British Alpine Ski Team fired up and ready for the Winter
World Cup Competition.
 After
the best ever summer of training and preparation, the British
Alpine Ski Team are ready to challenge the best in the world
during FIS World Cup Alpine competition season.
The whole British Team travelled to Argentine and Chile in
September for a month’s intensive on snow training -
the first time such an undertaking by the team has occurred.
GB No.1 Mens Skier, Finlay Mickel was delighted with the
opportunity, “This really puts on a par with the main
Alpine nations – four weeks training in Chile is the
best pre-season preparation I have ever had. I am really fired
up for World Cup Downhill and SuperG season, and confident
of achieving consistent world-class results.” Finlay
had some excellent results in Chile, and was crowned the South
American Super-G Champion 2007.
The World Cup started last weekend and GB No.1 Womens Skier,
Chemmy Alcott had a very encouraging performance in the Giant
Slalom. She was in 11th place after the first run of the Giant
Slalom, and was heading for a top-10 place, when unfortunately
her ski binding released on her second run, and she could
not complete the course. Chemmy believes this could be the
season when she truly establishes herself at top of the world
rankings. After an injury ravaged 2006/07 season, Alcott has
been working with a new support team, including Sir Clive
Woodward’s fitness guru for the 2003 Rugby World Cup,
Dave Reddin.
Chemmy confirmed this when she said:
“I am fitter and stronger than I have ever been, and
that coupled with the amazing training in South America, means
I am feeling very confident about the coming season. The result
in Solden last weekend was very frustrating, but I know that
I can beat the best women in the world, and I expect to stand
on the podium in a world cup this year.”
Mark Simmers, Chief Executive of SnowsportGB, the national
governing body for skiing in the UK is pleased that the major
investment over the summer seems to be paying off.
“With more coaches and support staff than ever before,
and with the intensive training in South America, the British
Alpine Ski Team’s pre-season preparations are on a par
with the main Alpine nations in the world. In Chemmy Alcott,
Finlay Mickel, and Alain and Noel Baxter, we have the athletes
who will certainly challenge for World Cup podiums this year,
and behind them we have a crop of very talented young skiers
competing on the Europa Cup circuit. As the Winter Olympic
Games in Vancouver 2010 approaches, we are investing heavily
in our current World Cup skiers, and also in our Rising Stars,
such as Dougie Crawford and David Ryding. It is a very exciting
time for British Skiing.”
The British Alpine Ski Team will be televised throughout
the winter on Channel 4’s World Cup Skiing, on BBC Ski
Sunday and on British Eurosport.
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