J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3



Have you got any quick tips for our readers?

For fitness in the mountains, preparation is hugely important. The big reason why people are scared of going skiing is injury. So many people have jobs that involve arms, legs, and they're just so worried about getting hurt.

You obviously can't reduce the risk to zero, but you can massively reduce it by preparing before you go.

Exercises at home, and in the gym, are essential.

It also makes it so much more cost-effective too; you spend such a lot of money to go skiing so if you're tired after a couple of runs and can't ski for the rest of the day...

You want to get the most out of it, you haven't saved up all year for your one ski holiday just to get there and be too tired. It's just common sense; you wouldn't run a marathon without doing any training so why go skiing and put yourself in a semi-dangerous environment?

So preparation is hugely important and, once you get there - hydration! Definitely, especially if you're doing the apres-ski then hydration is crucial. So many people get to the mountains and think "oh yes, it's cold and I'm not perspiring".


Do you recommend skiing with a camelback?

Yeah, or carry water with you. I always ski with a water bottle but otherwise just make sure you stop regularly at the mountain restaurants for water.

And the other tip I'd give is - helmets!

It sounds so geeky but the industry has improved so much that there are really cool helmets out there and you can get ones that aren't that expensive. They are hugely important, it's not just about your safety, it's about other people crashing into you and I just think it's silly if people want to do well in the sport but don't wear a helmet.

Those are my views - I don't have to say this because I'm sponsored by POC - but POC do some very cool helmets. You don't look like a geek any more wearing a helmet, you look like you're prepared to go on the limit.

Why would you go on the limit to improve, and ski fast (even if not as a racer), without a helmet? I don't understand that.


An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

We're delighted to say that we'll have more insights and advice from Chemmy in the very near future... so keep an eye on J2Ski...

J2Ski would like to thank Chemmy for her time, and also Black Diamond and The Third Space, Soho for facilitating the interview. Thanks guys!

An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Part 2 - Chemmy Alcott - The Skier


So, when you're not racing, how do you ski? Are you a powder hound?

I just love all skiing, it's a fantastic sport with so many different elements.

One day you can wake up and there's no powder but the pistes will be perfectly groomed ... or you get that hero snow and you can go out and really go to the limit on your carving angles. Then that night it might dump snow and the next morning you pull out a different pair of skis, get your fat boys on, and go powder skiing.

I have to say, other than racing really fast, the best feeling I've ever had was heli-skiing. I've only been once, in Whistler. We went out for a recce for the Olympics and it snowed too much so we decided to use the opportunity and we went heli-skiing. It's such a hippie way of saying it, but I have never felt more at one with the mountain. It's such effortless skiing, powder skiing, as you just bounce on the surface and I adore that.

I also love telemarking - if I'm fit enough and I've got enough energy for it, because it's very hard-core on the body. I'll even go snowboarding, I just love being in the mountains.


Chemmy Alcott talking to J2Ski

How much time out do you get to free ski?

The World Cup tour starts in October and ends in April, so very little really. I will always go in April for a week.

We (racers) only really get two and a half weeks holiday a year, and I also want to see the surf!


Any favourite resorts?

I love Verbier. I think St.Anton's fantastic. A special place in my heart for Flaine because, even though the town's ugly, the skiing's fantastic and it's always been a very friendly community for me to go back to (I went to school there when I was younger). Whistler I like. But my secret place is Vallee Nevado in Chile.... it's very high altitude but you'll never wait in a lift line there. They have an amazing amount of terrain, every different type of terrain. We ski on about ten different runs that we can train on. It's fantastic up there. Again, the town's not pretty but you're there to ski.

I think sometimes skiing is getting overtaken by pretty towns made for shopping, and spa treatments and things like that. Personally, I don't care about that. There's a time and a place for that, I agree, but when I go skiing I want hard-core mountains and pistes and runs.


Is there a run that captures the essence of skiing for you?

There's this one run called Tofana in Cortina. I think the run itself symbolizes my appreciation of skiing. It's beautiful there, you have the dolomites, there are cliffs on either side, there's a massive pitch and you get up to about 70 mph in a few seconds. I don't want to use the word radical but that's what the run is, really. Radical isn't just about being on the limit it's about enjoying where you are.

Cortina's also where I got my first top ten in World Cup!


Which would you rank as your best achievement so far?

I've talked and talked for so long in my career but I think it was the day in Solden in 2010 when I became the first British racer to ever win a run in World Cup. I'd been doing it in training for years but I think that was the first run where I just skied freely, uninhibited, and just went for it. It was messy, it was fast and I won it and I think that made people stand up and notice.


Was that a turning point in your own self-belief?

Definitely. I was really shocked by it, that I'd won this run. Then my coach came down and he was quite placid in his emotions and I was really surprised. But he just said "I always believed you were going to do it". That was pretty cool.

Emotionally, I think my best ever run was in Turin in 2006 when I came 11th in the downhill. I was coming 3rd in that run until the last split and made a mistake but still completely out-skied myself.

It was the last time my whole family were there together, so it's a special memory.


You've mentioned Hermann Maier as an inspiration?

Yes. Bartletts (the UK ski shop - family friends of mine), sent me the book when I got injured and he went through hell and came back. It's slightly frustrating reading the book because the amount of support he had from the Austrian Ski Team was amazing, whereas I had nothing - even UK Sport pulled out.

I'm so thankful to Third Space for the support they've given me. I was actually on the NHS for physio but that didn't get anywhere - I'm not a priority case, even though at the time of the crash I was ranked 8th in the world and was competing for my country.

But I hope it shows people how much I want to get back, with this arduous journey I'm taking on.


An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

We're delighted to say that we'll have more insights and advice from Chemmy in the very near future... so keep an eye on J2Ski...

J2Ski would like to thank Chemmy for her time, and also Black Diamond and The Third Space, Soho for facilitating the interview. Thanks guys!

An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Part 1 - From Creche to Crash, and the journey back


Just before Christmas, J2Ski caught up with Britain's Number One Skier, Chemmy Alcott, at her favourite gym; The Third Space in Soho. She was kind enough to share her story and ambitions with us...


Chemmy Alcott talking to J2Ski

Let's start at the beginning, when did you start skiing?

I was 18 months old, in Flaine. A lot of people think that's ridiculously early but when I was born, my brothers were already racing. I've got three older brothers, and my middle brother had been spotted by a French Ski School and told he could be a racer. So by the time I was born, he was already racing and, to be honest, you just want to do what your siblings do, especially when they're "cool older brothers"!


How far did your brothers go with their skiing?

They were in The Alpine Squad, both in the British Children's Team. They both retired when I, er, beat them!

It's very difficult for young guys, men in the sport of ski racing.

You have to make a lot of sacrifices to be a ski racer... and when you're younger as a woman I don't think that's such a problem; thinking about nutrition, thinking about fitness and that just came with me becoming more professional in my sport.

When you're a guy and you're 16 and you ski because it's just fun and someone says, right you need to start going to the gym, you need to start thinking about what you're eating, and they think "well, my friends aren't doing that".

I think maybe for females those sacrifices are slightly easier? I don't want to be controversial, but my brothers struggled and I found it fine; put it that way.

My brothers did the sport for enjoyment, I did it because I saw longevity and wanted to make a career out of it.

They all say they've retired and have got proper jobs now. But I'm pretty sure being a ski racer is a proper job, although right now it's not really a job as I'm paying a lot of money to do it... but I do consider it a proper job!


Have you ever raced against your brothers?

Only the pub race in Flaine but they won't race me now; now they've gone on to saying that they're really good powder skiers and better than me...

I think I must be a really irritating younger sister because I'm super-competitive.

My best attribute, as a ski racer, is that I'm competitive - I will persevere and fight until the end. The worst thing about my personality is that I'm competitive - literally, there's no line drawn.

Fortunately, my boyfriend Dougie Crawford (in the British Ski Team) is very similar to me so we have big battles, we compete at everything; sport, scrabble, anything.


It's interesting - the thing that carries you far in your career is also the thing that is probably the most frustrating for other people with you as a person.


What motivates you?

Just the fact that I love skiing. Skiing is my passion; I don't do it for the money, I just do it because I love it. I love being in that start gate, and being in complete control of my destiny. When I have a good day it's because I've got the balls to go on the limit and, when I haven't had a good day and I'm disappointed with myself then it's only myself to blame.

I think when you are in such control [of your destiny] you can use that as a positive; I love going out there every day and going better, stronger and faster. Other people would find that pressure, of having to improve every day, a challenge, but I love it.


Do you beat yourself up much when you feel you've under-performed?

Yeah, massively. That's part of the reason why I have to come back from this leg break; because I've got so much more to give, I've proved that I can be the best in the world with that run in Solden a few years ago but I just need the consistency to do that twice.


You've been quoted as saying the last thing you remember before the crash, was the thong of the racer in front of you... what do you remember of the immediate aftermath?

I do remember hammering my hand into the snow with anger. I remember I was punching the snow and all the paramedics were asking if I'd hurt my hand... but I was just so angry. I'd made so many changes for last year, going with the Canadian Teams and changing to Atomic and everything was going so well and I knew it was a bad crash so I was just so angry with myself.


You obviously knew it was bad?

I knew immediately it was bad, but once they'd given me the drugs and I'd been winched to the helicopter (because the helicopter doesn't land), and the drugs had done their job; I remember sitting there with all these people with worried looks around me.

The worst thing, mentally, as a ski racer is for people to think you're a hypochondriac. I need to be tough to do my sport.

One of the things I dislike about our society is that people judge you superficially and I look like a "girly" girl, although I've proved myself to be tough on the slopes.

When all the pain-killers had kicked in and I lost the pain, I started apologising to everyone and thought that I'd actually made up the pain. They said "really, that's bizarre, your legs not hurting at all now?", and I said "no, not at all, but the only thing that's slightly weird is that my leg's all wet."...

I sat up to have a look when they took my boot off (I like to know all the gory details) so straight away they stabbed me with ketamine, and put a mask on me, as they thought I'd go into shock. And that's why, I think, I can't remember the crash - I think one of the consequences of ketamine is short-term memory loss.


You're on record as being remarkably positive straight after the crash?

I think a lot of people who saw that, who don't know me, actually judged me as being unprofessional.

There's two mind-sets there. You either suffer with self pity and think of the 'what ifs' or you just deal with it and move on. Some people misunderstand and think I don't care about my sport which is completely wrong.

Where I've been in my sport, my journey, includes unexpectedly losing my Mum 5 years ago and ever since that moment I've lived carpe diem.

So I've crashed, I've broken my leg, there is nothing I can do about it...

Over the last year - I've tried to change my profile, hopefully increasing the profile of my sport in this country. I've been in Hello magazine a few times in the past year and have been doing everything I can do while I'm out injured.

I'm always on the go, I never stop - if there's an event to go to, to expose ski racers as professionals, then I try to do it.


So, you're now one year on, you've still got metal-work in your leg...

I will die with that metal-work in my leg, they've said...




So, what's the next step, when will you be setting foot on snow again?

A pivotal point of my rehab was last weekend when I got my boot made. I would love to sit here and say that I will ski pain-free because my boot's fantastic.

My boot is fantastic but I've realised I will never ski pain-free again. I do know that once I'm amongst the mountains, racing down then the pain will be the last thing I think about.

I need to develop about another ten degrees angle flexion so I can get that forward pressure when I ski, so it's safe. As soon as I've got that ten degrees I will go skiing; I'm thinking it will be around February this year and then I'm just going to enjoy skiing this whole winter and come back in April.

I'll go down to the Southern Hemisphere - to Chile and New Zealand - for the training.

I will ski a lot this year, as essentially it's a brand new leg and could take a lot of time to get used to it!




An Interview with a Ski Racer - Chemmy Alcott - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

We're delighted to say that we'll have more insights and advice from Chemmy in the very near future... so keep an eye on J2Ski...

J2Ski would like to thank Chemmy for her time, and also Black Diamond and The Third Space, Soho for facilitating the interview. Thanks guys!

Sounds like a good trip; thanks for the report. It's many years since I've been to Cervinia; got any pictures?

As per the title - big snows expected across much of The Alps over the next couple of days.

Parts of the Northern Alps have had / are having snow right now but the main event of this week looks likely to start tomorrow afternoon.

Exact quantities are difficult to predict but the potential is certainly there for some very heavy snowfalls over Thursday night and into Friday, down to quite low levels (below 1,000m). Widespread accumulations of 50cm and more are looking likely.

Thankfully most of the action looks like missing the main transfer days this time around but if you're travelling in or to the mountains over the next few days then please be prepared.

Carry on! :thumbup:

Chemmy adds, via Twitter...

Chemmy wrote:'I understand some people maybe confused at my participation on DOI 2012.

I am a rehabbing athlete who has NOT quit her first love skiing. After my horrendous crash last year ice skating is enabling me to find the link between my head and metal right leg. It is helping not hindering my rehab.

I was never going to be able to compete in ski racing this year so DOI has given me numerous opportunities including teaching me how to feel my feet, strengthening sport specific muscles and raising the profile of me and the sport I love.

Don't forget it costs me and our fed at least £90,000 per year for me to ski. I have to find money personally to cover this. The worst would be for me to fight back from injury only to find I don't have enough money to fund a world class programme.

So sceptics be silenced I am doing this so that I can return to being Britains best World Cup skier. My aims and goals haven't changed. In fact they are stronger than ever.'

:thumbup:

Just an observation...

Chemmy wrote:I can return to being Britains best World Cup skier

If I understand the FIS Rules correctly, Chemmy retains her rankings during her rehabilitation and so - technically - still is "Britain's best World Cup skier"!

Official PR now posted in our News Feed - Chemmy Alcott to star in Dancing On Ice.

:thumbup:

Skier Chemmy Alcott will be appearing on the hit series Dancing on Ice. The show which begins on Sunday 8th January on ITV1 will see Chemmy taking on other celebrities including actors Corey Feldman and Jennifer Ellison and free runner Sebastien Foucan. The new series will be filmed live at Elstree studios and sees the skating stars compete each week to perform the specially choreographed routines live in the studio.


"Skating is great for your abs!", says Chemmy...

As Britain's number one skier for a record seven years, Chemmy may seem to have an advantage on the ice, however, and most importantly, her new passion for ice skating is helping her rehabilitation since her career threatening skiing accident in December 2010.

Chemmy says: "I have this massive opportunity with Dancing on Ice to do something that is going to help me get into the right state with my leg, with my sport and with my head. The first few skating sessions that I did, the coach would say 'on your right leg', which is the one I broke, 'go on your outside edge'. It would take me ten meters to make that connection from my head to my leg. If I was doing that in a skiing situation, downhill, that would have been disastrous. That's why I can't just bounce back and race straight away; I don't have that body control at the moment. This is teaching me to do it in a safe environment."

Chemmy is hopeful she will be able to make the transition from the slopes to performing a choreographed routine.

She says, "I love to dance, I'm very uninhibited. I'm one of these people who hit the clubs, dancing wildly, and you're like 'Good on her, let's not copy it though!'."

The show is presented by Phillip Schofield and new co-host Christine Bleakley, along with Torville and Dean, and an Ice Panel including double Olympic champion Katarina Witt and acclaimed chorographer Louie Spence, returning Head Judge Robin Cousins and Head Coach Karen Barber.

Other celebrities taking part in the 2012 series are: Dallas icon Charlene Tilton, Hollywood actor Corey Feldman, Sugababe Heidi Range, singer Chesney Hawkes, actress Laila Morse, diet and fitness guru Rosemary Conley, children's TV presenter Sam Nixon, actress Jennifer Ellison, TV presenter Andy Akinwolere, Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden, Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter, founder of freerunning Sébastien Foucan, children's TV presenter Mark Rhodes and Coronation Street star Andy Whyment.

For more information about Chemmy Alcott visit www.chemmyalcott.com

For more information about Dancing on Ice and an extended interview with Chemmy visit www.itv.com/dancingonice

Images available on request from maddy@blackdiamond.co.uk