Emma Norton, one of Scotland’s top skiers, is something of a multi-tasker.  A member of Scotland’s downhill ski team and the Home Nations Development Squad, she also has under her belt a life saving course, a sports leader course and is currently working towards becoming a qualified quad trek leader.  Quite the little go-getter.

Her resourcefulness began as a child when, at just 18 months, she started skiing on that most treacherous of terrains, the kitchen floor, much to the delight of Mum and Dad.  Now however, all grown up at 18 years and having moved from the household to the hillside, she is living evidence that learning early gives you the best possible of starts.  Last year saw her gain a podium finish at the 2006 British and Scottish Ski Championships, and win the British Downhill Junior title.  As we said, a real go-getter.

2007 hasn’t worked out to be quite such a successful season for Emma unfortunately, as a high speed crash at the British Junior Super G in Meribel caused extensive damage to her cruciate ligaments, requiring surgery and putting her out of action for almost a year.

Not that such an accident has got her down, as In The Winning Zone discovered when we caught up with her at home in Carrbridge, near Aviemore, while she underwent rehabilitation. 

“It got hard sometimes,” says Emma, now nearing the end of her involuntary sabbatical. But she remained positive. “I think the drive came from looking at where I’ve come from, how much I’ve done and that I love my sport and the culture around it – that’s what kept me going.  And support from my family.  My younger sister is in the part time team and she’s been quite supportive because she’s kept me in touch with the rest of the squad and I’ve also had support from Snowsport Scotland.”

Emma raises an interesting point by mentioning the ‘culture’ surrounding snowsport.  It has a reputation of a somewhat relaxed, almost recreational ambience surrounding it.  Of course, there is intensity on the slopes and in competition, but Emma loves the way she can treat her skiing career like a regular occupation.  She realizes the importance of being able to switch off and have some down time.

“You have to learn to let go, you can’t always be on the competitive side.  You must have time as soon as you come off the slope to relax and chill out.  And that’s what I love about skiing, everyone has two personalities.  A lot of people are quite uptight about it and their parents want them to do well, but my career was a choice – I could do it or not do it.  I know that and I love the drive it gives me.  Because I love the sport, I find myself more motivated.”

Is it just her love of the sport that motivates her, or actually winning, in that case?  Or does one merge into the other?  “Both, really.  I have the drive for winning but if I don’t win then I don’t go mad about it.  I look at what I could have done to make it better and how to achieve my goals.  A race isn’t just a single event; you are always looking at your next step.  But sometimes it takes you three steps forward and two steps back.”

And does she know at what point she is making more forward steps than backward ones?  “I think I understand where I am and where I want to be.  Some kids ask for too much, whereas I know where I am and I know what I should be able to accomplish.  Some kids want to do better, but you can’t do better if you’re not pushing yourself.”

Emma, as you can tell, is a seriously grounded individual, particularly for one who spends so much time amongst the clouds at the top of a mountain, before shifting back down at speeds which would, worryingly, land her a fine if she were in an enclosed vehicle.  The reason behind this mature, thoughtful and above all honest attitude is the environment in which she has grown up.

Her parents have been heavily, but by no means overbearingly, involved.  Her father is a long-time ski instructor, firstly with Carrbridge Ski School and then as a BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Trainer.  Both he and her mother regularly hosted other instructors during the winter, and this influence obviously rubbed off on Emma. 

“I always have little talks with my dad about certain things and I think my motivation comes through him really.  For example when I had hypnotherapy, I didn’t really enjoy it, but it helped me to see things more clearly.  So I’d look at my video when I was away and then evaluate it more with my dad.  We would sit down and he would ask questions about feedback I got.”

Beyond the realm of her family, Emma’s wider community has even played a significant role in her development as an athlete, and as a young woman.  “I had so many opportunities to do so much, which I really appreciate.  When I was small all the parents built a junior sports club.  We didn’t have a lot of money so we had to get a big group of kids together with a lot of adult support to get this club going.  We used to do rugby, football and golf.  And through that I learned to communicate well, I’m not a shy person.  I can speak up and think I’ve grown up quicker through that. I’m only 18 but I’ve done so much already whereas a lot of kids don’t have that opportunity.”

For now, however, Emma is more interested in getting back out on the slopes and rejoining her team mates (which, as of press time, she has succeeded in doing).  “I’ve been so frustrated being at home because you are all on your own up here and you’ve got to do everything yourself.  The Highland Institute of Sport has really helped me this year with training and introducing me to weights which I’ve never had the chance to do.    And that is very productive, I’m enjoying every minute, because I’m not on my own anymore.”

And, by the sounds of things, her team mates will be equally happy to have her back. “The girls are now phoning me and asking me when I’m coming back out because I motivate them, as I’m very positive.  Well, I try to be anyway!”

Sounds to us like she’s doing a pretty good job…

RO

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