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YOG Trials – Paul Henderson looks back on the pressure of the one place shoot out for the Youth Olympics Team

 

Coming into the trials, we all knew it was going to be the person who shone on the day that would claim the one and only spot for the World Youth Olympics in Innsbruck. The pressure would be on and it would be a test to who could cope with that pressure and bring out the performance of a lifetime.

On the day, the weather was kind with good light and a nice chilly temperature making it optimum racing conditions on a perfect piste, which rolled from flat to a nice wee gradient to the finish. On the first run, my aim was to lay down a good, solid run to get a run in the bank that I could build on in my next 2 runs. It went to plan and I was the fastest on the first run, this helped settle a few nerves and give me an idea how I could push the boundaries a bit further. On the second run I upped the intensity and a mistake on the steep forced me out into the soft snow losing me top position in the overall times as Max Moss put down a flying to go 0.03 ahead. Going into the third and final run I have never been under so much pressure in my life, this run would decide whether I go or not. After a quick talk with my coach I knew I had to give it absolutely everything but to ski tactically as well. During the run I knew it felt good but was in doubt about whether it was quick enough to beat Moss’s time from the 2^nd run where the course had been much smoother.  My efforts paid off however and I laid down one of the best runs of my life to win the trials by half a second. To me this marks a massive leap forward in my skiing career and a huge confidence booster to how well I can ski even when under extreme pressures.

I hope the World Youth Olympics will present me the opportunity to take my skiing to the next level and allow me to compare myself to some of the best athletes in the world. Most of all however I hope it provides me with a stepping-stone to greater events and higher levels such as the World Cup circuit and the Olympics. The trials also served as a massive learning experience to the pressures and stress that the top athletes go through and how mentally and physically strong you have to be in order to be the best in the world.

 

 

The first Youth Winter Olympics take place in Innsbruck from January 13th to 22nd.