Highlands athlete Sam Tait is making progress in his campaign to compete in the World Cup races and Paralympic Games.
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Tait went to Europe to train and race, and competed in a qualifying event in the Netherlands last month.
The athlete competed in four Slalom skiing races, where he was able to lower his qualification points.
However this was unfortunately not low enough for a World Cup qualification start.
From there he travelled to Zell Am See in Austria, where he had three weeks of tech and speed training at one of the world’s top training hills.
This training proved to be solid preparation for his next set of races in Pitzal, Austria.
On the first race day, Tait qualified for the World Cup races in the speed events, and narrowly missed out on first place by six seconds.
Both of the tech events Tait was due to race in on day two were cancelled due to poor weather conditions. This meant Tait wasn’t able to race, and subsequently was ruled out of the World Cup for Slalom and Giant Slalom.
After this setback, he has his eyes on a wildcard place for the January World Cup races.
Tait said he felt confident about the direction his skiing career and training was heading in. “I am beyond happy and so stoked about my results, and although I qualified I still have a lot of work to do until the games,” Tait said.
I am beyond happy and so stoked about my results.
- Sam Tait
The athlete said the experience of training and competing overseas has been positive. “I am feeling strong and confident with the direction my training and racing is going,” Tait said. “I’m looking forward for the next couple of months and seeing how much further I can push myself.” Tait’s next set of races will be at the Kuhtai World Cup this week.
If you would like to help Tait on his journey to the Paralympic Games, which will be held in South Korea in 2018, visit www.gofundme.com/sams-paralympic-dream.