This blog attempts to follow my Ski Race “exploits, career, don’t really know what to call it but I really enjoy it, even the early mornings and lots of time away from home in the mountains of Europe, especially Austria” !
I am Zachary Metheringham. I was born in August 2004 in Stoke Mandeville and I live in a great village in Buckinghamshire. I am a Coeliac, a full proper one not just gluten
“intolerant” (Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten). So I have to be double careful what I eat and have to eat the right stuff to get the correct nutrients from my allowed consumption.
I first skied when I was three years old at the MK SnoZone.
First on snow ski lesson on Scottish slopes, Glenshee when I was 4 years old.
My first Alpine skiing holiday when I was five.
In 2011 (aged 6) I wanted to ski more and more, and saw the Ski MK Race Team training at the MK SnoZone, so in May 2012 I joined the Ski MK Race Team. I have been skiing virtually every week at the MK SnoZone (sometimes up to four times a week and one time skied and snowboarded for seven days in a row).
In June 2012 I took part in my first Indoor Ski Race (see my Race Bio page for all race entries), and I was HOOKED ! So this blog tracks my training, boot camps and races, just in case I make it big ! (Long long way to go!).
After smashing my right knee on a free ski before the Tignes British Championships in March 2016 (obliterated a bamboo piste marker) I have worked hard to get back onto skis, and back into racing.
In 2015, before my accident I joined the amazing Team Evolution alpine racing academy. They are amazing and their programme is designed not just to develop World Class skiers, but to use sport as a platform to learn valuable life skills, provide a stepping stone towards healthy and happy living and Long Term Athlete Development, and encourage participation at a grass roots level.
Through the constant strive for sporting excellence, the Team Evolution Programme ensures that athletes learn how to focus, work hard and progress in multiple areas of their development, on and off the slopes. Athletes are taught how to handle success and to overcome disappointment, to strive for improvement regardless of their ability, and to appreciate the opportunities that sport provides.
In 2017/18 I was part of the SSE Alpine Devlopment Squad ! Nuff said ! #DoYourTalkingOnSkisNotInSquads
Now in 2018 I am in Year 1 of the U16s but starting to punch above my weight and start hitting the podium against some great competition. Looking forward to working hard in class, in gym and on the slopes ready for what will be my first proper season into a winter season since my accident.
Summer of 2018 is time to really develop my body, fitness, endurance and stamina through a wide range of sports. I have just taken up road cycling, running and hitting that gym with Ryan @Bates_Body_Fitness
Thanks Mum and Dad for lots of help and especially for being my: sponsors, kit supplier, kit cleaner, kit preparer, ski preparation guy, taxi service, logistics and flight bookings, supporter, fans, cheerleader (Mum only for this role as Dad not a great dancer !), starter, gate judge, chief of calc and timing, start and finish marshall (Dad only as too cold for Mum to stand in the “big fridges” for hours) and for being fellow skiers (and boarders)!
I am an Under 16 Athlete on the Team Evolution Full Programme. What a year I have had with them, and love skiing in Austria. Massive thanks to all the staff (Paul T, Reidy, (Marcus in 2017/18), Ronato, Will, Lesley, James W, and the educational staff, Adam, Emily and Tamara) http://www2.teamevolution.eu
I am a member of the Ski MK Race Team (thanks to all the Committee, the amazing Glen, Mark. Matt, Shax and the team). http://skimkraceteam.roundtablelive.org
I also train with Gravity Snowsports (thanks Glen and his team {Ben, Victoria and Matt and the others).https://www.gravitysnowsports.co.uk
This place is my second home, the instructors are great (Wilf and Hal and the others), the kids holiday camps are great, and it needs more and more people to keep using this (and Castleford) and the other indoor snow slopes as well] to keep them running and the owners to re-invest in the facilities. www.snozoneuk.com
Big thank you to Paul at elite physical medicine for his amazing help after tearing my MCL in April 2015. This guy is amazing ! http://www.elitephysicalmedicine.co.uk
Since June 2018 I have been working hard in the gym with Ryan, Ellie and Jonathan at Bates Body Factory. http://bates-body-factory.co.uk
In 2017 I moved onto my Senior School, Akeley Wood School. They have been amazing with the help and support during my time away with Team Evolution in 2017/18 and into 18/19. Moving into a three year GCSE programme the teachers and staff have been so committed to help me and I would like to thank you all. https://www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk 
In September 2014, I moved schools to Beachborough School, Westbury for three years. They provided me with a amazing educational and sporting challenges. Pleased to represent Beachborough at Rugby 1st XV, and Hockey 1st and 2nd Teams (not so great at cricket!) Big thanks to Mr Banks for finding me a place in the school and I hope my academic and sporting performances . http://www.beachborough.com
I would like to thank my old school for helping me with my skiing, The Grove Independent School, Loughton in Milton Keynes (left August 2014). Thanks to Mrs. Berkin, all my teachers and classroom assistants, and my sports teachers Mr Gough and Mr Strong, and Mr Mace.
I have also established, with the Winter Sports Foundation, my own Personal Sports Fund – so if you want to help support me on my long path, please click here
Zac Metheringham 