Rose starts the season off in fine style in the Winter Paralympic Year

Sean Rose is proving why he’s the best Disabled Alpine skier in Britain with an impressive performance today in the Giant Slalom at the German Nationals held at the Pitztal Glacier, Austria. He took 2^nd place against a well decorated international field and after the two runs combined was only 1 second behind Martin Braxenthaler of Germany. Martin won 3 out of 4 Gold medals at the last Winter Paralympics in 2006.

Rose said,”I was over the moon with today’s result against such a strong field and in very difficult conditions. It proves my change in equipment and summer program has paid off and I’m looking forward to keeping up the progress through the rest of the season and into the Winter Paralympics in Whistler next March”.

After spending most of November training in Europe. Rose is now starting the race season and will be competing over the next few days in three Europa Cup races also at Pitztal before heading over to the next valley to Kuhtai for a further 4 races also at Europa cup level.

It’s then home for Christmas to St Neots, Cambridgeshire for a well earned break and spend some quality time with the family (Wife Leana and 15mth old son Thomas) before heading back over to Europe for World Cup races in January. 

Sean competes in Alpine Ski racing in the seated category and won Great Britain’s first ever World Cup medal last season in Sestriere, Italy in Downhill.  Sean was Paralysed in a Skiing accident whilst in the Royal Air Force back in Feb 2000 and is now Britain’s No1 Ski racer and tipped for a medal at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic games.

Update: 11^th Dec 09

Europa Cup – Giant Slalom – Pitztal Austria

With an increased international field today including the Japanese and Austrian teams, Sean posted 2^nd in the first run of the Giant Slalom today, only 0.2 seconds behind Hang Sang-Min of Korea. Unfortunately the second run had to be cancelled due to bad weather and therefore the result didn’t stand (both runs are added together for a final result). The race is behind re-scheduled for tomorrow. Fingers crossed.