Skeels-Piggins overcomes hardest of journeys to reach Vancouver 2010

By David Jordan, Sportsbeat

 SKIER Talan Skeels-Piggins endured the roughest of rides in the build-up to the Winter Paralympics - but at the Vancouver Games the 29-year-old insists he's finally resting easy.

TOUGH JOURNEY: Talan Skeels-Piggins has not had the easiest of rides to Vancouver but he is determined to make the most of his Paralympics experience (Getty Images)

Skeels-Piggins - a former PE teacher and Royal Navy officer - was left heartbroken in December 2008 after his brother, Piran, committed suicide in Melbourne.

His pursuit of glory in Canada quickly paled into insignificance and he slipped down the international rankings.

Skeels-Piggins' first outing in Vancouver did not exactly go to plan as he ended up 31st in the slalom, nearly 40 seconds behind gold medallist Martin Braxenthaler of Germany.

But after coming to terms with his loss and securing his ticket to the Games, Skeels-Piggins vowed to use his brother's memory to power him into the medal places in his remaining outings.

"I had no idea that my brother was going to commit suicide. It was totally unexpected and it was something I had to deal with," said Skeels-Piggins.

"It had a huge impact on my performances because having gone to the same race one second behind the winner, I was 11 or 12 seconds behind last years time.

"It shows how important it is to be in the right frame of mind.

"I am very sad that my brother is no longer here. However, with time, I will be able to look back on all the good times we had together.

"I know that he is looking down on me and he will be proud that I am going to Vancouver and I would love to get a medal there and make him smile.

"It is an energy I use, no matter where I am I always know that he is with me."  

Skeels-Piggins' return to form began in August when he joined the rest of the GB squad for their inaugural overseas pre-season training camp in New Zealand.

And after claiming two bronze medals at last month's NorAm Cup race in Canada to secure his entry in the super-G, giant slalom and slalom in Vancouver, Skeels-Piggins admits the trip down under was key to realising his Paralympic dream.

"It was vital - the trip during the summer was pivotal in my improvements," added Skeels-Piggins.

"I'd changed my sit ski the previous season and I was struggling with that a bit as well as a number of other things.

"The three weeks of training went exceptionally well for me and we had the races at the end of that period and I performed well and it gave confidence to move on.

"From that platform we went to pre-season training and that went really well. It showed me what I was capable off and in the races, I performed better than I had expected.

"I'm in good physical shape, good technical shape and best of all my head is in the right place."