Well the snow is falling already in the Alps and the team is all packed off training. Sadly I am looking at having my first winter at home for about five years!!

Very strange but I am swaying more to the idea of having the operation to sort out my hip. It will be a big surgery and means I’ll have to focus hard on the rehab to get my strength back before I can get back on the snow hopefully end of season/summer season.

However, the plan is to come back more motivated and in better shape than ever.

Just because I’m unlikely to be on the snow competing this season doesn’t meant that I am going to be inactive as soon as the op has been done I will be hitting the S&C hard and there will be lots of other adventures over the next few months to keep me going and make sure that I don’t lose focus so make sure you check out the blog updates.

In the meantime I feel slightly in no man’s land as I’ve now had the pins out of my leg which has solved the irritation that I’ve had but now it’s a waiting game before I’ve the next op to sort out the other issues I’m having.

Then the rehab to get my leg back to where it should be! I’ve a lot of hard work in front of me and just want to get on with it now.

I would say that the years building up to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics for me didn’t go to plan with more injuries than I would have liked, frustratingly a few of them from skiing and not all my own fault!

So going in to the new season and four year cycle, with the goal of getting on the podium in Russia, starting with an injury is not ideal. You would have thought that I’m used to injuries by now and that I know how to cope with them. I’ve learnt a lot from them but sadly this is looking like the most serious!

Although the original fracture happened back in May and I’ve been working hard with my rehab and usual strength and conditioning to get me to the point where I am actually the fittest I’ve been. Unfortunately as the fracture wasn’t picked up straight away has caused some complications. The first meant that I had to have existing pins taken out my leg which was done last week. This will keep me off snow until just before Christmas while the bone heals from where the pins were.

The other complication is that the bone has moved and compacted which although fine if I’m not doing too much at the moment means that I can’t get the same movement out of my leg. This does affect my skiing; preventing me to get into the position I need to! I also have to look at long term issues which might arise.

The standing and (little wobbly walking) I already do will suffer now due to this injury and also if it will cause any long term issues just being in my chair slightly rotated!

At the moment I am not sure if the next large surgery will go ahead. I have to make a decision while I recover from the removal of the pins. I know this might be a possibility for a little while so I’m focusing on all the positives I can get out of my time off snow.

I’m looking at all the other areas I can work on and improve so by the time I get back on snow, be it before Christmas, or at the end of the season if I have the next op, I will be ahead of the game in those areas and can concentrate on catching back up with the training on snow.

At the moment I just hate that feeling of been in no man’s land as I can’t really commit to anything until I know what the plan is but I am looking at the positives. Pros and cons of both and know that whatever happens I’ll be able to make work and be fighting for the medals again in no time.

This Saturday saw me take part with four other members of the British Team in my hardest and most grueling charity event yet, raising money for Disability Snowsports UK and some much needed money for the underfunded British Disabled Ski Team.

The event took place in the Scottish Highlands and consisted of a 70 mile (nearly all uphill) bike ride from the bottom of Ben Nevis in Fort William and riding over 2500 feet across to Aviemore and the top of the Cairngorm Mountains.

It was really sunny on the train journey up giving me some hope that the weather meant we would be riding in good conditions. Of course that was short lived as when I woke early the rain and cloud looked liked it had settled in for the day.

Although I thought we would all try to stay together it seemed harder and everybody soon seemed to settle in to their own comfortable pace. Jane and Sean took the more steady approach while Russ, Ben Hooper (Development team) and I took the front. We managed to stick together most the way, except for the uphill where I felt my gym and Richmond Park training had really paid off.

At the first water stop, at around 15 miles, my left shoulder was already aching with most the way already having been all uphill. The rain didn’t seem to stop until around the 30 mile mark. But despite the rain the Scottish scenery was still breathtaking (or that could have been the hill I was going up at the time!)

After the lunch stop I seemed to get in to my rhythm. Having done over 50 miles, I smelt the finish with Aviemore getting closer I seemed to find another gear and push on. Knowing that I had the last good four miles steep uphill towards the bottom of the Aviemore Ski Hill I was trying to reserve some energy.

However by the time I had got to the bottom of the hill I had nothing left in me! Every muscle and bone ached. The pain in my left shoulder seemed to have gone as I warmed during the ride (as long as I kept moving) but the pain had moved down in to my elbow which ached with every movement and lactic acid was in every muscle telling me to stop.

It became a real mental game not knowing how far I had left to go but I know I wasn’t going to give up whatever it took. It was a real battle focusing on target to reach before having another rest. I seemed to only get eight to ten meters before having to stop for a couple of seconds.

Nearly half way up the hill Debbie arrived in the van to stay behind me and keep traffic from getting too close. Knowing I had that support really gave me that extra drive I needed.

Reaching the top was met by great relief and pride. After over 60 miles I had given nearly everything, body and mind, with not much left in me to get to the top of the last few miles and the satisfaction was well worth it. My joy and sense of pride was then doubled as one by one the rest of the team made it to the top having faced their own battle.

Bubbles flowed for a while before we were rewarded with the best prize for reaching the top… The ride back down (quickly followed by a couple of burgers!)

Thank you so much to the organisers of the event and volunteers for making it run so smoothly it was a horrible thing to go through yet amazing, enjoyable, painful and satisfying all at the same time!

I need to thank all those that helped get me in shape for this and the exciting season and world champs that now awaits us.

Well I have finally started training again. It’s a great relief as I start to get myself in to shape for the forthcoming season and actually feel like I am doing something constructive. My hip is still far from perfect as I train cautiously around it (slightly paranoid not to put back my rehab).

I still have a long way to go, further than I would like but it’s strangely nice to feel the burn of the gym again. But it’s going to take more hard work to get the movement back to where I was before. Thankfully I have done it now at the start of my campaign which gives me plenty of time to build things up again.

Although being injured I have not sat idle, making the most of my time out of the gym and off the slopes, searching for the funding for a four year program that will take me to Sochi and hopefully the podium.

I have been working on sorting out my seating issue finding a seating specialist eager to help. With the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team we have been looking at the suspension units of the sit skis making sure that we have them set up right.

I can now turn my focus on my next challenge; a 70 mile bike ride in September raising money for the Disability Snowsport UK and the team and helping my get fit for the season.

I don’t know if I’m quite ready yet but I am looking forward to the challenge from Ben Nevis to the Cairngorms and it will give me certainly give me something to aim for over the next month I just hope it doesn’t take me a month to recover.

If you would like to help please sponsor me at www.justgiving.com/bdstpeak2peak.

The past month has been very quiet and frustrating with recovering from injury. I have not been allowed to do any training so it has given me plenty of time to contemplate looking back at the past year and amazing experiences and memories. I am looking forward to what needs to be done next in the future, skiing as well as life, after the slopes (hopefully not for a long time!)

Time off training has also given me the opportunity to go to a number of events and schools and share my experiences, which I still struggle putting in words. I am still honoured and privileged to have taken part in something special and I hope that I can continue to be part of improving and promoting our sport of Disabled Skiing.

I have also had time to start looking for new sponsors for myself and the team. One thing for sure is that if the team or I don’t get more funding soon then I won’t be able to put in to action the plan to make me competitive with the alpine nations.

If I am going to make the sacrifice and commit to another four years and aim for Sochi then I want to do it properly and make sure that I have every chance of winning a medal. Although I already have great support from Mars Drinks, Get Kids Going and now Fredricks Foundation to honestly do this right I do need more support.

I had my last x-ray yesterday which showed that the femur has not moved and is showing good signs of healing. So fingers crossed I will be training again soon. I have been going a little stir crazy and now I am feeling better and signs are improving.

I am chomping at the bit to start getting ready for next season which will be on us sooner than we think.

The final day of the Paralympics was the six year anniversary of me breaking my back. What better way to spend lunch than with Prince Edward in Whistler?

I can think of a worse way to spend the day. Prince Edward was once again a legend. I have had the privilege to meet him a couple of times now and he is always so down to earth and has a genuine keen interest in sports, winter sports and the team.

So much has happened in that time and who would have thought that six years ago that I would have just competed at the Paralympics and had lunch with Prince Edward.

I have had plenty of ups and downs but thanks to the support of friends and family I have been able to breeze through them all. It just goes to show that anything is possible if you want something you just have to throw yourself at it and you will succeed.

Check out the Mars Refuel website for a chance to win £500 to help you stay active, get into sport or revive your club. Who knows where that fund might take you.

Well the Paralympics are now over.

It was a great experience and I have been left with some amazing memories. The Canadians put on a great games and the atmosphere everywhere you went was electric. I loved every minute of it and it feels a bit strange to be back having worked so hard over the past four years to get there. The focus now moves straight to Sochi 1426 days to go!!!

It was amazing to be in the Athletes village up in Whistler. The team all arrived together having taken the beautiful drive up from Vancouver. The Village had thought about everything from the 24hr food hall, games rooms, DVD lounge, gym and Internet cafes. The Paralympics GB team was great and our volunteers made sure that we were well looked after at all times.

We got there a few days before the opening ceremony to settle in which was a good idea. At first everything made you get a little overexcited from seeing the accommodation and other Paralympic buildings to not having to pay for everything in the village. You see all the other athletes all the time in training and racing but because it’s the games it becomes a lot more exciting!

I don’t think anything will beat parading at the opening ceremony. It suddenly becomes very real when you wheel out into a stadium and 60,000 people roar as you enter. I was just awestruck at it all. These people were cheering for us, for me, and I was going to be competing at the Paralympic Games for Great Britain.

For us it was over a little quick though as after we paraded and watch the other teams come through we then had to jump back on a bus to take the drive up to Whistler as Downhill was scheduled for the next day.

The weather and conditions were perfect when we first arrived but Whistler being Whistler we were to be treated to the full weather spectrum throughout the games causing some minor issues. It started with over a foot of snow on the Downhill day causing it to be moved and with the weather and visibility not looking to get any better over the next week the technical events (my events) which were supposed to be at the end of the games were moved forward.

I started with the slalom which was supposed to be on the last day. However the change didn’t matter too much to me as I knew I had done the training and I had got everything as good as I could have got it. There were a few nerves at the start not wanting to disappoint those that had supported me over the years and had come out to watch me, as well as anticipation of the snow conditions.

I feel that my first run could have been better but was pleased to have made it down. I then went out in my second run still in the snow and rain and managed to pull back eight places to get my first top 20 finish.

The GS a couple of days later was to be even more eventful. Again the rain was torrential and had it been any other race would have been cancelled but they had to get the race off. I had a good first run but found the conditions tough in the rain and starting back in the field meant that the course was pretty bumpy by the time I went down.

I finished the second run and overall in 15th place and was over the moon. However I was later told that I had been disqualified. This was very frustrating. I had been sat at the top in the rain for hours and just as we were about to go the wind picked up and the course was put on another hold.

I was wet and cold and was focused on not losing focus for my run, by the time I got back in the start gate I was pumped and managed to leave the gate one second early. I heard 10 second… waited… heard the start keeper say something and just went. It wasn’t until much later that we realised that I had been disqualified which disappointed me as it won’t be in the record book.

At the end of the day though I know that my mistake didn’t affect the time so that I finished 15th and that’s where I would have come! I skied well and that can’t be taken away from me. It was a tough way to learn a lesson and it won’t happen again.

Having my races moved to the beginning of the games in the rain though did have one main benefit. It meant that I could relax even more and enjoy the experience. I could watch the rest of the team compete in the speed events and even enjoy a ski with family and friends (possibly even a celebratory beer!)

The closing ceremony was another great experience with the crowds coming out in the rain to line the streets and send us all off in style! This also kicked off the countdown to Sochi 2014!

I would like to thank again all those that helped me get to that games it has been an amazing four years with as many downs as ups but the Paralympics made it all worth it. I honestly don’t know if I could have done it without the support of so many people especially thank you to Mars Refuel who have kept me going.

The training and journey to the next games starts now!

Team GB went to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games with some high expectations. Despite some good results, particularly for the girls, I would say that the team was slightly disappointed and unlucky.

We didn’t do worse than was expected of us. We achieved five top ten finishes which is a great achievement. Doubling the number of athletes competing in just four years was a great way to finish but there was just the potential to do more.

However, luck didn’t seem to be on ours or the Team GB curlers side from the start. It started with the opening ceremony when the flag bearer struggled up the ramp and got his bag caught in his chair meaning we were sat at the entrance while they called Great Britain, still nothing Gross Britannia… finally we got in. Funny but things didn’t seem to run any smoother after that.

Sean Rose’s ski popping off in the Downhill training run had more relevance than anyone would have liked. The weather then turned on us forcing changes in the race schedule this was the same for everybody but meant that there was to be no more training runs. There were also two yellow flags causing re runs, two disqualifications for minor incidents.

However the Paralympics are now in the past and the focus moves to the World Championships next year in Italy, where hopefully luck will be back on the side of the Brits.

It was great to be back home for a few days at the beginning of February as it gave me time to catch up with friends and family and of course the Paralympics GB team celebration in Edinburgh.

The week was not quite as relaxing as I would have liked been rushed off my feet sorting things out before heading to the holding camp and fitting all this around my growing Fame and Press interviews!!!

The holding camp out here in Winter Park for the team has been a great success and the whole team, as always, has been working well together and skiing seems to be peaking at the right time. It has been great to get back to training with the team and have a break from being at home!

In just a couple of days the team will all travel together in Paralympic Clothing up to Whistler where things will very quickly become more real and the pressure will build.

However, I am now, as you can imagine, very excited and cannot wait for the opening ceremony and the races to start. Although part of me would quite like another year!

I can’t believe that the time is finally coming that I will become a paralympian. Since I broke my back almost six years ago I have worked hard to get this far and it is a real privilege to have achieved my goal and get a chance to represent my Country at a Paralympic Games. Amazing! Bring on the games!

I have done it. Everything I have been working for over the past four years has finally come together and last week it was announced that I have been selected for the Winter Paralympic Games.

I can not hide my excitement or wipe the smile off my face. I have worked hard over the past four years and am thrilled to be named in a seven athlete strong team. We have a strong team and the whole thing is going to be a massive experience. I will be competing in the Slalom and GS and of course I will do my best to bring everyone back some hardware!

I would like to thank all my friends and family who have supported me over the last few years and especially my sponsors Mars Refuel Drinks, TASS and Get Kids Going who have all made this dream possible.

I have been home for the last few days before our team celebration in Scotland however it has been very manic with the media interst in me and getting my 15 minutes of fame filming several interviews. I am now looking forward to getting back to training for a rest and cannot wait until the games (12-22nd March).

Make sure you keep an eye out for me.