Herefordshire ski ace Colin Tucker starring on FIS World Masters Cup circuit (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire ski ace Colin Tucker starring on FIS World Masters Cup circuit

9:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

SPORTSMAN Colin Tucker always fancies a challenge even if it means pushing his body to the limit.

The 66-year-old from Mordiford has tackled the north-east ridge of Everest and helped to rebuild Hereford’s city wall.

But skiing is the passion for the born-and-bred Herefordian.

He is a member of the Kandahar Club and the only British male competing on the FIS World Masters Cup circuit.

“I enjoy a sporting challenge, the goal-setting and making a dream come true,” said Colin.

“You need a goal in life and I have surprised myself this season.

“I didn’t start with confidence this year but it has been my best season overall.

“Training is probably more dangerous than racing because that’s when you tend to try something different.

“When I was starting out 10 years ago, I broke my leg within two weeks.

“But in 2008 I was awarded European Speed Test Colours with 48 speed points.

“It was good in 2008 and then I had a second hip replacement.”

Colin’s skiing has taken him to eight European countries.

He has enjoyed two runner-up spots in the World Masters Cup this season. And he was racing in the Czech Republic last weekend.

Last season, Colin had a nasty skiing accident on his 65th birthday.

“I am more successful now and I am able to manage the risk involved, improve and succeed.

“But I suffered a few bone-breaks and I was knocked out for a short time,” recalled Colin.

“I deliberately went to the last race at the end of that season to get back on the horse.

“It was important not to have too long out of the sport.

“I haven’t been skiing all my life. I was a ski instructor for nine years – seven in Austria and two in Andorra.

“But for someone who has trained and worked as a civil engineer for 40 years, I am not doing too badly.”

Colin is a well-known figure in Herefordshire – and is often seen training on the roads in his roller-skis.

“I do cross-country skating and a lot of people see me on the roads in my roller skis.

“They probably don’t know what I am doing - but it’s great for keeping fit.”

Colin also enjoys playing tennis at Woolhope and used to be a long-term member at Whitecross squash club.

He climbed 7,000 metres on Everest in 2005 and says his sporting mentor is his 21-year-old son, William, who is also a talented skier.

William, now a human biology student at Loughborough University, is seeded to ski for Great Britain at the 2014 International University Games.

And Colin’s 25-year-old daughter, Hannah, has an international business degree and works full-time in snowsports in Switzerland.

She also manages events for North Island New Zealand.

“I called in to see Hannah earlier this year in Switzerland and I think she loved skiing with her dad,” he said.

Colin trained as a civil engineer and has run his Herefordshire design and construction business since 1973.

“I have been involved in a lot of projects such as rebuilding the city wall in Hereford and rebuilding St Martin’s Vicarage.

“I had successive contracts for the Post Office and Tesco.”

But he added: “Nothing beats skiing. I love the mountains and I am very fortunate to be supported by The McMinn Centre in Birmingham and doing a sport that I love.”