ST NEOTS skier Sean Rose has hit the ground running in his bid for Paralympic success with medals at the Europa Cup and the German national championships. Rose has labelled this season the most important of his career as he looks to peak in time for the V

ST NEOTS skier Sean Rose has hit the ground running in his bid for Paralympic success with medals at the Europa Cup and the German national championships.

Rose has labelled this season the most important of his career as he looks to peak in time for the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010.

His months of intensive pre-season training in New Zealand and Austria seemed to pay immediate dividends in the giant slalom at the German nationals on Friday, as he finished just a second behind current Paralympic champion Martin Braxenthaler.

He followed it up with a third place in the same event at the Europa Cup on Saturday against a world-class field in Pitztal, Austria.

Placed second after the first run, Rose lost a little ground in the second run and had to settle for fifth, giving him a combined third overall.

Rose said: "It's my first medal in the Europa Cup giant slalom, which is normally my least favourite event. To do it against a field of this standard, I'm well happy."

Rose completed his podium hat-trick with a third place in Sunday's SuperG.

"Looking at the course, I couldn't wait to get into it. It was brilliant fun top to bottom, and I crossed the line with a smile from ear to ear, regardless of the result," said Rose.

Stopping the clock just 0.5 seconds off the lead, and 0.2 behind the Paralympic champion, Rose equalled his best-ever result in the SuperG.

"I think we could have even have improved on the result if we had a ski technician with us, as my skis weren't running so fast in the conditions, but we'll have to wait for the World Cups in January for that," said Rose.

"All the boys on the British team did really well, reaching many top 10s and achieving Paralympic selection standards - so it was a good week all round."

The Europa Cup continues this weekend with three further rounds in Kuhtai, Austria.