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Benedict Barlow looks back at his very first FIS race.

 “Blimey” I said to Finlay, “It’s a long one isn’t it?”

 “Not really” he replied.

 Course inspection:  Which line to take?  When to tuck? Will I catch air and when will I finally cross the finish line?  At first, it seems exactly the same as Children’s racing, but then, looking back up the hill, I realise how very different it is; the distance between the gates, the speed I’ll be carrying, and the size of my competitors.  Standing in the finish, going over the course again with Finlay and finally saying:  “I’m really looking forward to this”.

 I had been excited the whole day, and now at nine thirty in the evening and under floodlights, it was finally time to race my first FIS race. Apart from the length difference in the course, there was also the fact that I was racing when usually I would be thinking about going to bed.  Nonetheless, I took the chairlift back up to the top and realised how much fun the race was going to be.   I skied down the side of the course and watched the German Europa cup team absolutely thrash the course and I said to Finlay: “You watch me, bib number 157 of the 162 competitors is going to look just like them. I’m going to impress you.”  

Back at the start, getting ready to race, ipod in and I am completely psyched. Words cannot describe how much I was looking forward to the race.  Out of the start gate; aggressive start and straight into tuck for the flat top section; coming out for the first undergate, then five gates before the steep, keep a high line, then back into tuck for the compression and second undergate, then back out for two gates on a slight roll and through the finish, in a time of one minute twenty seven, seven seconds off the winner’s pace, for 127 points.

 I’m shaking from the excitement of finishing my first FIS race - my first FIS super G. It’s half past ten, but the buzz from the race cancels out any form of fatigue. Finlay is there in the finish and comes up to me and says: “You know what Benedict, you impressed me.”  That was such a good feeling to know that my coach and role model was happy and impressed with my performance. “The only downside...” Finlay mused, “is that that was an easy one!”

Roll on next time....