Meribel Snow Report: 5th April 2014

The races started on Saturday with the Super G. I had trained a lot of Super G on the hill and the conditions were perfect. There were only 13 girls at the start and I was starting number 1! However there was good competition as Chemmy Alcott was there for her last ever Championships. My run was far from perfect and I had a very near disaster as I took more air than expected over a jump however I made it down to the finish and nervously waited for the next racer to see how my time was. As I waited the next 4 girls all came out the course but then it was Chemmy’s turn. Last time I raced her was over 4 years ago and I was 10 seconds slower! I was over the moon when she came through the finish in a time only two seconds faster than my own. I finished in second place and also won the non-British team trophy.
I was glad that the first day of races was over and had got to plan and I was ready for the Downhill!

We had one training day before the real races started. I was starting last out of a very strong field of 36 racers, including French World Cup racer Marie Marchand Arvier. I have only done one downhill this year and last season I didn't do any. I wasn't expecting big things but I knew I had to be confident especially down the last steep where the speeds are high. I was amazed when I finished in tenth place, second Brit behind Chemmy and nearly 3 seconds ahead of the other British girls. I knew where I could go faster the next day and was ready for the race. The next day was very hot! As I came on to the Stade I told myself to ignore my fear and get in my tuck and really go for it! When I crossed the finish line I blew a sigh of relief but just a second too early as suddenly I caught an edge and my skis were thrown apart and I fell straight onto my face! I tumbled through the finish area but my face slowed me down to a stop. I cut my nose and got a black eye but I was otherwise unharmed! I was ecstatic when I saw that my time was as good as the previous day and I was second Brit. Once again I won the non-British team trophy. The following day was another downhill but my crash had shaken me up more than I realised and I was too cautious and after avoiding another near disaster three gates before the finish I wasn't nearly as fast as the previous day. However, I picked up the gold in the under 21 category.

Relieved that the Downhill’s were over, the next day was the Super Combined. The snow was too soft to go down the Stade, which I was secretly happy about! I came third Brit in the Super G and first under 21 but I knew I was in a good position to really go for it in the Slalom. There were some slalom specialists close behind me so I knew I really had to go for it. Surprisingly I had a good slalom run and finished in second place overall. Chemmy Alcott completed her last ever race in traditional Austrian attire and still skied amazingly and won! It was a real honour to stand on the podium next to her in her last race. I also won first non-British team.

The speed races were over and it was time to head straight into the Giant Slalom. I had a good first run and was sat in third place overall. Second run was a tricky course as it was very turny. I was knackered at the bottom but had a fast enough time to move into second place! I had another silver medal and gold in the non-British team category. Unfortunately the slalom today didn't go quite to plan as I came out second run. I went too straight at a gate and couldn't make it around the next one but I had been skiing well so I’m ready for tomorrow’s junior championship slalom!

So far I have received an overwhelming amount of support from my sponsors AMS, AMS rentals, Thomas’s London Day Schools and Merinet. Thank you so much for everyone’s support and kind messages without which I wouldn't have made it this far!