A fantastic ski racing season for Michael

Year 8 Hazlegrove pupil, Michael H, spent the Spring Term ski training and racing in Europe with some impressive results - as can be deduced from his array of trophies!  His success was all the more notable as he was competing in the 14 and under age group this year despite the fact he is still only 12. Very well done Michael!

Here are some photos of Michael in action and his report to the school of his time away...

MY SKI SEASON IN AUSTRIA 2015
MICHAEL H

As you all know I’ve been very lucky to have been able to do a complete season ski race training.

I have spent 95 days skiing this has included training days, race days, free skiing and powder ski days. 16 days off were spent full days of school work, travelling to races, museum trip, zoo trip and a local castle visit. This made a total of 111 days away.

The season started for me on the 18th December 2014, with my dad driving us to Austria (this taking 14 hours!!) We arrived to find little snow, a problem when this is essential! Race training started on the 20th Dec, to find enough snow to train meant travelling about an hour to Mayrhoffen, Kaltanbach and Hochfugen in and around the Zillertal valley, as it a lot higher. The lack of snow impacted on the races as many were cancelled or rearranged.

I was left in Nederau at the beginning of January, to live and train with Elite Snow Sports a small ski race training academy based in the Wildschonau area of Austria set in the Tirol. I joined the Wildschonau ski club, this enabled me to be entered in the Austrian junior races.

To get muscles back into skiing we did lots of drills. My ski instructors were Marti and Alex (Marti being an ex ski racer for Andora.) Also on the training was Lilly Martin from Dartford. We trained , did the races and school work together all season with two other boys doing intensive training weeks before races.

I did 26 race runs in Austria in Slalom,GS and Super G, both runs per race to count to a finish time, travelling across the Tirol to compete. Also 20 British race runs travelling to Switzerland, Italy and France to compete, a logistical miracle!! Skis, kit and me!! It was many hours travelling - up to 8 hours in a mini bus leaving at 5am.

I Have managed to break two sets of Slalom skis whilst away, an expensive hobby for my mum and dad, along with them coming out to see me race regularly.

I have enjoyed the whole experience, keeping my school work going and training as well as meeting lots of new people, trying new cuisine and life style.
I'm hoping that my exam results will be good, allowing me to do another season.

Results :
Top speed 114.3km = 71Mph
Three City Cup Austria 1st Comprising of 6 races different days/venues
Wildschonau Championship 2nd
Wildschonau Bi-athalon 1st
Aiglon Cup Giant Slalom Switzerland 3rd

A great season overall as I compete in a under 14 age group although still only 12 and a half.

Michael H.