Mum, Dad, I had a great time training in Tignes last week the snow was so amazing, please can I try and do some snow races?.

My mind quickly calculated how many weekends we committed to last summer racing on plastic & all I could immediately think of was how could I get a weekend off and a well earned lie in – the answer was not many / none.!!

The first race arrived The Anglo Scottish, Les Houches January 2009. How it differed from all the others – no gazebo’s, bbq’s or bacon rolls – this was for real, preparing skies in car parks, resting against walls, on hotel balconies in fact absolutely anywhere – every other car in the resort was English – all there for the same reason gaining experience and ultimately to win & even earlier starts. No sitting on hay bales this time ski on and head for the bottom of the race piste & wait your turn jumping up and down to keep warm, rolling your head from side to side trying to relax your muscles.

Photo from www.sportsphotographers.eu

Course inspection resembled a “Ker Plunk” field, oh no how will she know what way to go with so many poles and a banana gate what on earth was that! Thanks Phil

Oh Sophie – how hard you tried – my heart has never beat so fast watching you & how much I wished for you the lump in my throat growing larger the nearer you got to the end of the course, one glance at Paul & I knew he was feeling the same. At last finally you crossed the finish line flying into dad’s arms gasping for breath “did I do ok dad”.
It was at that point I realised how much you wanted this & how you had grown up despite being 13.

2 races later in the British Land Championships you were even hungrier to taste success and overnight you’d become more determined and dedicated than ever before.

Sophie you have a dream, keep chasing it and when you catch it live it and enjoy every moment.

Thank you Phil for the excellent training & the confidence you have given Sophie who in turn has made us so proud.

The Financial Backers (Mum & Dad) !!