The World Cup Downhill Win in Sestriere, Italy, last month was the culmination of a serious amount of work during the summer months of 2009. I took a brave decision to change equipment to a different rig which was like putting on a new pair of legs.

I swapped to Atomic skis, spent more time on my fitness, trained indoors at Milton Keynes Sno!Zone bashing gates and loads of time experimenting with the new kit. To top it off a trip to New Zealand during August with the team was more time on snow and invaluable extra training prior to the race season.

Things were going well, but one thing I had no idea about was how it all stacked up against my rivals. I had to wait until the Europa Cup competitions in December to find out. It was worth the wait as I took four medals plus two fourth places in a very competitive field. It proved we were on the right track and I was over the moon with my consistency.

In January, the first World Cup races of the season were in Europe. Firstly in Patscherkofel in Innsbruch where a great fifth place finish in slalom - having been second after the first run - turned me into a real slalom threat for the first time in my career and turned a lot of heads in the process.

The following week was not such a confidence booster as I struggled with the conditions at Abtenau World Cup races and crashed out, the only positive point was when I did finish a race the time was up there in the top six and in touch for the medals.

Then came the big one for me, back to Sestriere where I won the silver last year in the Downhill and raced well in the Turin 2006 Paralympic Games. I’d been dreaming about it all year. The course is fast, scary and full on which suits me down to the ground. There are sections that have your heart in your mouth and hanging on for grin death, but on crossing the finish line there is no better feeling in the world. Every nerve ending on your body is on fire and wanting to do it all again.

We had three training runs on the course and it was in perfect condition. I placed second, crashed then was fastest on the last one. It meant I was on it, but anything can happen on race day. I focused well on the day and just tried to repeat. It went awesome until I ran a little too straight at the bottom, it got real scary as I took a few gates and flew off the final rise at over 70 miles per hour. I remember thinking, "I should be turning by now", as I was still in the air. I landed and just managed to make the last gate and across the finish line, I was ecstatic with my run and didn’t need to wait long till I heard the gasps from other athletes as I took the lead. I had to sit and wait for a further 20-30 athletes to finish before I learned my fate.



It then all started, a rollercoaster of emotions, the feeling of winning is everything you ever imagined it would be and more. It’s difficult to put into words, apart from, “I did it”. My ambitions fulfilled, dreams realised, a massive sense of pride that you put GB on the top of the podium, I could go on and on... It was amazing!

Athletes, coaches, technical staff, everyone was happy for me, it just felt incredible, I was getting praise from all directions. The evening prize giving was like a fairy tale, as I sat in the middle of the stage, the National Anthem being played, my hat came off, a lump in my throat, I managed to hold back the tears but inside I was the happiest man in the world. That historic moment will live with me forever.

I had little time to dwell on it, the following day was another downhill race on the same course, all I needed to do was repeat the process. It went like clockwork till the final pitch. I got airborne, landed sideways, high sided and re-arranged the crash netting at over 70mph. Five hours in Hospital, no broken bones or internal issues, just severe trauma to my lower back. I’d experienced the high and lows of ski racing in just 24 hours.

I returned back to the UK to a storm of media publicity which was great to highlight the team's progress on the World stage. On top of this the team was selected for the Paralympics and I was delighted to be selected. We attended a celebration weekend up in Edinburgh for all the Paralympic athletes, exciting times as more games kit was issued, a party in Edinburgh Castle, then the following day we watched the Scotland versus France rugby match match. The realisation had sunk in, it was less than a month till we’ll be in the Paralympic Village.

After time with the family we need to get back on snow and are now in Winter Park, Colorado for pre-Games training. Time to test out the lower back for the first time since my crash and get back to fitness. The first day on snow today went well although very sore, think a week or so and we’ll be at full fitness.

After training here in Colorado, Russell Docker and I head over to Aspen for the World Cup Finals end of Februar prior to the Games to gain valuable speed training and although the major focus is experience for the Paralympics I still have a chance to lift the World Cup downhill title as well.

I feel extremely proud to represent my country at the Games, it’s a major honour and especially as this year I’m capable of bringing home the medals. I’m enjoying every moment this time round as I realise it goes by so quick you need to savour the occasion.

Our strong team of seven seated skiers this year is the largest ever taken in GB Winter Paralympic history. The team, management staff, volunteers and supporters have poured heart and soul into providing the best professional ran outfit possible and it’s paying off as we intend showing the rest of the world we’re not just here to make up numbers.

Sean Rose has been a member of Britain's Disabled Ski Team since 2003 and narrowly missed a medal at the Paralympics in Turin in 2006. His victory in Sestriere made him the first Briton to win a World Cup race. He has also represented Britain World Disabled Water Skiing Championships