The call came last year…was we free to attend selection for
the GB Skibiking team. Yes…who would refuse a long weekend in France on the
slopes! So off we went to France and spent four days being put through our
paces with the current British Skibike Champion and the Team Captain, Skibob
Master Obi-wan Platt (he uses the Force to ride that bike!). At the end of
it and a few hairy near misses, the customary wipe out and a few dodgy lift
escapades…we had made it!
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| We arrived in Austria after many detours and
mountain passes we arrived in Austria and our Gasthaus! It was like being
back in the Army with the Colonel’s First Parade 0700 at breakfast and mount
the wagons (cars!) at 0745! In Austria I was a bit shaky due to just going
downhill without my brain! I wiped out but managed to remount and finish the
race and qualify for the combination result! Kenny Park adopted the more
sensible approach of steady racing with good technique. I still, however
preferred the head down and hang onto the handlebar approach. Achenkirch was
a very steep learning curve for both of us and valuable lessons were learnt. |
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| Darren Walker |
Kenny Park |
The German alps
The next week was spent in the German Alps race training with the Platt
family team where the Old Master Richard passed on his knowledge and Tim and
Nic gave us some good racing tips. We drove from slope to slope to get as
much variety and ski miles under our belts.
We kidnapped the young India Muirhead and Jenny, her mother, followed on
helplessly as two mad Scotsman took India up every black slope we could
find! Then it was time to hit the next World Championship event in style! At
the end of the week were the British National Championships where we all
went head to head. Despite being told to put a braking turn in before a
steep section by Richard, which he never put in and I chose to ignore that
advice, I managed to push Richard and it was a close finish. I achieved
Silver Medal for the British Seniors and Kenny got a Bronze in the same
event. On the plus side I beat Alistair Platt and won more than my fair
share of “piste refreshments” from him! We rekindled old friendships and
made some good new ones. Are we coming back next year…you’d better believe
it!
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| On the podium Senior Men's Champion Richard
Platt, Second Darren Walker, Third Kenny Park |
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For more information on racing please visit
http://www.skibikeracing.co.uk/ |