First Year of Competitive Skiing

It is now nearly a year ago that I was asked to join the Swiss Paralympic Ski Team and I am happy to say that on top of learning daily, I also reached my first positive results: 3 x bronze, 1 x silver and 1 x gold medals. Just a week ago, I was featured on the Swiss Paraplegic Association website for my 3rd place at the Giant Slalom in Brand in Austria, together with my team colleagues Christophe Damas and Nicolas Boscacci.

https://www.spv.ch/de/spv-and-clubs/news/erfolgreiche-fis-rennen-in-brand

Prior to my accident in 2017, I was an avid skier and snowboarder and spent a substantial amount of my free time in the mountains, on and off the slopes. At some point, I even considered becoming a snowboard instructor. It was during my rehab at the Swiss Paraplegic Institute after the accident, where I first heard that although I would not be able to walk again, skiing was still a possibility. Of course, I immediately wanted to go on my first ski trip, but my doctors said that I had to wait at least 3 months post-surgery. As expected, 3 months and one day later, I was back on the slopes at the S?renberg Ski Resort relearning how to ski in a sitski with the help of specially trained instructors form the Swiss Paraplegic Association.

I then had to put skiing aside for some time to focus on therapy, rehab and getting my career (and life in general) back on track. After all, sitski competitions will not pay the bills for the rest of my life. But 5 years after my accident I felt less uncertain about my career and stable enough to allow myself to get back into sports. On 11 March 2023, I was asked to join the Swiss Paralympic Team on the development or “Nachwuchs” level. I am now training and competing to join the European Cup, from where if I train enough and have a bit of luck, the next step would be the World Cup and then the Paralympics. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I am happy to announce that this weekend, I achieved my first European Cup “Level” results. For now my results are as follows:

·?????? FIS Giant Slalom Kaunertal: 3rd place

·?????? FIS Slalom Leogang: 2nd place

·?????? Swiss Disability Cup Giant Slalom: 3rd place

·?????? FIS Giant Slalom Brand: 3rd place

·?????? FIS Slalom S?renberg: 1st place

I’d like to say thank you to everyone for the support along the way! It’s not always easy, but it’s a challenge and an adventure, and for those who know me well – I’m always up for both.