The past couple of months I have started the first semester of my Mathematics and Computer Science degree at the University of Manchester. I was lucky enough to be awarded their Sports Scholarship! This package helps high performing student-athletes with their sporting careers during their time studying. This means I’m able to access physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionalists and funding for competitions. This whole scholarship package is worth £9,000! Having that support team surrounding me is definitely going to help me get to the next level of freestyle skiing.
Unfortunately the competition I had planned this month in Spain was cancelled. The snow dome refuse to build a jump, and you can’t have a freestyle skiing competition without a jump! I did get the chance to compete in the UK at Norfolk’s Farmers Jam and Kidsgrove’s Oatcake Jam, coming 1st and 2nd respectively overall. My next competition is the World University Winter Games in New York State, America. In preparation, I’m training three times a week with my strength and conditioning coaches in the university’s private gym. I’ve been getting to the UK’s very own artificial slopes to get some valuable time with skis on my feet and visiting Graystones Action Academy as much as possible to fine tune my acrobatic skills.
I recently visited Ski Exchange shop in Cambridge to get my kit set up and ready for this winter season. The team there - James, Simon, Georgina, Mave and Lucy are all super helpful. I was super impressed at the expertise and professionalism in the shop. They helped me get my Volkl Revolt 87 skis, Pivot 14 bindings and K2 Revolver boots with Superfeet insoles all set up ready for my next big competition in January.
The day after I tested my new kit at Wamwell Ski Centre, an outdoor dryslope on the south coast of England. With typical British weather (pouring rain!) and my new kit I still had the most fun. Soaking wet, I still learnt heaps of new rail tricks. Front swap, front 630 out and switch 270 on, back swap, front 450 out were two new tricks that I was super happy to land.
