She may have just missed out on finishing her week with a second title but Kingston skier Darcie Mead could look back on a job well done at the English Alpine Championships in Bormio.
Mead, who attended Surbiton School, brought the curtain down on her Italian job by finishing second to rival Jessica Anderson in the race for the English Giant Slalom title on Friday.
They were separated by just six tenths of a second, continuing what had been a fascinating battle between the two all week.
Mead, who had only trained for four weeks this year in the run up to the Championships due to a combination of illness and injury, had claimed the Super-G title earlier in the week.
And while she ended up finishing third in the race for the overall English title behind Anderson and eventual champion Yasmin Cooper, Mead was happy to simply be back racing well again.
“First run in that final GS I really didn’t ski very well at all, but then I made my second one a lot better – I am a little bit annoyed as I just wanted to put two together, but never mind,” she said.
“I was looking to attack, but I think I actually held back a bit on both runs and didn’t really go for it which is frustrating.
“The whole week has been brilliant though and I really didn’t expect to come away with what I have done.
“It’s my first set of races back and I’m really satisfied with how I’ve done.
“I had to take last year out through illness and injuries, and I wasn’t even fit for the start of this year either – I’ve only really trained for four weeks so far.
“I had surgery on my hand after breaking it, cracked my elbow last January, and I got really ill with some heart issues so it has just been one thing after another.
“I feel fit and I’m really happy.
“I’m heading home for a week but then we’re back out training with the World Junior Championships coming up at the start of March.
“I don’t know yet what I’ll be skiing in there; I’ve qualified for the GS but I’ve asked to maybe do the Super-G and Alpine Combined as well because I’ve not had the chance to race those too much since I’ve come back.”
The Championships celebrated their tenth year in Bormio, with over 400 of the country’s most talented skiers – ranging from under-10s to senior racers – flocking to the Italian resort to battle it out for the coveted English titles.
Most of Britain’s most revered racers of recent times competed in the Championships during the early stages of their careers, including four-time Olympian Chemmy Alcott and current racers Cara Brown and Dave Ryding.
Ryding is enjoying the season of his career so far, with the 29-year-old consistently inside the top ten on the slalom circuit and becoming only the second British man to achieve a World Cup alpine podium at the Kitzbühel slalom last month.
And having competed at the Championships between 2003 and 2007, claiming the English slalom title in his final year, Ryding believes that for the likes of Mead the competition is a vital stepping stone.
“I have always targeted specific races as goals during the season, depending on the level I was at that particular time,” he said.
“When I was in my teens the English Alpine Championships meant absolutely everything to me, and at the time I valued it on par with how I value the World Cup events now.
“I did everything I could to do as well as I could and it was a great stepping stone to how I will be valuing the world champs in a week’s time.”
Follow the English Alpine Championships on the Snowsport England Facebook page and get live updates on Twitter @SnowsportEng.
Full results will be available at www.snowsportengland.org.uk while you can find your nearest slope offering value-for-money GO SKI GO BOARD sessions at www.goskigoboard.org.uk
