Sean Rose reveals his big gamble ahead of Vancouver Paralympics

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

 SEAN Rose admits he gambled with his Paralympic dream - but after embarking on a pre-Games medal rush the skier expects to reap the rewards of his high-stakes flutter in Vancouver.

TAKING A RISK: Sean Rose admits his change of equipment at the start of the season could have gone horribly wrong

The 38-year-old signed off for Canada in style by claiming silver in Aspen in the final IPCAS World Cup before Friday's opening ceremony.

Rose wrote his name into the history books in January by becoming the first Brit to claim World Cup gold when he blew away the opposition in Sestriere in January, having claimed slalom bronze at December's European Cup races in Kuhtai.

But after splashing out on a new sit ski in the summer, Rose feared he'd be chasing the pack - not leading them - in North America.

"I made lots of changes to my kit and my feet position and I got a new sit ski so I was really in the dark about how I would be doing," said Rose.

"It was a really big risk for me, with all the new suspension and it could have gone all wrong.

"I was tweaking little bits all over the summer and then in my first race of the season I came second to the current defending Paralympic champion and I thought, ‘that's not a bad start'.

"Then I had three thirds and two fourths in the Europa Cup races, I was right on the pace and I made a couple of mistakes that cost my third or second.

"That's when I realised that this new equipment was actually going to go really well for me and I felt very confident with it.

"It was a great feeling when I felt that, people were looking at my equipment and looking at the sit ski."

Rose, who was paralysed from the waist down during a skiing accident in 2000, joined the British Disabled Ski Team in 2003 and finished sixth in the downhill at the 2006 Paralympics in Turin.

And after claiming gold and silver already in 2010, he is desperate to add to his medal haul on slopes of Whistler.

"There isn't going to be anyone there who I am scared of because I've raced all the people who are going and I've beaten them or finished very close to them," added Rose.

"The emotions of winning gold at the World Cup were unbelievable and people were genuinely happy for Great Britain and for me to win a gold medal.

"It was the first time ever our national anthem had been played at an international alpine race, I had lumps in my throat and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

"We know the course, we've raced there before and with my old equipment and I finished second and fifth in the training runs.

"So I know I am more than capable of winning on that course and with my new kit I am really confident of ripping up the course.

"I don't mind the pressure at all, I think my equipment and my results have got people worried so I'm relaxed about it all."