True to form, I finished on a high. All day today I skied everything in control and with a fair bit of speed thrown in. Courmayeur in Italy has quite a lot of steep and narrow stuff ( the sort of stuff that very recently would have created havoc in my sitski world ) but today nothing fazed me and l linked my turns smoothly and confidently.

The best part was that I actually enjoyed it, as in didn’t mind that much that I had to ski sat down; and can see the prospect of major progression next year, whereupon I should be flying.

JJ declared himself proud of me – and rather than interpret the remark as bullshit/flattery, which is my default reaction, I actually believed him … and felt pretty pleased with myself too.