ANNA TURNEY

In 2006 my life was turned upside down. I was 26 and aspiring to become a professional snowboarder, but whilst competing in a boardercross competition in Japan, I crash landed a 30 foot tabletop jump. The next day, the doctor told me I’d broken my back had a 98% chance that I would never walk again.

Not walking wasn’t a major concern but I was devastated by the thought that I’d never snowboard again or achieve my sporting dreams. I lay in hospital watching one of my competitors compete in the Turin Olympic Games; that was one of the hardest experiences of my life.

I met Matt during my 3 months of rehab in Stoke Mandeville and I also spoke to a Paralympic Alpine Skier and decided to try the sport. A year later I discovered just how challenging monoskiing is but I knew I’d discovered a new passion. I went from feeling as if my life was over to setting new goals to work towards, becoming a Paralympic skier.

After three years of intensive training with the British Disabled Ski Team, I was delighted to finish 6^th in Slalom in the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics read more...