn't want to buy new regulation skis. Last minute I changed my mind and luckily I managed to get hold of some skis. I'm glad I did, they're so much fun! 

The course in Tignes was short, fun and fast! The winner completed the course in under 50 seconds! The start had to be moved down due to the snow conditions. 

I loved the course and really enjoyed the race experience. Girls from the Canadian, French and Andorran teams were racing so the standard of competition was higher than I'm used to, it was great to watch. Added bonus, I scored my best 2 super G results - something I wasn't expecting! I'm looking forward to my next chance to do some speed races!

Now it's just time to get my head down and train hard during the week to prepare for the Welsh Alpine Championships and upcoming Citizen races! I'm still continuing to coach the under 10s and 12s on the weekends, it's hard work but I'm enjoying it!

X

First races of the season!

Due to snow conditions and race quotas our race plans all changed last minute. We were originally all set to go to La Plagne, but there weren't enough race slots for the team. Then the races in Lizzola in Italy were cancelled so we ended up in Passo San Pellegrino for 2 Citizen slaloms. 

On the Wednesday morning we did a couple of hours of slalom gate training before the van was quickly packed for a 6 hour drive to Italy. 

Due to the Winter Universiade 2013 being held in Trentino just down the valley, the standard of the girls racing on the Thursday was really high. With national teams from Russia, Serbia and Czech Republic, lowest seed was on 13 FIS points. 

Unfortunately I didn't finished the first run on the Thursday, I was happy with how I attacked the top section but hip slid on the steeper pitch. 

Yesterday, I wasn't really happy with my performance. I skied solid, but too safe. I'm currently struggling with my race attitude and finding the balance between going all out and not completing or skiing safe but technically well. However, for the first race of the season with a small amount of training I think I can look at the positives. 

Back to hospital on Monday to see another therapist about my thumb which I injured again on the first run yesterday. Fingers crossed its nothing too serious and they can make me a better cast!

Now to enjoy christmas before I go back to Les Houches on the 29th!

Merry Christmas! 

x

Back in Les Houches

There's not much snow in Les Houches at the moment. After arriving on Saturday we trained slalom gates on the Sunday on the bottom section of the World Cup hill. The snow was almost all artificial and we had to use the minibuses for the turn around as none of the lifts were open! Hard work but making the most of what we have. 

Monday, we went up the valley to Argentière to do some slalom free skiing, again most of the snow was artificial but it was refreshing to ski somewhere different to Les Houches. It was good just to cover the mileage on our skis and get some runs of drills in.

Today we went over to Italy to train in Courmayeur. The conditions were good enough to get out on the GS skis in the morning. I wasn't feeling particularly comfortable on them after the camp in Tignes. Now I've skied on them on hard packed snow I feel much happier.

Tomorrow we're running a couple of runs of slalom gates before we leave to go to San Pellegrino for 2 slalom races. So excited to get back into racing!! Fingers crossed conditions are good!

x

 

Not long to go!

Haven't blogged in a while, I've spent most of my time since Tignes working, (run up to christmas in retail is a nightmare!) and in the gym. My sessions in the gym have mostly been focussing on strength and power, two things I consider to be my weaknesses, just hope the work pays off!

This weekend I went up to Chill Factore in Manchester to train with the Welsh team. The Saturday afternoon was spent free skiing with a few drills and video then  followed by a short fitness test. It was then an early start on the Sunday morning for some more drills and some runs in stubbies and gates. Although it was a good 4-5 hour drive each way, it was a good opportunity to get back on the skis and try out some new moves.

It's less than 2 weeks until I fly out to Les Houches to get the season started. Having watched the ladies racing in Beaver Creek at the weekend and seeing Mikaela Shiffrin, and Lara Gut's amazing performances I'm now inspired and excited! 

 A motivational quote for the season!

Thanks to Racer Ready for this photo from the English Championship GS last year!

x

Last day in the gates..

The GS skis are unfortunately travel waxed and are ready to return home. So, onto the slalom skis it is! Having skied lots of slalom over the summer on indoor and on dry slope, I was feeling a lot more comfortable on the shorter skis. 

Yesterday I spent a lot of time working on my free skiing and experimenting with the transition and start of the turn. Towards the end of the morning we skied stubbies, the soft snow conditions meant the course rutted pretty quickly, adding the extra challenge. Taking positives from the day, I made some good changes to my line and attacked each run.

We finished off the day with another short sprint and bounding session down in the sports centre in Tignes. Having a head to head and relay race through an obstacle course involving hurdles, cones and boxes.

Today we again had beautiful conditions, however still slightly soft under foot. We moved onto full gates today. I managed to get in 7 full runs of 43 gates before lunch. Hard work but definitely worth it!

Tomorrow we're aiming to cram in some slalom free skiing, before a number of us fly home. I wish I was staying out to go to Les Deux Alpes, but I have to go back to work....

Now to start the packing....