One year has passed and here I am, back in Val d’Isére, and I have smashed slalom!
On December 13th, 2015, exactly one year ago, I have taken part to my first World Cup competition ever, just here in France; but this time I have wanted to do something more and I have ended up in the first 15 places…
It has been a long period, made of tough months, both training indoor and outdoor, oversea and intraeuropean travels.
The past weekend, all the giant and slalom Italian team trained on this slope. On Saturday, I have taken part to the giant, which was something new for me, while on Sunday I have taken part to the slalom.
The expectations were really high, but I was really daring to smash the gates and to ski in the best way possible.
Sunday December 11th, 2016.
Warm-up lap early in the morning, the slope was really tough and steep, the kind of slope I like. According to me, Face de Bellevarde is one of the best slop I had the chance to compete in.
First run, bib 43, which is a really good starting compared to the 69 of the last year. The track is awesome, hard and challenging: the slope is iced and I have identified the parts where I can take some risks and push hard and where to pay attention.
Now it is my turn, I cross through the starting gate and I am about to explode. I have been able to find the right rhythm from the beginning. And then I have fun, I am really having a lot of fun and in few seconds I have finished the race. In the parterre I turn to look at the screen, I looked at my performance:unbelievable… I got the 30th! Big up!
I have ended up 19th after the first run, now it is time to focus and concentrate on the second one. Since it has been my first time I didn’t know how my head would have faced this new thing. I was afraid it was slowing me down just to make sure I could finish the race, but fortunately I had the strength to push till the end. I was relaxed, I was totally focused on the objective and I wanted to strive for my best. Just few minutes later, I was there again at the starting gate; I have closed my ski boots, checked the goggle, put the sticks out of the gate and I have assaulted the slope…That has been real fun!
I am very happy about my flowing way of skiing, I have made a couple of mistakes but I have been able to be back on track. Then again I am at the finish line. I immediately turn left to see the screen, and I have made it. Oh yes!
I am overwhelmed by emotions and I am super happy about this performance.
I am 13th.. it seems like a dream!
It has been and awesome day. I have had a lot of fun and I have loved to feel these new feelings. The best experience ever together with the post-race events. I could write about this for a long time; enriching the article with thousand adjectives just to share with you how I feel!
Thank you very much to all of you that texted me or that just thought about me during this great day!
Stay Tuned
Tommy
Photo credit: Agence Zoom
