And he's sharing his experiences with us!

We'll be updating this throughout the games so keep coming back as the 41-year-old  gears up for his big day on March 14.

Previously:  On the Sochi slopes;    Touching down at the Winter Olympics;     Meet Australia's first Paralympic snowboarder

This is from the man himself who, we might add, signs off emails as "one proud one-legged Aussie"!

Well, Sochi has put the flame out in the cauldron. 

The closing ceremony was better from an athletes' prospective than the opening one. It was more relaxed and informal. 

It was really a tribute to the athletes and the volunteer that made the games such a successful occasion. 

Our skiers pulled a bronze out for the Gs in alpine skiing. Go Jessica Gallagher - what good form! 

Then it was by time to get ready for yet another ceremony  and with that, like I said before, comes great responsibly. Bloody more ironing of our R.M Williams kit! Goddamn ironing - this is the second time I've ironed in close to 25 years so I can't really complain. 

When we were all dressed we looked quite dapper even if I do say so myself. We headed to Fischt Stadium on the bus for our last hurrah. 

On our arrival there was no one in the stadium but that soon changed - it filled to the brim in minutes. 

Athletes came in first and we sat next to the stage and took the show in. They did it in a relaxed informal way. 

The flag was lowered and passed on to South Korea for the next games in Pyeongchang 2018 

They said some inspirational words. and then it was time to party.

All the athletes got to get up and party to a DJ set on stage complete with big balloons to punch in the air. It was great! 

It has been a whirlwind of an experience and over before it began - but I'll never forget it. 

On my return to the athletes villages it was finally snowing, dumping in fact. Oh well, better than never - it finally turned to winter at the end 

We enjoyed a team celebration in town then it was time to pack. I'll be at home and in the surf before i know it. 

So, if you see a one-legged surfer giving it a go, please say hello and share a wave with me.

The bald, fast, old man 

My race day was a shining example of where hard work, dedication and determination can get you. 

Winning isn't everything I know but having the worst result in my adaptive snowboarding career really sucks. But my teammate Ben Tudhope had his day - and I'm sure there will be many more to come. 

I am just embarrassed by my result.

Oh well, what do they say? A bad day at the office?

But that is life - we live and learn. I will train harder, focus more and I'll only get healthier in my new life. 

Disabled or not, I can only take positives away from this very fortunate experience. I had a bloody ball, my team ripped it up and again I think I can hold my head up high. 

I'm alive.  I'm healthy. I'm kind of fit and I'm loving every breath I can take. 

Thank you for all your help. You all know who you are. Without you all I'd still be in a hospital bed 

Today's been about recovering from my race and supporting my teammates in the men's Gs skiing race. I have just seen it live in person and Sochi is still giving us no love. Both our boys crashed out of their last race. It was another sad day for our campaign. We were in with a chance but it slipped through our fingers again. 

We, as a team, have one more race to go - for the girls it's the last alpine event before the closing ceremony. So, go get them girls, I know you will make yourselves proud. 

An embarrassed one-legged snowboarder 

Well, we had official training which was made up of four runs.

The first run was an inspection so side slipping only. The second run was feel it out. That I did it was clean clear and safe. 

On the third run I picked it up to probably 70 per cent and had a ball. I made up a lot of confidence in the line selections I chose. 

On the fourth run I pumped it up to 100 per cent. I had two big falls - wham bam - but still finished. I walked away safe with just slightest head and shoulder bump - as well as a very sore big bum. Hee hee hee! 

So back for a stretch and phyiso and am now in bed with two ice packs. One for my beaten young stump - after a day's racing I can't walk, so it's flat on my back resting and icing the thing so I can do it to it again tomorrow. 

The other ice pack is on my shoulder and neck just to stop any bruises from flaming up. I've hated icing my injurys in the past but now I embrace it with open arms. It just speeds up the recovery process. 

Today we woke to more fresh snow to snowboard on and it couldn't of happened at a better time. We will confidently get through these games with enough snow for sure. 

The best guys can't push too hard because they are just blowing up, so the slower guys are able to ride it more confidently. It will be good for my sport of snowboarding. It will keep the pack much closer in times and results. 

I do believe it's going to be a winner for the Paralympic Games and draw a lot of interest for the International Paralympic Committee, our governing body. It's a win-win. They get great TV to watch and they also get to experience the snowboard fraternity (move over skiers we are representing and here to stay ).

My poor old stumps is so sore. I'm only wearing my prosthetic leg to go to the toilet. I have to save it to do my best for the good old green and gold. 

As for my feelings on race day. Well, it's my job - go get it done.

 I'm lucky enough to have a second chance at life and I thrive on competition. Saying that, I cried in line waiting to race today. I'd just breakdown for no reason sometimes (not that I cry out loud, but I cry behind my tinted goggles). I'm in the line waiting to start and something just overwhelmed me. I cannot pinpoint it but I can only guess it's me still coming to terms with the traumatic events of my life; how bloody hard I've worked to get here and maybe that I've not really accepted I'm here racing at the games as it's been such a very, very short time since my accident.

I will be honest I think I'm going to crumble in a emotional ball of flames after the race. I will go to a quiet corner cover my face and hide my head in my lap and let it all out. Then stand up pull myself together and go embrace this truly wonderful position I'm in: that is alive and loving it 

I think that's how I feel. It's just been a endless road of adapting that I've had absolutely no time to enjoy what I'm doing or who I've become in this new mind and body I now know. 

OK guys, I don't care if I win or lose but I sure am going to give it my all.  Wish me as much luck as you can!

The bald, fast one-legged old man 

It was snowing when I woke up this morning and has continued snowing all day. Even at 10pm as I write, it's still snowing. Yee bloody haa!

I had forgotten this was a Winter Paralympic Games being that I hadn't been out of my boardies since my arrival at the airport from Switzerland. Well, that's apart from being on snow training. 

We had our first day of training in our official boardercross course and I'm rapt.

It was very poor vision on the snow. There was fog and the conditions were cloudy but the day was greater than I had imagined. The course was great. We've been riding the ski lift over the top of it since we have been here to get to our training course and it didn't look the best from the chairlift. But, oh my God it rode so well - all the competitors are giving me the same feedback. They totally agree - it rides heaps better than it looked. 

My understanding of what the coaches are saying is that it is a very good track for all levels of athletes there.

We only had time to have one inspection run in and then two training runs in before they said "that's enough, go home". 

But there are only positive thoughts from the brief time allowed in the course. Unfortunately on my first run, not knowing the track at all, I was only riding at 50 per cent of my ability and had a big fall so as I write this I have a splitting headache and a ice pack on me. I'm awaiting my phyiso to help manipulate me back to a healthier state so I can go do it all again tomorrow. 

So the snowboarders go again tomorrow morning for more official training. Let's get this show on the road. I'm here to snowboard so snowboard I shall. 

The skiers had their schedules changed around again due to the weather. They are used to racing on hard-packed snow so the 10 or 15 cm snow we got overnight stopped the speed event they had planned. They ran the slalom section of their racing schedules and the females only too. 

We had three girls racing who all did a fantastic job. They where able to hold there heads very high indeed, but with tougher than expected conditions, it still wasn't Australia's day 

But don't worry they will be back 100 per cent focused and ready to go again tomorrow. 

Sorry its got to be a quick wrapper tonight my headaches killing me and I've got to be up for more fun super early in the morning so "thank you again Port Macquarie".

The proud but sore one-legged man

Today I had a day off training in the gym - just a very light bike ride and some stretching and it felt great. 

The day was thick fog and rain - bloody rain. I love surfing and snowboarding in the rain, it's less crowded. 

So the team had plans to go to town or Sochi in plain clothing to shop for souvenirs at the markets in Adler, a suburb of Sochi. 

It was raining cats and dogs so we ran - or rather I hobbled (with my amputation I can snowboard or ride a bike better than I can walk. I will learn to run again, just give me some more time ) to the cover of the shopping centres and the undercover markets. 

There we where bombarded with mascots of the Games - Sunray and Snowflake - but at a third of the price of the alpine village we are in. So I bought up big! If your a mate at home or my family you are about to find out what your going to get. 

Got heaps of the traditional Russian dolls called babushkas - or dolls that pull apart into smaller dolls then the next doll revealing another smaller doll and so on. I also got the "I've been here Sochi" beanies, hats, t-shirts., pens, keyring - all the crap you would never buy for yourself but if someone gives it to you you are so overwhelmingly surprised and thankful that you have to say you love it. But then you put it in your cubboard and forget about until you take a load of stuff to the op-shop bins to clear out some space at home. You guys get the drift. 

From there, it was a Russian lunch. Wow, some meat and some more meat. It was  pretty heavy stuff for a prodominantly vegetarian-eater like myself but when in Russia ...

Now for my highlight of my last five months of travelling, training and competing. 

I got to swim in the Black Sea in howling winds and torrential rain! It was awesome to be in the saltwater again even though the beach was closed due to a 1ft wind swell that they call "dangerous".

There's no sand, just fist-sized pebbles or rocks that made me happy to have only one leg walking to the water because it hurt my foot to buggery. The water temp was 16 degrees and the ambient air temp was 13 degrees.

That didn't stop my spiritual connection with the saltwater. I dived in and lasted about a minute before I limped back up those bloody rocks to my teammates who where taking photos and calling me an idiot among other names I can't repeat! 

So I now had to got to get out of my boardies and back into my dry clothing. Right in front of us was a massage parlour which had fish tanks. So I couldn't resist going in for a sticky beak.

It turned out the fish were the ones that suck the dead skin of your feet hands and face or whatever you where game enough to put in there with them. So from saltwater to fresh water fish tanks - it was a hoot of a time! The fish swamped you in the hundreds and sucked their little brains out, eating the dead skin off my foot. They even cleaned up my prosthetic leg to everyone's surprise.

Then you had to love the Russian owner who showed me to the face tank. She gave me goggles, a nose piece and a snorkel - and in my head went! 

I now lie in bed with that genuine salty feeling from swimming in the Black Sea. I'm not showering until I get home - this feeling is to to good. 

Back to the job at hand ... skiers had a rain-cancelled day here at the games. I think they should have followed the snowboarders to the beach! 

So with any luck the rain will stop for us tomorrow because its back to training for us its our first day in the snowboardcross course. I can't wait. Let's get it on.

It was great to get out of our security bubble on our day off and check back in with reality of normal day to day life. 

Talk soon - the bald, fast, old man 

Today was our first "bluebird day" in Sochi. There was a very beautiful day to greet me on my opening of the blinds this morning. It made me feel great when I saw the sun so early. I knew I was in for a great day. 

7.30am was team brekkie. The food's been OK for me - fresh fruit, museli and yoghurt. Life's good with my fruit.

Our training has been from 10am to noon, so only hours hours of course time but it's been enough with this slushie snow that by 12 you can't get that much more out of the snow without it being closer to surfing inland. 

I've had stump issues with blisters and ingrown hairs getting infected so I only trained for one hour before going to the doctor's to get my leg lanced to remove all infections. I'll be ready to race on a healthy stump. Fingers crossed. 

With the blue skies I took advantage of tacking some happy snaps of the surrounding mountains out of the gondola. That's Joel, our legendary phyiso, giving the peace sign in the gondola itself. He loves the mornings that is if it's not raining. 

I also got some shots of the lifts being at the top of the gondala to give you an idea of how much money they put into these games. Everything is state-of-the-art new. Saying that, I realised that with my 30-odd season passes behind me I could never lay to claim that I've ever had a private ski resort for myself and a few mates! You see, athletes and competitors are the only ones able to ski on this hill. That's right - no public at all can ski on this hill. It closed to all free skiing. 

That's yet another first in my ski and snowboard career. One that I'm very cheekily proud of too. Can't wait to claim that one with my mates at home. 

So on my return from training I had to ice my beaten stump to then get myself together to go back to my prosthetic shop in the village and get my snowboarding leg fixed yet again. This time I got a photo with Garth the man whose being fixing the leg time and time again. He's a top dude - he's Belgium but speaks four or five languages so he's pretty handy guy to have around in Europe that's for sure.

You will see a photo of a tank-tracked wheelchair. It's a pisser for a quad in snow and ice - there's no better form of transport. I had to ask if I could test drive it, and the worst thing is I just got a new wheelchair at home that's manually operated and it cost more than that tanker of a chair which was electric so there's no pushing required.  Bummer, I lucked out on that one that's for sure. 

Next I took some photos of a Russian truck that was just parked on the street on the way home to the Aussie house. It was impressive indeed and so were the Army officials standing next to it. I thought 'just keep walking Trent, just keep walking'. 

On my return to the Aussie house I realised there is a set of Paralympic slashes nearby. Instead of the Paralympics being able to use the five rings of the Olympics, they had to develop their own symbol which is why they are called the Paralympic slashes!

You'll see from the photo it's shorts weather again. It's not cold at all. I think our top temp was around 13 degrees celsius. It is just too warm for a ski resort. Oh well, we have snow and I'm looking forward to racing here come rain, dirt or rocks - whatever happens it's going to be a blast. 

The men skiers had a day off from competition today being they raced for the past three days. It was the girls' turn with more speed events going on. It was the females super G and we only have the wonderful Melissa Perrine who has qualified with enough points to do the speed events (the downhill and super G) for Australia. Melissa is a V3 vision-impaired athlete which means she skis with a guide who communicates through helmet headsets.

Mel had a great first run. They get two runs in super G then combination of the two timed runs gives you your overall times. 

She was in the lead after her first run by over two seconds looking in a great spot to bag our first medal. 

Her second run went awesome but a very uncharacteristic mistake by Melissa and Andrew her guide saw them miss a gate and getting disqualified.

I'm so bummed for Melissa and Andrew as they have worked so well together and put in the hard yards to accomplish their goal of a podium finish. But again, that's ski racing - you can push hard and pull it of or push hard and make a small mistake and be totally out of the race. I just want Melissa to know I have the utmost respect for her and Andrew. I know they will still grab a medal for the team and themselves. You go get them again tomorrow guys. Keep your focus. 

Saying that, I think I've learnt that the athletes whom I have the most respect and are the bravest by a long, long way are the visually impaired skiers. You can take my leg or arm and I'll adapt but take my vision and that's it, I'm blind.

I've got no visual sense of being. I take my hat off to all the male and female blind skiers. You're way stronger than I'll ever be. You guys are my heros from this, my first Paralympic games. Go get them tomorrow Mel, you're a legend to me.

We have been given permission to head down to Sochi to do some sightseeing, shopping and to get some Russian food with a trip to the street markets. But for me it will be a swim or, if I can make it happen, a surf in the Black Sea. My gills have dried up from being out of the saltwater for the past five months. Even a frolic for five minutes in the Black Sea will last until I get to my beloved Pacific Ocean.

It was the snowboarders’ first day of training on the hill today in our training course. 

It was a small but fast training course that was heaps of fun. It was open for us to do two hours training so we packed in as many runs in as possible. It was soft and slushie with the air temp of 8 degrees and more rain overnight (bummer).

The runs are getting quite thin with dirt patches and rocks appearing where we snowboarding the day beforehand. No big deal - there are only positives in these game. I have to keep reminding myself I should be dead so get on with it and have a bloody ball with this wonderful situation I’m in. 

Today I went for lunch in the cafeteria and was jumped on by Snowflake the mascots for a photo. She traded me a pin in return. It was a limited edition pin for athletes only. Pretty cool.

Wow, I never imagined the pin thing would be this big nor as interesting. Some countries have gone off. For example, the Dutch have clogs, Canada has a beer mug and as I said beforehand, we have a skiing koala which is much sought-after, that's for sure. 

The skiers had a mixed bag today it was men only and they raced super G. Everyone finished safely and got great results but unfortunately no medals for the team just yet. 

Today started slower for the snowboarders. We left at 9am to watch the skiers do there first race in the downhill with them hitting speeds of over 125km. A lot of them are on one leg or vision impaired (some are completely blind), the other class is for people in wheelchairs. 

We had three teammates in the race - Mel (Perrine and her guide Andy Bor) a vision-impaired skier who just missed out on bronze by coming fourth. It was a bummer for her as she was training so well. 

The Toby Kane on one leg came sixth - hitting 140km on his run. Good form indeed.

Mitch Gourley came seventh but had a great run. He just made some small uncharacteristic mistakes which cost. But all top 10 finishes so it was great positive start for the team. 

Tonight is going to be a calming restful one after the emotional high of last night's efforts. 

All the teams and athletes all had a ball last night and couldn't stop gibber-gabbing about their experience. 

OK, it's nanna nap time for me, then to flog myself in the gym...

We were out training today in the famed green and gold and although I felt like a bumblebee, our uniforms do exactly what they’re meant to – make us stand out from the crowd.

Everyone is commenting that we look great. I hope there not pulling my good leg and being sarcastic!

I’ve included some photos inside Australia house so you can see what an outstanding job the Australian Paralympic Committee has done. We have Vegemite, Milo, peanut butter, postcards and support messages from home Then there are the physicians, phyisos, shrinks, administration, coaches, personal trainers, press and media.

They are all top friendly people with us at all time. My hat truly goes off to them. It's not easy to get here but when you earn it, they back you up that's for sure. 

On snow was great – it was 12 degrees with rain shower. This place is going to be lucky to have enough snow to last out the competition.

After the morning on snow it was back to get out more new clothes for the opening ceremony. With that comes great responsibility – ironing!

Before we headed off to the opening ceremony we all had a team shot out the front. We were in our R.M.Williams clothing – a white collared shirt, tie, blue puffy jackets, tight or skinny jeans (yuk) and R.M Williams boots. I think we looked the best outfitted team. 

Then it was a one-hour bus ride to the stadium in Sochi on the Black Sea. We arrived two hours beforehand and waited with all the other nations. But we were extremely lucky we were scheduled to enter the stadium first. We were very lucky indeed. 

Now's the part I get all soft and emotional. It hits me like a ton of bricks - that this old cobber has earned the right to represent my country. I’d been battling with all the other elite snowboarders in the world to get to the Games and I’d never really taken stock of what I had achieved. This was my time to shed a quiet tear and realise where I was – in the opening ceremony of a Paralympic Games!

It is a couple of firsts for me from my humble Bonny Hills existence – not only me actually being here but this is the first time Russia has held a Paralympics and the first time snowboarding has been held at a winter Paralympic Games. Yee bloody haa! 

We then set of on our march into the stadium. I can't describe what it was like to walk into a stadium full of close to 80,000 people and be the first team in. They screamed the roof of the place. 

We walked in and then before we knew it we had come to the end of our marching and were directed to our seated section right next to the centre stages. We had people screaming from the stands asking for photos with them and their children, newborns and all … it just went on and on. 

Once all athletes had entered the stadium we all got to sit back and enjoy the rest of the show. It was marvellous, they put together quiet an impressive ringside performance. 10 points to the Russians. I won't forget that night for the rest of my lifetime. 

And then President Putin turned up again - the second time in two nights I've rubbed shoulders with the man. Hee hee 

After the formalities – speeches, flag-raising, and musical bits - the Paralympic torchbearers came on in and lit up the cauldron. They did it with a bang and in style.

So the games are now ] open for medals to be won and lost.

The big thing for me was that it was a very humbling night. These games are all about pushing limits of limited capability people that just want to live an active life to the fullest and be accepted as happy, friendly, lively people. 

There are no limitations in life.  How do you know what you can do if you don't try? 

Wow, what a privilege it was to experience. Thank you Australia.

Today's events were awesome. I’d never imagined it would be this good and the games themselves don't even start until tomorrow. Wow, here we go … 

I was on the snow by 8am – the snow was concrete and ice. Yuk. Then it was to the gym; a recovery session, stretch, cardiovascular and balance work. After lunch I had 45 minutes with Otto Bock, my prosthetic people. Then it was more press.

We had a team meeting following the press commitments to announcing the “what, when, and where” for the opening ceremony. We - Australia - will be walking out first in the ceremony. Yee haa!

I’m a bit nervous all of a sudden. I hadn't realised it's the Paralympic Games until now. It sounds strange, I’m sure but my focus had just been on qualifying and competing that I hadn't stop to think about whatever will happen at the games themselves.

 At the athletes' village everyone wants pins. They gave us little koala bear skiing as pins to swap out with the other countries. I thought it was a joke when they said they were like money but everyone has wanted the Aussie pins. They were right - people chase us down to get them, it’s too, too funny.

It makes me realise how bloody lucky I am to be Australian. We are envied by all other nationalities, abled or disabled. I've never been so emotionally attached to my nationality beforehand it's a very proud step in my lifetime. I’m humbled. 

Then we had the Ukraine team welcoming. They were strong and they were proud. It is a huge team and very, very vocal indeed.

 But the big moment of the day came that night when we heard the Russians where having their welcoming and President Putin was coming, so off we trotted to see him and their huge team.

President Putin walked right by me and was about a metre from me - and I didn't even know it was him because he was so short - 5ft nothing!

Wow oh wow, how much more's going to happen? This gets to new heights every hour. I'll need to sleep for a months on my return home from a Paralympic hangover. 

I hope we all realise that we, as Australians, are truly envied by the whole world.

Trent