BIOGRAPHY

Name- Pam Thorburn
DOB- 28/02/86 (22)
Born- Strathaven
Years Skiing- 19
Family- Linda (mum), Steve (dad), Scott (brother)

Update Summer 2010

Iv just got back from 7 weeks in Canada. Summer over there is just amazing. There is tonnes of fun activities to do and there is heat and sun! Something i am missing now im back in the UK. Things havent really gone to plan for me this summer. I started off with Fitness testing in Scotland, i lifted Personal Bests and was happy that i was getting much stronger. Unfortunately with the intense training and the extra activities in Canada, i suffered a stress injury in my hip. I have torn some cartilage and bruised the bone so iv spent the last 7 weeks resting and rehabing. Not exactly the training i was planning for.

Being home is nice, although its busy. Im slowly getting back into training with alot of physio to go with that. I havent been skiing since April. Im not worried though, i know ill get back into it quick when i eventually put my skis back on. Alot of my time is spent organising my fundraiser which im having on the 9th October. I cant believe how much work there is to do! In between all of this i am back working behind the bar in Glasgow. Its exhausting!

I cant wait to hit the slopes with a new team and get back to business! Its meant to be New Zealand at this time of year but for now ill just have to settle for Braehead's indoor slope.

Update 2010

Season 09/10 was a rollercoaster of emotions. For me there was the disappointment of missing the Olympics, The upset of the Federation going bankrupt and the scariness of having to go around the world to races alone.

On the other hand, I learned alot about myself. I had to work harder than ever before on and off the slope. I represented myself at race meetings, i was my own physio, technician and coach. I made some massive personal bests and I also had the excitement of starting my first World Cup races. It was liberating and exhilarating, but exhausting. I was happy.

My decision to stay overseas and miss the British Champs was right for me. I was training and racing with the Alberta Ski Team and i made some great steps forward with them.

Im now home for a few weeks working and training before i head off back to Canada and to my friends on the Canadian team for summer dryland training. Im already looking forward to next season, but before then, theres alot of work to do.

BIOGRAPHY

My Skiing career all started in a place I am now very familiar with. When I first put my skis on at the ripe old age of 3, I was in Schladming Austria. I don’t think you could really call it skiing to begin with, I was tangled up in the snow most of the time, but as I quickly learned- if I fell down, I had to get up by myself, or id be left behind. A harsh lesson at the time, but one I was very grateful for my dad to teach me as I never moaned about falling over again, and generally from that point on, I was always trying to be first down the hill… usually competing with my older brother for the win. My love for speed was born!

Many years later, after advancing from the British Children’s and Youth Teams to the British Senior Team, I am looking at starting my 6th season full time. I had a great start to Europa Cup racing last year with Europa Cup points and top 30’s in both Super G and Downhill.

This season I am really excited about. After finishing the 07/08-year, I left with the most confidence I have ever had before. Starting the summer training with my newfound feelings is the best preparation I could have hoped for. With each day on snow things are improving and my confidence is growing. I will start my racing up in Sweden in November. Following the Europa Cup circuit, I am hoping to make a real impact this year!