BIOGRAPHY

Development Team (1988)

British Junior Champion 2008

My season began in June last year when I started my fitness program with lots of road biking and weight training. I then went on a summer camp in Chile for a month where the focus was on increasing our confidence in the speed disciplines. After a few more weeks fitness training in Scotland we went out to Austria to get ready for the race season, which began in December. My aim for the season was to get as much experience and confidence as possible in the tougher races, such as the Europa Cup.

My first Europa Cup Downhill was a big eye opener and I realised how much I had to push myself to get to the top. However, with experience my confidence grew and I scored some reasonable results before a much deserved mid season break in Andorra where our next camp would begin. This began with some positive training to fine-tune our technique and I competed in the Andorran Europa Cup GS but had a disappointing fall so I did not complete the race. Back in Austria we competed in the Cit World Championships where I struggled to put down two good runs in a row. Nearing the end of the season fatigue was setting in and the pressure to get some good results was increasing. The National Championships were beginning so we decided to go to the Slovenian Championships in Kope and I scored my best ever results, proving to myself and others that I could do it.

With around 50 races under my belt, it was time for the British Championships in Meribel. My first success of the week was the Downhill where I came away with third place overall and 1st in the Junior category, which was a great start. I then went on to take 3rd place in both the Slalom and GS. I found the Slalom a tough race as it is my weakest discipline and so I was a surprised to finish in 3rd place. In the Junior Championships I raced into 1st place in the Slalom and the GS, so became the overall Junior champion. After a tiring week in Meribel it was over to the Scottish Championships in Courchevel. Unfortunately I came out in the GS on the first day but won the Slalom, which was a great finish to a fairly successful two weeks and a good season.