Edward Drake - Season Round-Up

Thursday 8 July 2004

The Ski Club of Great Britain sponsors one young racer each year. For the last 4 years we have been sponsoring Edward Drake, and we will continue to sponsor him next season. Here is Ed’s account of the 2003/4 racing season.

"October half term - my season started off with training in Saas Fee this time with the England Team. The Coaches were Tim Fawke and Dave Renouf.
When we arrived it was a sunny day as usual with no signs of snow in the village, but by the end of our stay we had more snow than we could deal with, even in the village. The training went well, we had some good steep icy courses to practice on before the snow came, then it was powder fun-time.

"But all too soon it was home time and back to Kingston College and my studies!! I had to work hard to get my course work in before my next trip abroad.

"Christmas and New Year, again spent away from home (getting used to that now) this time in Italy. We went to the BARSC (British Alpine Racing Ski Clubs) races in Alpbach, Austria. My results were 3rd Brit in slalom and 2nd Brit in G.S.

"Back home for a couple of weeks and to celebrate my 18th birthday (party will have to wait till the end of season).

"At the end of January I flew out to join the England Coach, Tim Fawke, in Meribel, France, with the approval of Kingston College, to race in two slaloms in Meribel. Also, there were The Belgium Slalom Championships in Courchevel in the next valley. At the last minute I entered the race, after the two runs I came in 3rd. Friday back in Meribel for a night FIS race and ended up 7th. Back to the apartment to eat, re-wax and tune the skis for an early race the next morning. After the first run I was in the lead but slipped back to finish 2nd, a brilliant result earning valuable points 50.89.

"Whilst most of the other racers are skiing full time or live out there, I have to return home on Sunday to go back to studies at Kingston College for Monday. Then on the Tuesday a phone call from Mark Tilston (British Performance Director), about going to the Junior World Championships, with 3 days notice I flew out for a week of training and time trials at the British Olympic Ski centre in Lofer Austria. I was the youngest athlete there and one of four to qualify for the slalom and go to the Junior World Championships.

"I transferred to Mariborsko Pohorje, Slovenia, on the 12th February. The Slalom was at night on the 15th. Needless to say I was over the moon and looking forward to the race. But on the day it was not to be, I was doing well on a steep and icy 1st run but then I crashed and missed a gate injuring both thumbs, back home to be strapped up by mum, and more studies.

"March, off to the British Seniors in Meribel France. I came 3rd in the Slalom (4th International) and the two British competitors in front of me were the two Baxter brothers! It all came together in the slalom, the first run was fine, but in the second it all just clicked. It was a fantastic week for me even though it has been difficult to keep in touch with the full time racers in the Downhill, Super G and the Giant Slalom. With this result I have retained my titles from last year, Combined Champion under 18 (Downhill and Slalom) and 1st in the Slalom under 18. During this week they held a fun dual slalom, we all know how much fun they are. But for me the highlight of that event was going head to head with Alain Baxter. We were in the start gate, then we were off, I held the lead until the 3rd from last gate when Alain overtook me. As we shook hands at the bottom of the course, Alain, with a smile, admitted that I had him worried until the 3rd from last gate!

"I left the sunny slopes of Meribel to come home and back to College to do a bit of catching up for my A Levels that I am taking this summer, but only for a week. Then it was back to Meribel with the English Ski Team just in time for the Scottish Championships. On my first day back in the mountains it was off up the hill for the Giant Slalom where I skied out of the course. Later that day, I took some time out for some slalom training resulting in a bent ski, but no injury to myself. The next day went well with my best result 1st Brit in the slalom.

"Puy St Vincent was the venue for the English Championships - a very pretty, but small, skiing area. I was staying with my family this time as they had come to watch. The weather at last had turned for the better. Blue skies, cold mornings but it got hot by midday turning the snow soft and slushy. It was a great week. My results were 1st Brit in all the races, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom. In the Slalom came 2nd overall.

"I have had a great season, but now back to exams and fitness training."

Written by Edward Drake - May 2004

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