L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Louise Bain and Callum Henderson win both rounds of Twin Peaks races at Fir Park & Hillend ...

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Following on from your exploits on Saturday – I trust you have now recovered! Would you be willing to answer a few questions for the readers of Racer Ready?

RR: Was Saturday your first ever race?

GK: Not quite, I did once race in an inter-club race as a mummy to make up the numbers in the days when Cardiff Ski club was the smallest in Wales & before the days when Chris Hatcher used to run down the course in front of Kirsty to make sure she went the right way! There was another outing at a Welsh Champs which I had to do in order to get my 5 star ward ~ that was a disaster ~ I snowploughed (racing snowplough of course) down, missed the last gate, shouted sh**, got disqualified & told off!!

RR: Did you enjoy it?

GK: Yes in a masochistic sort of way. I seem to like to terrify myself. I really thought  I was going to vomit in the start gate. I have to thank my team ~ Ellis my ski 'techi', Jess for race prepping my skis & stopping me from running away at the last minute and Tim for a few final words of wisdom 'just remember~ red, blue, red, blue...' & expertly rubbing my legs in the start gate!  

RR: The cheers could be heard for miles around, did this affect your concentration as you powered down the course?

GK: Mmmm 'powered down the course' not exactly! As to the cheers ~ what can I say? Truly humbling. I was only slightly aware once I started skiing, like all focused athletes I had other things to concentrate on. The support & encouragement I received from everyone was just fantastic. Robin said that in all the years he's been around artificial slope racing ~ & that's a very long time, he's never heard anything like it! I loved it!  

RR: Most coaches become coaches following the end of a racing career, what made you go the other way?

GK: I never do anything the right way round!

RR: Is this the start of a new career? Should the likes of Janet Earnshaw Hamilton and Janet Maurice expect to see you battling it out with them on a regular basis for the Masters Age Group titles?

GK: Oh well you never know.... Although I don't think Janet E-H has much to worry about do you? I am a bit competitive though so maybe she'd better watch out.........

RR: You are regularly heard commentating on the races, what advice can you now give to the parents as they watch their offspring race with regards to what the racers are going through?

GK: Now I've tried it I need to apologise to Jessi & Milly for nagging them when they were racing. Don't nag until you've tried it!

RR: It is rumoured (we have it on good authority) that you called up the course setter “complaining” about sections being too tight? Were you just missing him or was this trying to influence his course setting? What was the course setters reaction?

GK: I was most definitely trying to influence his course setting! Didn't do any good though, he hung up on me!

RR: Advice for other wannabe race stars? Parents? Should they race or stick to walking up the hills and watching their children hurtle down the slopes…?

GK: That all depends on how brave or stupid they are. A few more racing Masters or rather Mistresses would be good though don't you think?

Many thanks! (All questions tongue in cheek….)