Training Update.

Training has been going really well, been up skiing on the Hintertux Glacier 4 times this week! 2 days GS gate training and 2 days GS free skiing. The conditions are like winter up there, Saturday and Sunday where 2 perfect days weather wise! There have been some world class skiers training here aswell Benni Raich of Austria and Maira Jose Rienda-Contreras of Spain have both been up on the Glacier over the past week. Here is a photo of me and Maria going down in the Gondola after training.

Really started to get exicted for winter now, especially after being able to train on some good snow lately and seeing a rough plan of my race calender for the season. Going to be pushing hard over the next two weeks with training, before going back to England for a couple of days to celebrate my brother Ryans birthday. 

Will keep you posted, cheers Ben.

Indoor Ski Training At Snoworld Landgraaf, Holland.

Last week Me and my coach travelled to the indoor training centre in Landgraaf Holland for 5 days of slalom training. It was a great 5 days and I learnt alot. The facilities there are fantastic. I would like to thank my coach Christoph Ebenbichler for putting together such a good program and for his time. I am now back in Austria and my training schudule has been increased, with 3 to 4 days a week ski training on the Hintertux glacier and twice a day strength and conditioning training at Sport Med Tirol. 

We have  had a new Team Reid logo designed, which looks awsume! Take a look. Also please check out our first videoblog by clicking on this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K5g1AYbW

gQ 

Latest News.

Everything is going really well. I have been training Monday to Friday in the gym and weekends skiing on Hintertux. Feeling tierd after 2 weeks no rest, but have 10 days off starting from this Thursday for summer holiday. I will be heading to Spain on Saturday for 6 days and then going back to England for my birthday celebrations. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer, Cheers Ben 

Training Update.

Training is going very well, been woring hard on my fitness 4/5 hours a day and then spending the weekends on Hintertux Glacier ski training. Have had a slight problem with my knee over the last few days, so have been with my physio Sonja every afternoon for massage and ultra sound to try and ease the soreness.

Had a great weekends sking last week with Christoph, he has brought new life into my skiing and progess has been made. Also have been training on the same slope as Ivica Kostelic over the past few weeks as you can see in the photo. He is by far one of the best skiers in the world and my idol.

Will keep you updated, cheers Ben.

1st Month Of Summer Training Block Finshed.

As May comes to an end, the first month of my summer training block is over. The focus over the last month was to bulid a good basic fitness platform, so in the following months I can now move on to specilise in certain aspects of my fitness. In June me and my physical trainer Christoph will be concentrating on buliding a good strength program for me. I will also be uping my miles on the bike to improve my cardio and the endurance in my legs.

Good news on my head race coach Brett Lowney. He is now in his last week of rehab, after his serious accident in Febuary and is certain to be fit for our 8 week training camp in Chile.

Will keep you updated, cheers Ben.

The Start Of Summer Training.

I started my summer training program 1 week ago, with my new conditioning coach Chris Ebenbichler at Sport Med Tirol. Chris competed in world cup skier cross, but due to a massive accident whislt racing this season just gone on the world cup circuit in Austria he has decided to retire form ski cross and now helps and trains atheltes with there conditioning programs. He is still a sponserd free ride skier and competes in free ride competions thoughtout the world.

In the first month of my summer program we will be focusing on basic cardio, core training and hand eye coordination. I will be training 6 days a week also including 2 skitraining days on the Hintertux glacier. Will keep you updated, cheers Ben.

End Of Season Update.

As the 2009 / 2010 race season come to a close I received fantasic news from HEAD UK, I received a Pro equipment Sponsorship deal for the coming 2010 / 2011 race season. This will Allow me to train and compete with the best eqiupment.

Whilst in the UK last week, I made a visit to Solutions 4 Feet to meet with owner Colin Martin to have my 2011 HEAD race boots fitted.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Matt from Head UK and Colin from Solutions 4 Feet for all their continued support please double click on there logos in the sponsors section to view all there products and services, Cheers Ben.

Latest Update And New Sponsor.

Over the last few weeks I have been back in Soll/Mayrhofen resuming my training after being out injured for 7 weeks. Unfortunately on the first day back to ski training with my trainer Bret he had a horrific collision with a tourist skier. He was in intensive care for 2 weeks with 2 broken vertebra in his kneck, broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractued shoulder blade, Broken gaw and needed a complete reconstruction of his hip and pelvis. He is now out of intensive care and is making good progess.

Whilst Bret has been in hospitail I have been working on my all moutain skiing, focusing on bumps and off piste to make me more versitile on the mountain. As the weather has been great out here in Austria over the last few weeks, I have been back on my road bike and spending alot of time at Sport Med Tirol strength training.

Team Reid is also pleased to annonce a new sponsor, NES Group have now come on board. I would like to Personaly thank Neil for his support and look forward to building a long term relationship. Please click on the NES logo in the sponsor section to find out more about NES Groups products and services.

Over the next few weeks I will continue to work on my free skiing and physical condition. Also cant wait to see Family who are coming out to Mayrhofen in the second week of April.

Will keep you updated, cheers Ben

BBC South.

Last Monday Brennan Nicholls from the BBC came to Elite Physical Medicine and The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead to do some filming with me for BBC south. We spent 1 hour at Elite and 5 hours at The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead. It was a long day, but great fun. We did some cool shots with the camera on the slope. The footage will be shown on BBC south at 6.30pm on Friday the 26th (sky channel 984). Cheers Ben

Back Skiing At The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead.

Yesterday I went to The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead to test out my knee after spending 4 weeks off skis. I made 10 runs of free skiing and 6 runs in an easy slalom course to see how my knee felt. Overall the knee felt good and I am feeling more confident returning to Austria to resume training next Friday. Over the next week I may skis a few more times at The Snow Centre Hemel but will mainly be focusing on getting my knee and body even stronger. Big thank you to the team at The Snow Centre Hemel especially Pete for a great training session on Saturday morning, Cheers Ben.

Injury Update.

I have now been told I can start rehabilitation on my left knee after 3 weeks of complete rest. Which means, For the next 2 weeks I will be going to Elite Physical Medicine everyday to get my left leg back to full strength with Paul Thawley so I can continue with the season. I am hoping to return to Austria around the 26th of February. Once again Thanks to all the team at Elite for all there help and support, Cheers Ben.

Tirol Cup Races And Minor Injury.

On Saturday the 23rd Jan I travelled to compete in 2 local Tirol Cup races in Reith, Austria. These races do not count towards FIS points, but are still of a very high standard. I did not finish in either race but it was a good experience against a quality field of racers. For the first time in 2 years I have picked up a minor knee injury and have had to return to the UK for treatment.

I flew back to the UK on the Tuesday the 26th Jan to see Paul Thawley and Doctor Mike Loosemore at Elite Physical Medicine. They had a good look at my knee, and said I have a small tear in the lining of one of my ligaments and some bone bruising under my knee cap. The outcome of this is I will now be off skis for a maximum of 3 weeks to give me time to recover. Big thanks to Paul and Mike at Elite for all there continued medical support. While I am back in the UK I will be focusing on my upper body strength and swimming for my cardio vascular fitness. I will keep you updated, cheers Ben.

Wien and Turnau Race Update.

I Travelled over to Wien (Austria) last Thursday for 4 days racing. 2 slalom races in Wein itself and 2 Giant slalom races about 1 hour away in Turnau. In the first slalom I came 45th and scored 168 points. On the second days slalom I came 41st and scored 155 points. In Turnau on the first day of racing I came 89th and scored 195 points. On the second day in Turnau I did not manage to finish the second run.

I am now staying in Soll (Austria) with my race coach Brett and training about 15 miuntes away in Niederau at our new training base for the winter. I have been working on Giant slalom for the last two days as I will be competing in 2 Triol up Giant slalom races this Saturday. Will keep you updated, cheers Ben

Race Update, Garmisch Germany.

Traveled over to Germany Last Thursday for 2 Giant Slalom races in Garmisch. The first race on Friday went quite well, with a start number of 256, I managed to complete the first Run. I was in 114th place out of 290 racers. The second run was more about survival than anything. I just about made it off the steep section and tried to let it go on the flat, but lost the racing line. I finshed 115th overall with 200 points. After the second run I felt a slight pull in my left knee and decided to return back to Austria that night, not risking racing the next day.

I have had 2 days off so far and the knee is already starting to feel better. I am hoping to travel to France this Wednesday coming for 2 Giant slalom and 2 slalom races depending on my injury.

Also pleased to announce a new member to the team Mervyn Ramsay who will be my PR and head of sponsorship.

Will keep you updated, Cheers Ben