We're following Great Britain downhill skiier Roger Cruickshank
throughout his build-up to next February's Winter Olympics in Turin.
In his own weekly column Cruickshank will reveal the highs and lows of life on
the World Cup circuit as he seeks to fulfil one of his lifetime ambitions.
"I have been at the British Olympic Centre in Lofer, Austria this week
continuing my rehabilitation from injury.
Thankfully things are ahead of schedule but it is weeks like this when you
realise how hard it can sometimes be living full-time on the tour.
It is like two different worlds, you leave the world of going out with mates
and girlfriends, and come out here and all I have in my mind is trying to excel
at my sport.
But it is most definitely the thought of representing Great Britain in the
Olympics which gets me through the occasional low points.
If you have a goal you will do anything you can to attain it, and for me every
hour of every day is spent working towards the Olympics.
It sounds a bit obsessive but that is really how it has got to be. Living and
breathing that goal is the only way you can achieve it.
It is the thing that gets you through the difficult times, for example when I
was on the leg-bending machine after my operation, or lonely weeks like this
one.
Still, it has been encouraging. I was supposed to be at home for two more
weeks and not ski until December, but alternating skiing and resting is working
well.
Actually my injury feels pretty good now, my weeks at home weight-training and
mountain-biking have paid off and the muscle I have put on certainly seems to
have helped my skiing.
I have every reason to be grateful to the RAF because without their support I
would not be here, and if I succeed at the Olympics it would be down to them as
much as anybody.
When I joined in 2002 they agreed to give me a four-year sabbatical until the
Olympics, which included full promotions and full salary.
It is good for the RAF to use me as a recruitment tool to encourage young
people to join - to show athletes that the RAF is trying to promote sporting
success.
With their support comes a lot of pressure because I am aware that I have had
this immense backing and sometimes I feel if I don't succeed I will be letting
them down.
But everybody understands that I have had this horrific injury, and the fact
that I have managed to come back from it is also a tribute to them.
I first flew solo when I was 17 and I can't get enough of it. There is a
definite comparison to skiing because of the whole speed thing.
When you are going 700mph down a valley with everything rushing towards you,
it is very comparative to racing downhill. You try to slow everything down in
your head, you're looking for the best line and you can't afford to make
mistakes.
I have no doubts that the flying helps the skiing and vice-versa. And when I'm
skiing for Great Britain in the Olympics I'll remember what a good employer I
have and what they have helped me through."
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