WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO ...

IWAS training in Sweden when I crashed and landed on my back on a boulder. It was such a flat, easy section of the course and I wasn’t even going that fast. I tripped and fell and I saw rocks and thought, “Oh no – my skis will be wrecked.” After I landed, I tried to speak to my coach but I couldn’t say anything as I was so winded and felt sick. I was in shock and my back was really painful but because I was wearing my back protector, I wasn’t too worried. I was training in a remote area so it took quite a long time to get off the hill. The weather was so bad we had to use an ambulance.

I spent eight hours strapped to a backboard during the 250km journey to the hospital. The more time went on, the more I began to worry about how serious my injuries were. I kept asking: “Are we there yet?” like Donkey from Shrek.

I had fractured four of the transverse processes on the left side of my lumbar spine, the bits that stick out from the vertebrae.

I was on painkillers and a drip and I felt sleepy but as it got more painful, I began to think: “What am I going to do? I can’t take time out,” and all that stuff. I had really big goals for this year. My training was going well, everything was coming together and I felt positive. I was so excited to qualify for my first senior championships in February, the World Championships in Vail, Colorado. Hopefully I can still make it. It’s a great motivator and something to aim for.

I’m working with sportscotland Institute of Sport in Stirling on my rehabilitation which involves different exercises to build up my strength and mobility as well as easy stuff like walking, swimming and the static bike. I’m taking it one day at a time and I’m feeling positive. Being able to swim was a big step. I’m definitely making progress every day and I’ve been back on the slopes at Cairngorm.

Everything I do revolves around skiing and training so this is the longest time I’ve had off in four years. It was my 21st birthday on December 30 and I was supposed to have been in Austria to race.

My family have helped a lot and I’ve had so many messages of support. My friends have also visited me with movies and books.

I realise how extremely lucky I am that my injuries are not more severe and I won’t suffer any long- term damage.

I had worn a back protector for speed events but not Slalom and Giant Slalom.

My coach, Stefan Moser, insisted on me wearing one and I said: “OK, let me think about it,” and made excuses not to wear it.

He said he wasn’t going to coach me if I didn’t wear it and thank God I did. I owe him so much. It made all the difference. It’s a huge reality check.