Thank You To Snowsport England And Members
15th September 2006

I am writing to thank Snowsport England for helping me with my search for a race ski guide and to all of those who responded to my article earlier this year Readers may remember that I am registered as blind and a member of the British Adaptive Ski Team.

Earlier this year it was felt that I needed a guide that would help progress me through Europa Cup, world Cup and if possible to Paralympic level. I received a number of responses to my request and as a result I now have a guide, Lee Watson, who has agreed to work with me over the next four years in training and racing.

We have already started training with Richard Barbour at Gloucester dry slope and this summer took part in a two week race camp run by Hugo Hindl on the Hintertux glacier. I will be back on the glacier in November for pre-season training with the team and then hope to concentrate my efforts for the coming season on picking up FIS points in Europe

I am very grateful to Lee who is an excellent skier and who is quickly picking up the additional guiding skills; and would like to thank Snowsport England and the readers of my article again for their support.

In my article I also pointed out the shortage of ski guides for blind and partially sighted skiers in general and asked people to contact Mike Smith based up at Castleford. He has had an equally encouraging response and would like to thank those who have emailed and to ask if anyone else would like to know more about what being a guide involves to get in contact.

Thanks again Steve Macdonald

Steve Macdonald - steve.macdonald@hotmail.co.uk

Mike Smith - disabilityski@fsmail.net

Snowsport England is thrilled Steve has successfully found a guide, and wishes him the very best for the future!