Paralympian skier has heart set on gold

When Wanaka-based Paralympian Adam Hall dreams, he dreams of standing atop the podium at next year's Winter Paralympics, a gold medal around his neck, the national anthem playing.

He has the same dream every day. Now it's a matter of turning it into reality.

"I do a lot of imagery. I imagine myself quite a few times, every day, doing my runs in Vancouver, standing on the podium – basically right up until I get home to Dunedin with medals around my neck – that's how intense it is."

These aren't pipe dreams, either.

Hall is the second-ranked slalom skier in the Paralympic world.

New Zealand's snow sports athlete of the year, the Outram-raised skier has won silver and bronze medals at the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) World Cup finals and a silver at the world championships in the past year.

He leaves New Zealand this week, after a short off season, for his other home at Winter Park, in Colorado.

Situated at 3000 metres above sea level, Hall gets up five days a week and heads to the gym before hitting the slopes.

It's hard work, relentless and he has to push the limits of his endurance.

Born with spina bifida, Hall has limited movement and muscle in the lower part of his legs.

He also competes with a knee injury resulting from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he damaged when crashing after a race run at Winter Park at the end of 2007.

At the time Hall limped back to his locker and wrapped gaffer tape around his knee so he could keep skiing. Weeks later a scan revealed the extent of the problem but he opted to forgo surgery because he was concerned it could ruin his Paralympic dream.

The boy is tough, committed and covets the Paralympic slalom gold medal.

"I know that I can definitely podium, I know that I have that in me, but I want that gold medal and I'll do whatever it takes to go that extra mile, or two."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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