Here are some of your questions answered by Alain.
|
| * |
I live in Pitlochry and have been skiing since I was 2. In 2010 I will be leaving school and would love to go to Vancouver to watch the Olympics. Do you think you will be competing and what would your advice be on doing well through club racing, Cheers. Posted by Duncan Stewart |
| |
Hi Duncan, I would love to compete in Vancouver, it all depends on how the next couple of seasons go, all going to plan - I'll be back in the top 15 in the World and I'll see you there. Club training and racing is an important time, listen to your coach and try to race the same way you train and have fun. Good luck. |
| * |
I am in the CairnGorm Ski Club and we are going on a trip to Tignes. The trip plus the equipment needed and memberships for this sport is quite expensive. Do you have recommendations for sponsor money.. Anything that would help out please write back. Thanks. Posted by Ryan McBride |
| |
Hi Ryan, The best thing you can do is write out a portfolio, with not too much information include a bit about yourself, achievements, then a breakdown of the expenses you need and some photo's. Then you have to send them to as many companies or people that you think can help out. Good luck |
| * |
I am an advanced intermediate skier and would like to know if you can become a professional skier at 19 years old with only 3 weeks on the slopes? Posted by Nathan |
| |
Hi Nathan, It's difficult to say, most of the guys I compete against have been skiing since they could walk, including myself. I think the best thing to do is go on a race camp and see how you get on, you'll have a lot of fun and make improvement. |
| * |
Hello Alain, Firstly can i say that i admire you so much, you are my idol. I am 16 and a slalom skier just like yourself, and I have been doing this on dry slope for a number of years & now I am in the England dry slope squad which is fantastic it was one of my goals, but now i want to look at snow training and getting some FIS points, the only draw back I have is lack of funding, how do I get sponsorship? I really would be grateful if you could give me some tips from where to go from here? Thanks. Posted by Colette Carpenter.
|
| |
Funding for skiing is always going to be hard when coming up through the rankings.What i did when i was your age was have a part time
job to try and save for the training camps and races
in the winter. My mum helped me make up portfolio's with a bit about
myself, some pictures, results,expectations, what i thought the season would cost, all made out clear and simple then send them out to companies or people that you think might be interested in sponsoring you.
The other help i got when i was younger was local grants and awards.
Good luck, stick in there.
|
| * |
I am doing a primary 6 project on you! What is your daily training routine
and does this change during the year? Posted by Emma Thorley |
| |
My training program changes quite alot, in summer I do
around 6 to 9 weeks skiing, this year i went to
Argentina twice for 3 and a half weeks each time,
normally skiing for 3 or 4 hours then after lunch do
about an hour and a half physical training.
when i'm not skiing i'm at home physical training, 5
days a week, 2 sessions a day.During the season I train around the races and do more top up physical training to keep a good level through
the season |
| * |
What do you think about the new slalom rules on the
radius? Do you think that the courses are now too hard? Posted by Franki Simonds
|
| |
The new rules are to slow us down a bit in slalom,
with the new equipment you are able to go so much
faster and more stable, especially on injected snow.
But it was too fast, last year we were clocked doing
79kph so shortening the radius from 15 meters to 13
meters brings the speed down a bit. |
| * |
Have you ever been skiing at Rossendale? And have you heard of Ski Art? Posted by Greg. |
| |
Sorry Greg, never skied in Rossendale and not sure what
ski art is. |
* |
How long do you think you will continue to compete?
And what do you see the future holding when you stop? Commentating?
Coaching? Or the quiet life on a deserted island? Posted by Karen |
| |
Quiet life on a sunny! deserted island sounds good, good idea!
Not sure how long I will compete for, as long as I am doing well and still
hungry, and won a couple of world cups. Haven't figured out what i want to do after racing, would like to put my experience to coaching but not sure i could handle another career on the road. |
* |
Why dont you compete in the GS as well? Posted by Chris Brookes
|
| |
I am going to start doing a lot more GS. I am ranked about 100th in the world but have been finding it difficult to improve on this. I will be doing a lot more GS at the end of this season.
|
| * |
I was wondering what actually was the name of the performance enhancing drug in the inhaler that u took! p.s. the bronze should have been yours. Posted by Andy Watson |
| |
The substance that was found in my sample was a trace methamphetamin, lev methamphetamin is in the american vicks inhaler, it isn't performance enhancing or bad for your body but can show up in a sample as traces of methamphetamin. |
| * |
What sort of training do you do on your legs? Posted by Rob Peers |
| |
Cycling at different watts and rpm during and pre season. Squats, sprints, quickness and flexibility. I also use the electric tompex machine. |
| * |
What's the last thing you think of before going to sleep? Posted by Anon |
| |
I'm not a great sleeper. I always have a lot of things on my mind, especially racing. I try to relax before bed by watching dvds or playing Tiger Woods golf game on the playstation. |
| * |
Do you get embarrassed easily? Posted by Anon |
| |
I do but not as much as I used to, I'm getting better! |
| * |
What are your pet hates? Posted by Anon |
| |
Not skiing as well as I should do and not knowing why. I'm quite tidy so I hate sharing with untidy people. |
| * |
Whats your worst habit? Posted by Anon |
| |
Constantly fidgeting. |
| * |
Baths or showers? Posted by Anon |
| |
I dont have a bath in my house so showers. |
| * |
How many tattoos do you have - where are they and what do they mean? Posted by Anon |
| |
I've got three tattoos. The first one is a yin yang symbol on my left shoulder that was done after a big night out. The second is a band on my right bicep. The third is a Japanese symbol on my right shoulder that means 'fast'. |
| * |
In your opinion, what's the best way for youngsters, with some skiing experience, to get into competitive skiing? Posted by Kim Carlyle |
| |
Find out about the local ski club in your area, you can find a list of ski clubs in the directory on www.snowlife.org.uk, and take it from there. Parents should speak to the coaches at the local club for some more information and help. |
| * |
You said that you don't play in ice hockey matches because of your back, what's wrong with it? Posted by Anon |
| |
I've got a herniating disc in my lower back so I have to be careful. |
| * |
Where's your favourite place to train? Posted by Abi O |
| |
I'm going to try to do all the boring endurance training on the beach this year. I hope to get away for 2 weeks in May to somewhere like Lanzorote to do some bike and gym training. |
| * |
Do you work alongside a nutrionist and what kind of diet do you have to optimise your performance? Posted by Paul Whittle |
| |
The I have never worked with a nutrionist although I could do if I wanted to to. I just try to eat sensibly and cut down on the puddings. It's difficult to work with a nutrionist when I'm travelling all the time. Lots of the hotels I stay in will have set meals and so on so it's hard to follow a specific diet. |
| * |
What was the first record you bought? Posted by Paul |
| |
The 1st record I had was the Band Aid one 'Do They Know It's Christmas' and I was given it by my 1st girlfriend at school. |
| * |
Whats the main secret to your pre-season fitness? Posted by Grant Grieve |
| |
There's no secret, it's just hard work. From May to October it's full time physical training. |
| 1. |
Are you still playing ice hockey? Posted by Angel |
| |
Yes I train in Elgin once a week with my brother.
I do an hour and a half session every Tuesday night. I've just signed with Perth again
but they're now called the Camperdown Chiefs. I only train though, I don't
play in any matches because of my back. |
| |
|
| 2. |
What do you bench press and curl in the gym? Posted by Angel |
| |
I don't actually do much upper body work.
My fitness coach won't let me because if I get too big on top, it uses
up too much oxygen that's needed for my legs ... but to answer the question,
I used to do 125... |
| |
|
| 3. |
Whats the current answer to 'are you
attached or available'? Posted by anonymous |
| |
Available |
| |
|
| 4. |
How do you feel about being a gay icon? Posted
by Neil |
| |
I don't know ... I suppose
it's quite cool. Every man for himself. |
| |
|
| 5. |
Have you ever been in
love? Posted by Kath |
| |
A couple of times but it never
seems to work out. It's always ended in tears. |
| |
|
| 6. |
What's the best thing ever invented? Posted by Kath |
| |
Trainers |
| |
|
| 7. |
Who has been the most influential
person in your life? Posted by Kath |
| |
My parents |
| |
|
| 8. |
If you could have any job, what would
it be? Posted by Kath |
| |
I suppose it would be good if ice hockey
became a summer sport so I could ski in the winter and play ice hockey
in the summer. |
| |
|
| 9. |
Best Asset (personally think it's your eyes or your
sparkly teeth but hey what do I know!) Posted by Kath |
| |
The fact that I can put my hand
to anything sportwise. |
| |
|
| 10. |
What is your most prized possession? Posted by Kath |
| |
My fireblade motorbike. I might upgrade
it soon as it's 4 years old now. |
