The Cannonball Newsletter

May 2007

Introduction
After a fantastic last few weeks racing, Norman and I finally arrived back in the UK on 18th April and have since had the time to reflect on what a great season it turned out to be, thanks mostly to our sponsors, Head, directski.com, SkillsTrain, AquaCity and of course, Mars Drink. We’re now already well into our plans for summer training and activities, but meanwhile, more about the last month or so!

Season Achievements for 2007
My training and arrival in the Alps started late this year, but nevertheless, I threw myself into getting fit and fearless and I’m delighted with the following results for the 2007 Winter season:-

3rd Place - British Land Alpine Ski Championships (Adaptive) Super G
3rd Place - British Land Alpine Ski Championships (Adaptive) Giant Slalom
3rd Place - British Land Alpine Ski Championships (Adaptive) Combined Overall

1st Place French National Speed Skiing Championships (Disabled)
1st Place Red Rock Cup Pro Speed Skiing Race (Disabled)
1st Place Pro Mondial Speed Masters Race – (Disabled)

UPDATE - Blind Speed Skiing World Record Attempt 2007
We planned to attempt the World Record during the ‘Red Rock Cup’ Speed ski racing event, held in Les Arcs over Easter weekend. The atmosphere in resort was fantastic and everything was in place for what promised to be a challenging and exciting event. Norm and I raced on both the Saturday and Sunday and were biting at the heels of our World Blind Speed Ski record by 0.25KM/H.

In the event, we recorded speeds of 160.71 & 161.22KM/H, which meant we were just a whisker away from the world record. The ‘Red Rock Cup’ proved not to be our venue for braking our own record.

However, all was not lost, as the following week the resort was hosting the ‘Mondial Pro’, another seed ski racing event, attended by the world’s top speed skiers. Skiers included Simone Oragane (ITA), the current world record holder (253.88 kph) and Phillip May (SUI) who was sitting in second place behind Simone in the FIS World Cup.

The event was a superb stage for the sport and the world’s media was awaited the results with baited breath. We raced on Wednesday 11th April, when the field was narrowed down, in readiness for the competition would move to a higher starting point on Les Arcs’ notorious ‘Flying K’ speed ski run.

Due to bad weather, racing was cancelled from Thursday through to Sunday. Happily, Sunday was a glorious day in Les Arcs and the race was on. A perfect track, warm sun and confident mindset, Norman and I were ready to smash our existing World Record.

Norman had volunteered to forerun the track for the rest of the field, so that he could not only race himself, but would also serve as an inspection run for my run too. This would enable Norman to give me a verbal description of the track before my record breaking run. I’m delighted to say Norman managed to hit a new personal best speed of 222.22 kph, which was a fantastic result and left us feeling positive about my own record attempt. Following Norman’s run, we then awaited the top ten men to race, which saw the world’s numero uno Simone Oragane lead the field with a storming run of 239.44 KM/H.

Next to come was Caitlin Tovar (GB) who would forerun for the ladies field. Catilin had previously set a new British Ladies Record on Wednesday with a speed of 202.51 kph. However, I’m very sad to say, disaster struck when she slipped at the ladies start point. Caitlin who was in her first full season with the British Speed Skiing Team, lost her footing, slipped beneath the safety netting at the side of the track and tragically fell 950 vertical metres, top to bottom down the 36 degree mogul field adjacent to the track. Caitlin was taken to Grenoble where she I am very sad to say died the following day.

The afternoon’s racing was immediately cancelled. The teams were enormously shocked an saddened at the loss of a much loved team mate. Caitlin was a great friend and both Norman and I, along with the rest of the British Team, will miss her dearly. Caitlin was such a character within the team and her memory shall always be with us whenever we race.

Media Coverage
During the next few weeks, I shall collate as much of the press coverage as I can from various sources. Unfortunately, I’m not able to fund a `press cuttings’ service myself, which means I rely on friends and family to spot my press coverage. If anyone would like to help address this, I’d be enormously grateful?!. Both Mary and I have done our best to keep a log of who we’ve been in touch and even just by Googling my name, it’s clear we’ve had a lot of coverage this season.

Two World Records Are Not Enough!
When I first announced that I was going to set the world’s first ever blind speed skiing world record in Italy back in 2005, everyone said I was mad, it couldn’t be done and that I would never go ahead with it – but how wrong they were! Not only did I go onto set two world records in the sport, both the indoor and the outdoor, I managed to show my doubters just what could be done given the opportunity and determination to succeed. So, keeping in the spirit of the mad world that is ‘Kev Alderton’, I have decided to take on a further two World Record Attempts this summer, these are:

World Record No.1 – The Blind Land Speed World Record
This record will be in conjunction with The Royal London Society For The Blind, who are based locally in Sevenoaks, Kent. The record will involve me attempting to break the existing record of 167 MPH in a Porsche GT2. No dates have been set for the attempt, but these should be finalized by the next edition of the ‘Cannonball Newsletter’ next month.

World Record No 2 – Blind Downhill Mountain Bike Descent Of Ben Nevis
This world Record will be held in Fort William Scotland during the World Downhill Mountain Bike Championships later on in the summer. A race is also being planned between myself and Steve Pete, the reigning world champion, who will wear my simulation specs whilst riding. Again no date has been confirmed as yet, but details of the attempt will be forwarded as and when progress and planning has further advanced.

Other activities that are planned for the summer months will include golf tournaments, Speed Skiing Clinics around the UK, public Speaking engagements, filming with Channel 4 World Cup Skiing, Glacier training in Europe and various public appearances at events in and around the UK.

Meeting Proposal
As you will all be well aware, I have been very privileged this season to have obtained sponsorship from a number of companies. Having now completed the 2007 winter season, I have been giving some thought as to how I could best network my existing sponsors, but also how I could maximise their involvement and investment in the future. Therefore, may I suggest that we all get together at some point in the near future to discuss the following:

? Branding on Clothing/Equipment
? Future filming and footage
? Future PR – Summer/Winter
? External activities outside of skiing

If anyone would like to suggest a possible venue for a meeting along with any additional items to discuss along with any preferred dates etc, then this would be great?

A BIG thank-you
May I take this opportunity in thanking you all for your help and support, and convey my sincere gratitude once again to Mary Stuart-Miller (my PR) who has worked tirelessly once again to help me go from strength to strength. I couldn’t do what I do without your support, so thank you once again. I think at this stage, it would also be appropriate to thank Norman my guide. Not only has he acted as my eyes for yet another season, but his approach to training and racing has again helped to fill my trophy cabinet at home once again. If it were not for Norm and his commitment to me, then I would not be where I am today.