Features

Sean rose in action earlier this season

Paralysed in a skiing accident ten years ago, Sean Rose now competes in Alpine Ski racing in the seated category and won a silver medal in last season’s World Cup Downhill in Sestriere. Following training in New Zealand and Austria with the British Disabled Ski Team and Europa Cup and national races in December, Sean is now on snow full time for the season and competing in the IPC Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup.

>> Sestriere, Italy, 19 January
>> Roll Rinn, Austria, 9 January

Sestriere, Italy, 19 January
"I’m back in Sestriere where I won my first World Cup medal (silver) last year and things are going really well so far. After a disastrous World Cup week in Abtenau, everything’s back on track in my favourite discipline and venue.

We’ve just had three timed training runs on the course, with the first Downhill race tomorrow (20th). I ran second quickest in the first training run on 18 January, slid out in the second run and today (19th) went one better in the last training run with a first place.

It gives a good indication of where I’m at, but it’s all about what happens tomorrow. It’s a scary course, but conditions are good so far and I’m hitting speeds of up to 80mph, and loving it! Bring it on!

Sean

Roll Rinn, Austria, 9 January
"A full complement of the best seated Slalom skiers in the World were here, so a great indication on where I sit among them going forward in this important Paralympic year.

Slalom Run 1
I’ve been Skiing Slalom well on my new sitski and felt confident. At this level of competition you need to be living on the edge to be in with a chance of a medal so I went for it from the start on a difficult course, numerous times working so hard to stay upright and reacting to the changes in terrain going at full speed.

I crossed the line very pleased with my performance and as I was second out the start gate in the seated category, I had to wait for some time for the rest of the field to finish before I learned my fate. I was pleasantly surprised as all bar one of the best Slalom skiers in the world came down slower.

Multiple Paralympic and World Cup Medalist Martin Braxenthaler (Germany) made the fastest time and I came in only half a second behind. Second place was unbelievable, it felt awesome but I still needed to re-focus and put another top level run together before I could get too excited!

Slalom Run 2
It was a steep difficult first six gates and I miss timed the fourth, which was very rough after 70 other skiers before me had ran the course. I slid sideways to a stop and pushed to get going, it was a major mistake and a lot of time wasted.

It was then time to get mad and throw caution to the wind, which transpired to be some of the best Slalom skiing I’ve ever done. It felt so good and even though I knew I’d blown the chance of my first Slalom World Cup medal I crossed the line and was pleased with my efforts.

I couldn’t believe when I heard the tannoy shout 4th place and then after Martin Braxenthaler came down after me for the win it placed me in 5th even with such a big mistake. I must have ripped the bottom section! I would have been over the moon with a 5th place against these guys last year!

I’m pleased with my skiing at the moment and even though I want to win every race, I know the big goal is the Winter Paralympics, Whistler, Canada in March. I’m warming up nicely this season and turning heads along the way, proving that the British Disabled Ski Team has medal potential. All we need now is some sponsors and more media coverage to help us on our journey.

Next stop Abtenau, Austria for six more World Cup races (2xSlalom, 2xGiant Slalom, SuperG and Super Combined). Wish me luck!"

Sean