Robert competed with Team GB at the 50th Skiinterkriterium International Children's ski race on 27th and 28th January 2012 creating British ski racing history in the Czech Republic with an awesome overall win on Run 1 of the International Slalom!!!
In the International Slalom race held on the Zaklety - Zahori piste, over 60 competitors took part in the U15 age category comprising of the best Germans, Slovenians, Czechs and 17 other Nations.
Robert running with drawn Bib 3 stormed down the course which could be excitingly viewed all over the world via special live timing and video link and went straight to the number one spot where he stayed for the remainder of the race! Robert's lead in the 1st run of this race was an incredible achievement for a British child and he turned heads up and down the mountain. He won the first race 0.84 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Slovenian racer Kristof Fabjan and Ferdinand Dorsch from Germany.
This is a first for a British racer to be leading a race in the Czech Republic even more so unique when you live in Potters Bar which isn't known for it's Mountain ranges!
Unfortunately, nerves surprisingly got the better of Robert in the 2nd Run and he crashed out after hooking a gate with his arm.
Sean Langmuir, the Team GBR Head coach was full of praise for Robert saying, " There's no shame in that!, He gave it everything till the very end. It's a great learning experience. he's done very well and I'm encouraged by the way he has upped his level this week!"
In the Giant Slalom race the folllowing day which was sponsored by Milka, Robert scored a PB placing a very repectable 8th Place overall! He even got to keep the Bib as a souvenir and brought home some delicous bars of Milka chocolate!
ROBERT LOVES THE ATOMIC SKI EQUIPMENT!!
The whole event was a great week for Team GB and it was absolutely fantastic for parents , friends and supporters back home to have the amazing technology of a video link up to share in the Live Racing! For such a small little Czech Republic ski resort they are way ahead in technology.
Robert flew out to the Czech republic last sunday after meeting up at the airport at silly hour 0'clock in the morning! Here he is, pushing his luggage wearing his new 2012 season Trespass sponsored GB ski Jacket that thankfully arrived in the post just in time for the first International ski race!
On Tuesday 24th January,the GB team took part in the Czech Republic National Ski Race Slalom Championships. This race is a qualifying race for the Czech children's selection into the International races on the 28th & 29th January. The 2012 Ski Interkriterium.
Robert had a fantastic race day and placed 4th Overall!!
Today, 25th January, the Czech Republic National Giant Slalom race took place. After googling on the internet, trying to find more information about the 'Ricky' ski area we were really pleased to find that the races had great technology and have been able to follow them via VOLA Live timings!! The resort also has very good CCTV cameras!! Robert and Fraser were spotted today at the bottom of the race piste!.... Amazing!!
Robert had a cracking 1st run time placing him in 6th position overall but unfortunately DNF'd on his 2nd run. He hit a gate with his arm which made him leave go of one of his ski poles which twirled 5 metres in the air, finally landing on the ground at coaches corner!! (Sounds like winter javelin!!)Thankfully, It didn't hit anyone and He's ok and has been reunited with his ski pole! All the team are in good spirits after some excellent individual results and all are now looking forward to a free skiing day tomorrow and the Opening ceremony of the Ski Interkriterium, ready for the International championships.
Here is Robert waiting at the start for his slot in the Giant Slalom race today! Many Thanks to Sean for forwarding the photograph.
Very exciting news received over the weekend.....
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Robert has been nominated for an award at the Welwyn Hatfield Sports Awards 2012 under the category of SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR.
Winners will be announced at an evening awards ceremony in a couple of weeks time!
Well Done and Good Luck Robert!
This week sees Robert preparing his skis and luggage ready for the flight out to Prague at the weekend to compete at the Ski- Interkriterium races in Ricky, Czech Republic. The team plan to also compete in the Czech National qualifying competition as well as the main event as this gives them a chance to race on the competition slope before the main event. Robert will also be lucky enough to experience a bit of Czech culture with a walking guided tour of Prague on their arrival.It's a beautiful place, they're all very lucky!
Baggage is a major headache when travelling by air with ski race equipment but over the years we have kind of got it down to a fine art....hopefully!! Not easy with 23kg luggage allowance when your ski boots alone weigh 10kg before you pack everything else. With an additional two ski bags and origami style clothes packing Robert will be ready to give the races his best shot. He just hopes and prays that his new 2012 season GB Trespass jackets arrive in time!!
Due to Robert's achievements at the BARSC races, Robert has been chosen to represent Great Britain at the 51st "Topolino" ski race championships which this year is being held in Folgaria, Italy.
The Topolino race is known as the top world ski racing event on the children's ski racing calendar. "Children's winter olympics".
Robert is delighted to have been selected for Topolino and is very much looking forward to the experience of competing against other children his age from all over the world.
Robert has had an awesome start to the 2011/12 Winter Ski race season using ATOMIC Skis and Boots, winning the BARSC Championships overall in Champoluc, Italy.
On the 20th December the Slalom championship was held on the Del Bosco piste. Robert won both runs of slalom which were two different courses and was presented with the Gold medal for winning CH2 overall.
On the 21st December the Giant Slalom championship was held also on the Del Bosco piste. Robert added another overall Gold medal win to his name by winning the Giant Slalom championship also overall in CH2.
The Super Giant Slalom was unfortunately cancelled due to lack of snow and the replacement second Giant Slalom race also was cancelled the following day due to high winds preventing the lifts opening.
At the BARSC prize ceremony, Robert was presented with the BARSC award for the best British overall Children 2 boy at the BARSC Championships 2012.
(Photographs courtesy of RACER-READY)
Robert couldn't wait to get back out on snow to train in Alpbach, Austria with Telford ski race club in preparation for the British Alpine Race Ski Clubs (BARSC) Championships held in Champoluc, Italy. Both Robert and brother Daniel flew out to Salzburg missing the last week of the school term after cramming all of their mock exams into one exhausting week. Many Thanks to Peter Baker and the staff of Mount Grace School for their continued support.
After a week of intense mock exams at school, Daniel flew off to Alpbach missing the last week of term to ski train with AKTIV in preparation for his first FIS ski races.
Robert was really stoked today to hear that he is now a SKI BARTLETT TEAM RIDER!!
Many Thanks to TERRY & SALLY and all the fantastic staff at Ski Bartlett for your continued support,expertise and kindness.
Robert flew to Cologne with some of the GB children's Ski Race team athletes for a training camp at Snowworld, Landgraaf in Holland. They were coached by Sean Langmuir and Alain Baxter.
Dryland training complimenting the Ski race training continues all year round for Daniel & Robert on the Hertfordshire Talented Athlete Programme.
Here are a collection of photos taken at Performance Hertfordshire as Daniel & Robert work on their own individual Strength and Conditioning programmes under the watchful eye of Tony Sephton. Stretching out after every session.... So important!
Robert with Collete and Mark from Hemel Snow + Rock.
After winning the Children 2 age category at the 2011 Hemel Ski Race Club Championships and being awarded Snow + Rock Sponsorship, Robert couldn't wait to go on a shopping spree!!
Here is Robert in the middle of his Atomic Boot fitting session. Big Thanks to Mark at Hemel Snow + Rock for his expertise fitting the footbeds and adjusting the boots to suit Robert's feet!
Tonight was the first opportunity to train with the new equipment and the set up is wicked! Bring on the winter season!!! MANY THANKS TO SNOW + ROCK. MUCH APPRECIATED!! THIS SPONSORSHIP WILL CERTAINLY BE PUT TO GOOD USE!
1st / 2nd October 2011
This weekend, Robert attended a GB Children's fitness testing weekend held in Kent. The weather was unbelievably hot for this time of year... especially for running but all went well and all worked very hard!
The weekend was extra special as the GB team were gathering from all over the UK and Europe to meet newly appointed Children's Head Ski Coach, Sean Langmuir who presented an encouraging power point to the parents. Also, helping with the coaching and testing was Ben Rewt and Superstars hero... Alain Baxter!
A great positive vibe spread around the team during the whole weekend.....exciting times lay ahead for the GB Children's team.... !
Here is a photo of the athletes just before they left to return home, receiving an inspirational speech from Lord Moynihan...
..."LET'S MAKE THIS SEASON YOUR BEST SEASON EVER!!!...."
ROBERT WON THE CH2 MALE AGE CATEGORY LAST NIGHT AT THE 20TH HEMEL SKI RACE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AND WAS AWARDED THE SNOW & ROCK SPONSORSHIP DEAL FOR 2011- 2012.
ROBERT IS DELIGHTED TO HAVE WON THIS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AND IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO SNOW & ROCK FOR THE GENEROUS PRIZE WHICH WILL BE A MASSIVE HELP TOWARDS HIS FORTHCOMING WINTER SEASON.
Robert continues to be a BUFF sponsored Athlete and was surprised this week with another fab box of BUFF goodies arriving in the post! New technical BUFF shirts with long and short sleeves and various new multifunctional headwear to test out. The Hoody BUFF looks really cool. BIG thanks to BUFF for the continuous support. Very Much appreciated.
In the International Slalom race held on the Zaklety - Zahori piste, over 60 competitors took part in the U15 age category comprising of the best Germans, Slovenians, Czechs and 17 other Nations.
Robert running with drawn Bib 3 stormed down the course which could be excitingly viewed all over the world via special live timing and video link and went straight to the number one spot where he stayed for the remainder of the race! Robert's lead in the 1st run of this race was an incredible achievement for a British child and he turned heads up and down the mountain. He won the first race 0.84 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Slovenian racer Kristof Fabjan and Ferdinand Dorsch from Germany.
This is a first for a British racer to be leading a race in the Czech Republic even more so unique when you live in Potters Bar which isn't known for it's Mountain ranges!
Unfortunately, nerves surprisingly got the better of Robert in the 2nd Run and he crashed out after hooking a gate with his arm.
Sean Langmuir, the Team GBR Head coach was full of praise for Robert saying, " There's no shame in that!, He gave it everything till the very end. It's a great learning experience. he's done very well and I'm encouraged by the way he has upped his level this week!"
In the Giant Slalom race the folllowing day which was sponsored by Milka, Robert scored a PB placing a very repectable 8th Place overall! He even got to keep the Bib as a souvenir and brought home some delicous bars of Milka chocolate!
ROBERT LOVES THE ATOMIC SKI EQUIPMENT!!
The whole event was a great week for Team GB and it was absolutely fantastic for parents , friends and supporters back home to have the amazing technology of a video link up to share in the Live Racing! For such a small little Czech Republic ski resort they are way ahead in technology.
