Cutting Edge 30-01-2008
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Snowsports Gala to help Athletes to the Olympics Finlay Mickel back on the Slopes British Championships Draw Nearer |
Snowsports Gala to help Athletes to the Olympics
With just two weeks to go until the big event, preparations for the Snowsport GB Gala Dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel on the 12th of February are kicking into gear.
HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex will be in attendance at this year's prestigious dinner which will help raise funds for the British Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Teams for the Vancouver games in 2010.
The charity ball will also benefit the British Adaptive Ski Team through the charity Disability Snowsport UK. This charity aims to increase the opportunities, fitness and skills of people with disabilities, and to identify and nurture the potential of young athletes.
The evening will begin at 7.30pm with a drinks reception, followed by dinner and entertainment. The night is sure to be a spectacular evening for those attending.
For booking and other information on this sensational evening please contact:
Fireball Management
Telephone: 020 8704 4141
Email: info@fireballmanagement.com
Website: www.fireballmanagement.com
Finlay Mickel back on the Slopes
Britain's top Downhill skier, Finley Mickel, is continuing his comeback from injury sustained in Beaver Creek in November 2007. This weekend sees him hitting the slopes of Val d'Isere on the next stage of the World Cup tour where he hopes to regain top form.
What do you feel is your best discipline?
Downhill - I've dabbled in Super G and the Combined. I just feel that downhill suits my natural talents and style.
What are your skiing aspirations for this season?
As I've been injured for part of the season I'm looking to get back to my best form and bring my ranking down.
If you were not a ski racer what would you be doing?
Racing something else - probably bikes.
What have been your best of times in the sport?
Competing at the Olympics in 2006 was a great highlight so far; I placed well and had a good 2006 in general. I think though, getting a top 10 World Cup spot in Wengen was my personal favourite. I had wanted to do well there for so long, so I'd say that would be one of my best times.
What have been your worst of times in the sport?
While being at the 2006 Olympics was great, having to miss the previous games in 2002 was heartbreaking. I was so ready to go but I broke my leg a week before the games opened and it all was taken away. That was a tough thing to get over.
British Championships Draw Nearer
With the British Land National Ski Championships only two months away, race entry forms are now available at: www.snowsportgb.com/British-Championships
Britain's Skiing talent will converge upon Meribel in the Three Valleys for nearly two week's worth of races and events that will serve as a platform for Britain's best talent and spotlight the young alpine stars of the future.
Oliver Jones, the chairman of Snowsport GB commented: "The excitement of the Championships is in anticipating where we will see new talent emerge from and if our current top athletes and reigning champions can defend their titles - always a thoroughly thrilling prospect"
To add to the spectacle of the week's events, HRH the Earl of Wessex will be in attendance and will host the official opening party of the Championships.
To win the opportunity for a trip for two to attend the Championships, enter our competition here …
Sandi Lyall, clinical specialist in high performance sport at Fasic, explains how she helps the athletes recover from injury to get back to race fitness.
I work as a clinical specialist in high performance sport at Fasic (The University of Edinburgh Centre for Sport and Exercise), one of the top sports injuries centres in the country. I have worked for Snowsport GB for over five years, working both at home and travelling with the Scottish based members of the Senior and Development teams.
Fasic has offered expert physiotherapy and medical advice to the sports community for over twenty years. We have 15 physiotherapists working alongside sport physicians, paediatricians, orthopaedic surgeons and radiologists. With close relations to the sports science education system, we have access to the most up to date research and trends in sports medicine.
With any high performance athletes we take a team approach and work closely with the individual's coach and strength and condition coach and also exercise physiologists, sports psychologists and nutritionists.
If a skier is injured, the athlete will be flown home and assessed by our Medical Director at Fasic, (who is also the Medical Officer for Snowsport GB) and then by myself. Once an initial diagnosis is determined then any follow-up investigations or specialist opinions are arranged.
An appropriate treatment plan is then put into place; part time, 8.30am - 12.30pm or full time, 8.30am - 4.30pm (depending on the circumstances). There would then be a mixture of sports hydrotherapy, free weights, flexibility, core conditioning and lactate training. All of this is worked around the injury specific rehabilitation programme. When the athlete has recovered sufficiently we would send them to Xscape Sno!zone at Braehead, Glasgow to commence skiing drills. If and when they are ready, we would send them back out to Europe to train.
Skiers are prone to lower limb injuries, as they increase leverage with their skis on their feet. Generally the injuries are all repairs; fractured tibias and major ligament tears. Specifically with the Slalom riders, there are cartilage problems.
Skiers tend to have a high tolerance level for injury and with minor injuries, they often just get on with. We tend to treat injuries which require prolonged or surgical intervention, which can have a rehabilitation period of anything from six weeks to six months.
In skiing, there is no off-season, and their rehabilitation period depends on the time of the season, and the process would be adapted accordingly. There would be strengthening, core skills, and dynamic balance combined with injury-specific rehabilitation. We look at the bigger picture and adapt this cycle to fit in the process, and specifically with skiers, it depends on their discipline.
We also use a dynamic profiling method, which means we take each athlete and examine their dynamic movement pattern. We video the athlete and analyse their balance control and their mechanics. We address their weaknesses, for example, if the athlete had a problem with lunging, we would help them to strengthen the appropriate muscles, thus, they would be less prone to picking up the injury again - it is a preventative process.
Halliwells lends a helping hand
Halliwells, one of the UK's fastest growing law firms has been supporting Snowsport GB for a number of years. Not only does it contribute valuable funds but also provides specialist legal expertise in all areas of sports law. Alec Craig, senior partner is also on the Board of Directors for Snowsport GB with the position of Financial Director.
Halliwells has offices in Manchester, London, Liverpool and Sheffield. If you would like further information, please contact Alec Craig on www.halliwells.co.uk
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