British Championships 2018 - Tignes, France

After the speed races in Pila I had to head back to Bath to catch up on some University work. Unfortunately this meant I only had a week of training in preparation for the 2018 British Champs in Tignes, France. There were two GS races scheduled the week before the British Champs at our home training resort in Pila. Instead of racing, I decided to forerun both the men's and women's races. It meant I could go down each course first without the ruts under race simulation, but without the pressure of being in an actual race. I found it really useful being able to try different tactics and seeing what works. In the second women's race I would have finished 1st and scored about 40 FIS points... but I was going first both runs and didn't have any pressure. Still it was some of my best ever GS skiing peaking just at the right time before the British Champs. 

Last GS training in Valtournenche, Italy before the British Champs

On the first day of the British Champs were two Super G races, which I was looking forward to most especially having just bought new SG skis. The track in Tignes is really fun - although it's quite flat, pretty much every turn is different with something you have to remember. In the Junior race I finished 3rd U21, which was my first ever British Champs podium! In the Senior race I finished 4th overall and won the Ladies Ski Club Salver for Fastest Non-Team Female. 

The following day was my first ever Downhill race. Whilst inspecting the course I began to get very nervous. There was a lot to remember about the course, it was quite foggy, the jump at the end was quite tricky and I was skiing on a borrowed pair of Downhill skis. First we had the training run followed by the Senior National Champs. Because we only had one training run rather than the usual two, I decided to ski the training run as hard as I would the race run. When I entered the finish of the training run I was shocked to find I ended up 2nd overall, even with a few mistakes. I was really excited for the race run and tried to ski as fast as I could. Unfortunately my skis crossed over as I landed the first jump. I crashed giving myself whiplash and a concussion. 

The concussion meant I couldn't ski for at least 10 days, so I had to sit out of the Slalom and GS races. It was such a shame because I had been skiing so well. I attempted 3 final races right at the end of the season but DNFd in all of them. Although I score 100% in the SKCAT test when I got home I still had severe headaches for 3 weeks afterwards, so clearly my head took longer to recover than I anticipated. At least now I know how to deal with concussions for the future...but should probably learn how to jump properly if I want to ski more Downhill!

BSA FIS girls 2017-2018

One of the main challenges I faced this year was having to balance studying with skiing. Having to go home in the middle of race season for 5 weeks to study for January exams definitely had a detrimental effect on my skiing. In October I am starting my final year, however from now on I will be studying part-time - so I will spread my final year credits over two years.

It was a disappointing end to the season with a concussion, but it could have ended much worse. This is the first season I have completed with all my ligaments intact in over 6 years. Some of my favourite memories this year included my first trip to South America, racing in my first Super G since my knee surgery on my 21st Birthday, racing my first ever Downhill and getting my first ever podium at the British Champs. Now I am 100% healthy and confident in myself, I can't wait throw everything I have into next season.

None of this would have been possible without the support from my Sponsors, coaches and teammates at the British Ski Academy, staff at TeamBath and of course my parents. 

Checkout my video below for some of my highlights from the winter: