Disappointing day pushes Docker close to retirement

RUSSELL Docker may have competed in his last Paralympic Games after a disappointing super-G performance saw the skier finish last.

DISAPPOINTING DAY: Russell Docker almost crashed on his run to finish last in the super G (Getty Images)

Docker almost crashed in his race and despite recovering to finish the course, he could only manage a time of 1:44.07 minutes to come 29th.

The 42-year-old has competed in three consecutive Games but crashed out at Salt Lake City in 2002 and struggled with a shoulder injury four years later in Turin.

And after so many trials and tribulations over the years, Docker is not sure how much more he can take.

"Mentally I was hoping that today was going to be like yesterday and I could gain confidence over the first few turns but it just wasn't to be," he said.

"Four years for just 1 minute 30 seconds and then not to get it right - that's too much for me.

"Yesterday I thought that's it for me, I'm finished, but for me the result is only half of why I ski.

"It's my passion for skiing really that keeps me going - I just love it.

"I'm going to go for the World Championships next year but I don't think I have it in me to do another four year cycle.

"Funding will definitely decide my destiny."

British skiers suffered a difficult day on Whistler Creekside as Talan Skeels-Piggins had his first run yellow-flagged before Sean Rose was struck down by equipment failure.

Skeels-Piggins was most of the way down the mountain when he was forced to return to the top and start again only managing a time of 1:37.62 minutes to come 25th.

But the skier was competing in only his first Paralympic Games and is already looking forward to Sochi 2014.

"Hopefully what we have done will get reported back home to tell people that life still goes on. So that even if you have lost an arm or a leg, you can still throw yourself down a mountain - which is an incredible feat," said Skeels-Piggins.

"After another four years of training, I'll be in really good shape.

"The GB team has got a lot of new blood coming through and I think we'll be even stronger in Sochi."

Rose could not complete the course after his binding popped while going over a compression but will be back on the slopes for the super combined on Saturday.

"I was skiing exactly how I wanted to ski, but I suppose I should take some comfort from the fact that it was equipment failure not me that ended the race," said Rose.

"After the crash as I skied down, I was thinking to myself I could have just ripped this course but I'll look forward to tomorrow."