The English Championships

Last Saturday, I left Chamonix on a long trip to Bormio, Italy. Bormio is where the English Championships are held. It took us five hours to drive there, which is relatively quick compared to what it usually takes. When we had finally arrived at the hotel, there was a lot of kit and skis to unload which took some time. After having unpacked and unloaded and eating dinner it was time for us to get some sleep for the Super G training on Sunday.
We had to wake up at six that morning (and every morning) because our hotel was about 20 minutes away from the race piste. Once we had inspected the course, the girls were the first to go down it, then the boys, so I was quite far back in the order. It was now my time to go so my coach clipped my boots into my skis, then I was off out the start gate. My run was good but conservative as this was my first time in Bormio. Because this was a training day we were allowed to ski two runs so I decided to attack the second run. I attacked the second run but I made more mistakes. Since there was no timing on the training day I could not compare myself to the other racers.
Monday was the Super G race day. I felt awake and fresh. We inspected the course for the second time, it was very similar to the training day, so I wasn't worried about any changes in the course. After the girls had had their run I did my warm up and got ready to go. I launched out of the start gate pushing as hard as I could, I crouched down into a tuck and stayed in it until the steep section. I nailed the steep section but coming onto the flat I hit a bump and one of my skis was launched into the air. I managed to bring it down but it cost me half a second, I managed to recover and hold a good line until the finish. I came across the finish annoyed at myself because of the mistake, but I found out that I was in fourth place and had missed  the podium by only 5 hundreds of a second (0.05). I was pleased with my result because I knew that all the racers in Britain were there, but I knew I could have been quicker without that mistake.
Tuesday was another training day for Giant Slalom. I was skiing well and fast, but when it came to Wednesday (the race day), I didn't ski so fast. I ended up finishing 8th after the two runs which I was disappointed with.
Thursday was the Slalom race which I had high hopes for as I had already won a medal in slalom. My first run was speedy at the top section, but I ended up getting taking my turns very late on the flat which cost me a few seconds, I finished ninth on the first run so I was determined to have a better second run. Second run was a lot faster: my time was 2 seconds quicker than my first run! I ended coming fourth overall, so I moved up 5 places.
At prize giving they announced the overall English winner of the whole championships and I came fourth, again just off the podium. Friday morning we drove back to Chamonix and I thought that I had skied well over the last 5 days.
My videos from the races will be up next week.