Beaten by a 10 year old.

The culmination of several months race training was last Sunday at The Hill, Rossendale. A few warm ups, three timed runs in the morning, three head-to-head races in the afternoon. I beat some eleven year old and I really did not want to beat 8 year old Olivia.

There were two ‘pistes’, red and blue. I beat Olivia and the eleven year old on the red. A ten year old boy beat me when I was on the blue. That red run was clearly running faster, but he was definitely a better racer than me. It was a humbling experience being beaten by a young kid.

I had to try very hard to stay calm waiting in the gates. I fell over twice, once in practice and when I lost against the ten year old who I almost hit at the bottom! I watched leaves blowing in the wind to stay calm and focussed, felt the wind on my face. I wore motocross armour as my friend Tom broke his shoulder this time last year with no protection. I really did not want to beat that little girl, but when I heard ‘Red are you ready? Blue are you ready? Go!’ I was away and forgot about everyting else.

When I beat the little girl Tom mentioned the commentator said she wondered if I did a false start I was that fast out of the gate! It was a fantastic experience, challenging me physically, mentally and demanding a far higher level of skiing than the normal thrash down a ski piste. Am hooked! Next race is July 2nd, same place.