Cutting Edge - British Ski Team Newsletter
British Ski Team Up the Chill Factore in Manchester
On the 2nd November 2007, the British Ski and Snowboard teams
test drove the Chill Factore, Manchester. Chill Factore will
be the Alpine team's new official indoor training centre.
The new £31 million ski centre is the first indoor,
real snow Alpine ski village in the North West of England.
It has three separate, but interconnected, real snow slopes
- including a dedicated nursery area for beginners - and a
cresta-inspired luge run. The development includes the UK's
longest and world's widest real snow indoor ski slope at 180
metres long and 100 metres wide.
Summer Preparations Kick Start 2007 Season
New Snowsport GB CEO Mark Simmers believes this season will
be the best in recent history for British skiing. With a dynamic
mix of youth and experience, many think that Britain has the
talent to challenge the powerhouses of international skiing
such as Austria and America.
The preparations for the season began this summer in South
America where the best snow can be found during the summer
months. The Snowsport GB Ski team have capitalised on this
with intensive training alongside the top skiing nations and
are now in tip top condition, eagerly awaiting the start of
the season. [more]
 Baxter
Opens Season with Strong Result
On the 8th November 2007, Alain Baxter kick started his preparations
for his thirteenth year of World Cup Slalom with a good showing
at the European Cup in Landgraaf, The Netherlands.
With a final combined time of 24.27 seconds, Baxter placed
6th and missed the top three by 0.27 seconds. Baxter showed
no signs of a lower back problem that left him sidelined for
six weeks during the summer. The 33 year old from Aviemore
said of the result: "I'm very happy with my performance,
especially with the second run. The conditions of the slope
suited me and it was a good way to prepare for the World Cup
Slalom."
Snowsport GB Aims to Secure Future of Rising Stars
On the 6th November Snowsport GB launched the 'Rising Stars
Programme' which seeks funding for future young British snowsports
talent.
In partnership with City Ski Championships, Snowsport GB
is hoping to raise funds for the team of exceptional, up and
coming, talented British skiers, who have a genuine chance
of competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. [more]
Directski Backs the Brit's
Directski.com has renewed its sponsorship of the British Ski
Team for the 2007/08 season, becoming the official tour operator
of the 2008 British Championships.
The British Championships, which will take place in Méribel
from 30th March - 11th April, is an event where the best of
British talent can showcase their skills on a world stage.
And the competition begins
This Saturday, 24th November, sees the ski season start in
earnest for the British Team, with racing almost every weekend
from now until April 2008.
Finlay Mickel and Noel Baxter are both taking part in the
first World Cup Downhill and Super G of the season in Lake
Louise, Canada. Three compulsory training days precede the
races, which are timed and affect the skiers' starting positions.
Finlay and Noel are competing in the Downhill on 24th November
and the Super G on the 25th, Noel with his arm in a carbon
fibre guard to proctect his recently broken arm.
Chemmy Alcott is also racing in the Women's World Cup in
the Giant Slalom the same weekend in Panorama, Canada.
Watch out for (from 24th November).....
Live coverage on Eurosport of Chemmy Alcott, Finlay Mickel
and Noel Baxter competing this weekend. Coverage starts at
5pm on Saturday 24th and 4.30pm on Sunday 25th.
World Cup Skiing on Channel 4 - Sunday 25th 7.55am - 9am
(or 8.55am on Channel 4+1 for those who want a long lie!)
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