How long have you been skiing? Since I was 3, 2 if you count being pulled along on plastic skis.
What is your preferred discipline? I’ll answer that at the end of the season.
What are your skiing aspirations? Aspiration for season 1: To help get the British women recognised as serious competitors in the World Cup. Outside racing I want to make freeride telemark movies!
What would be your advice to upcoming skiers? I’ve come into this relative late compared to most racers, so don’t give up – no matter how unlikely your dreams seem or how hard the fight gets.
Is there anything you do before a race? Clear my mind of irrelevant thoughts which occupy it so often.
Who is your sporting hero? Sir Steven Redgrave
What do you do to relax? Sleep. There really isn’t a more relaxing state.
What is your nickname? Sar or Hannibal. Original.
If you were not a ski racer what would you be doing? Following the path laid out for me – working in an office in London earning serious money. And being miserable because I’d rather have had a career on the snow.
Who is your secret crush? Hugh Grant – will he call now the secret is out?
What’s on your iPod? Music. (and Prison Break)
What is your favourite food? There are far too many favourites to list. Eating ranks in my top 3 past times.
Can you tell us something nobody else knows about you? I never publicise the fact that I collect thimbles…
What song is most likely to make you move on the dance floor? Most Ministry of Sound type dance anthems from 90′s onwards. The Baywatch theme tune remix invokes embarrassing arm flailing manoeuvres without fail.
What can you be heard saying most often (catchphrase/motto)? The politically correct ones with a PG rating? Errr… ‘Embrace the burn’ crops up frequently in training & ‘Man up’: what a phrase!
#1 by Sarah on November 23rd, 2009
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I was recognised in Kaprun! From an editorial in a magazine that I wrote. Just gutted she didn’t ask for my autograph - then I’d have felt REALLY special!
#2 by Jess on November 23rd, 2009
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All the best for the season Sarah & co x
#3 by Skipper on November 23rd, 2009
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Can I have your autograph?
#4 by Emma on November 23rd, 2009
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Amazing answers…made me giggle!…Congrats on the potential for doing Telemark films! x.x.x
#5 by Matt Higginson on November 25th, 2009
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All the stuff I ever needed to konw!! Good luck for the coming season…. sock it to them!!
#6 by Jack on November 25th, 2009
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I though i saw some facial hair coming through last week, but looking at your photo….
#7 by Skipper on November 27th, 2009
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Billy Goat Gruff!
#8 by Sarah on December 13th, 2009
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Is this my blog? Not entirely sure to be honest. But there we go. Having been put under pressure form our lovely Captain to update this (potential) blog, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share our experiences of this week with you.
We flew out to Munich on Monday having spent the earlier hours of the morning dashing about London to get skins cut for our skis.
We didn’t arrive in to Rauris until after dinner time and then spent a nice few hours in the sports shop trying to get everyone’s kit sorted. I went out to find somewhere that would take pity on us and feed us. Pretty much everywhere was shut. We ended up having steaks in a bar, which didn’t work out so badly at all. It was well after 12am by the time we had planned the next day and packed. Far too late for a 6.30 am start!
Ham & mushroom boill in the bag pasta - what a way to start the day! The morning was spent driving up and down the end of the valley, in a generally disheartened atmosphere because it was snowing and the light was bad. Lunch came in the form of Pizza in town. Very nice pizza too I might add and exceptional dodgy Italian music - just like we play at Pizza Della Casa!
We tried a different part of the mountain in the afternoon, which was better for all concerned. Shona and T…. had their first ever telemark lessons off piste, we got to ski some powder (albeit the grand depth of 10cm) and trash our skis on underlying rocks. That made for a very angry Andrew for a little while.
We pitched up our tent on the side of the mountain, spending quite a lot of time trying to figure out the outer which didn’t look like it was going to sit properly for ages. Nobby built a mahousive fire and the Patrick took lots of pictures. Shona, rather sensibly, stayed in the car and kept warm. We were filming and taking photos until 9pm, at which point the one remaining journalist who was going to camp with us decided to wuss out.
My sleeping bag, which I have never been cold in in my life, let me down big style. I was FREEZING! Even with a jumper, down jacket and tracksuit bottoms on! Despite the continous jokes in the build up to the trip I never actually thought I would have to sleep in such close proximity to Jack and Nobby in order to survive the night!
More boil in the bags for breakfast. I was getting quite a taste for them by that point. Paddy and Patrick arrived to capture us on camera, not so pretty after a night camping out whilst it snowed.
Back track slightly, whilst lighting the gas stove the night before it ignited and the flame was rather bigger than intended, and I do believe his exact words at the time were ‘that’s why we don’t light stives in the tent’. So he lights the stoves for breakfast just outside the tent door and well inside the porch. Great. Until one went out and whilst relighting, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, it threw the flame and set melted several parts of the tent. I was standing in the porch at the time and I think both Nobby (who was in the tent) and I really appreciated the fire retardant materials of our clothes and the tent.
I thought I could smell burning but it took a liitle while and a look in the mirror to figure it out. Whilst trying to brush the white bits out of my eyebrows and off my eyelashes, I realised they were in fact singed. Miss Piggy eyelashes for me
After packing up we spent the morning being towed up behind the Skidoo (vroom vroom) and skiing the new powder for the video. Warren, who joined us a day late thanks to a short spurt in hospital, had his turn at telemark skiing. A very tall chap, best described as bambi on ice!
We had to leave the mountain at 10.30am to get our flights. We crammed a whole lot in to a short time…
#9 by Skipper on December 13th, 2009
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Yes this is ‘your’ blog and good intro!
#10 by Paul Warwick-Munday on January 9th, 2010
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Hey Sarah,
Now you are infecting my Sunday read!! Only joking. Actually really good news that the word is getting out there about you and telemarking (is that the correct word?). I am going to give it a go this year myself and you are my greatest influence!! Good luck matey.
Paul = Theydon Bois and Epping gym.
#11 by Clare Rogers on January 13th, 2010
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Hi Sarah
Auntie Clare here! Good luck to you and the team. Look forward to seeing you in Norway
#12 by cathryn on January 13th, 2010
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Bloody well done so far - keep it up for 17 January 2025
and come first
Cath and tony
xxx
#13 by Sarah on April 23rd, 2010
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The season is finally over. Whilst it didn’t quite end the way I would have liked, due to an accident, I can’t complain. The season has been amazing. I’ve travelled to 5 different countries and raced in 18 races. Each race and country has contributed to my learning about the Telemark World Cup circuit and developing my telemarking. I have big goals for next season and I’m already looking forward to starting my summer training in preparation of achieving them.
I have one week left out in Ischgl, recovering and enjoying the sunshine. Alicia Keyes is playing a concert up the mountain on Sat 1st May which will be great fun. Then I have a mad dash across Europe on the 2nd to get back to blighty. I better enjoy my ‘holiday’ while it lasts!
Sarah