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CNP Professional helps Jai Geyer take to the slopes for the 2009/2010 winter season
Added: (Tue Nov 10 2009)
Jai Geyer from Newton Abbott, Devon, was introduced to skiing when he was four years old and knew even then it was the sport for him. Now 15 years later he is working hard to receive the recognition and breakthrough result that he needs to boost his sponsorship.
He was the best ranked British skier in the 2007 Winter Youth Olympics in Spain. In April 2009 he became the new British Giant Slalom Champion beating many athletes who had been on the British team for some years.
"I love skiing," says Jai. "The feeling of the perfect turn, the one slice through the snow when everything you have worked for comes together for that split second. When it is so fast and fluent that you don't even know it's happened until you start to accelerate down the mountain.
"It's all about fitness, balance and strength. Ski racing at top levels puts a tremendous amount of force through the body especially at high speeds. Core strength is really important to keep the torso stable when you are doing turns."
The correction nutrition is vital during this type of exercise to keep the body in tip-top condition. Jai is now getting help from CNP Professional, a leading sports nutrition company. Founded by sports people for sports people, CNP is well known for supporting a variety of athletes including boxers, triathletes, cyclists and bodybuilders.
Since leaving school in 2008 Jai has concentrated on becoming a full-time athlete and British Alpine ski racer. He is determined to bag a few titles in the 2009/2010 winter season, and, looking beyond, would love to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
"I'm being realistic about 2014," says Jai. "Of course I would like to represent Britain there but I'm going to take it one season at a time. 2014 is way in the future."
Meanwhile to prepare for the season ahead, and keep up his strength and stamina during competitions Jai uses CNP's Pro Recover, Pro Peptide and Pro Mass.
"Last year I travelled thousands of miles throughout Europe from Spain to Norway, covering about 6,000 miles in France alone, and sometimes it's difficult to eat regularly," explains Jai. "Kerry Kayes at CNP suggested I use Pro Mass as a meal replacement for when I'm on the road and during training in the mountains to make sure I don't get too skinny. It's important to keep some mass for speed, especially in Giant Slalom, Super G and downhill events."
Pro Mass is a specially prepared blend of proteins with complex carbohydrates. It is low in saturated fat and lactose making it easy to digest. The combination of fast and slow acting proteins allows a steady stream of amino acids into the blood stream for repair and growth.
Training sessions on the mountains are very physically demanding as they are always at altitude. CNP's Pro Recover is perfect for these periods of intense exercise and also during competitions as it can be taken between races. It contains high glycemic (fast-acting) carbohydrates and fast-acting proteins to aid muscle repair and strengthening.
"This is probably my most valued supplement," says Jai. "I can't afford to get injured or miss any competitions due to muscle fatigue, so taking Pro Recover makes sure I get through the season."
Off-season gym training includes programmes to build up the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes as well as strengthening core and transverse abdominals and upper and lower back muscles. During this training Jai uses Pro Peptide, an advanced protein supplement to aid in building muscle mass. He takes it two or three times a day to boost his intake of protein without having to use complicated dietary regimes.
"Standing in the start gate knowing you have what it takes physically, in terms of strength and muscle endurance, brings the confidence that boosts my performance," says Jai. "Getting the right nutrition during training to achieve that level of fitness is absolutely vital, that's why I use CNP supplements."
It's tough funding a sport like skiing that requires so much travelling and living abroad during the season and pre-season training. Jai works for the British Ski Academy during the off-season and fits in his training around this.
"I'm so determined to be a top class Alpine Skier," says Jai. "The supplements I'm getting from CNP really help but that's just the start. I need some more sponsors to keep me on the slopes this season and in the future."
To find out more visit Jai's website www.jaigeyer.com .
CNP Professional is one of the UK's leading sports nutrition specialist companies. For more information visit www.cnpprofessional.co.uk, or call +44 (0) 161 320 1212 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 320 8145 for sales.