L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Heel wins Super G in Val Gardena with Defago and Jaerbyn on the podium ... Paerson wins Super combined from Hosp and Suter ... Walchhofer retains King of the Hill in Downhill, Miller 2 and Osborne Paradis 3 ... Gut wins Super G in St Moritz from Suter and Fanchini

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Rocca wins in Flachau

Having switched on to Atomic in the close season, Italian Giorgio Rocca came from behind to win the Slalom in Flachau.  An emotional Rocca was delighted to have won for his equipment suppliers in the resort closest to the factory.  Conditions were very hard for the racers with a bighting cold front making breathing hard.  The cold weather and new snow that has hit central Europe hard over the past few days, meant that the course was hard packed for the larger than usual field.

The first run was won by Top Austrian, Rainer Schoenfelder.  The singing Austrian was buoyant and jovial after the first run yet the smile disappeared after the second run as he dropped to second.  The race was as open as has been seen this season: The stage was set when Bode Miller came out early on on the first run and when his compatriot Ted Ligerty was bumped out of 30th place, for the first rime this season, no American made the second run, let alone the podium!  The second run absentees was a whose who of Slalom racing: No Miller, Killian Albrecht (Austria) nor the Silver medallist of the St Moritz World Championships, Silvan Zurbriggan.  Yet the resurgence of the German team, fresh from their ear bashing by Marc Giradelli, saw Alois Vogl in the top three behind Schoenfelder and Rocca.  With Max Rauffer having won in Val Gardena, is this a resurgence of the German team.  Certainly with Hilde Gerg winning in St Moritz on Saturday as well, this could be the case.

The hard compact conditions saw a number of later runners come from behind to qualify for the second run and Jure Kosir, Slovenian, had to sit out the final few racers waiting to see if he would make it.  As the crowd walked away after the first run, the score board showed that he was in 31st place yet the young Japanese racer, Nuaki Yuasa who was shown in 25th place, was subsequently disqualified for skiing over a gate.  Kosir made the best of the early start for the second run and held on for a good finish.

For the British racers it was a day of bitter disappointment as both Noel and Alain failed to break in to the top 30.  For Alain this was a much better race than the last race in Sestriere. Alain had felt that he was not racing well earlier in the season yet although he felt he had raced much better in Flachau, he was still bemused as to why he had not the cut.  Coming out of the start Baxter looked tentative, yet asked why this was Baxter responded: "I was conscious of really wanting to nail the third gate as it was very icy." Alain certainly managed to get through the opening section and was looking good: More fight and much more positive ski racing from Britain's leading Slalom skier.  two thirds down the course it looked like Alain had straddled and whilst he had obviously lost some time, his rhythm was also gone.  "I did not notice that" (the straddle) responded a rather bemused Alain.  Whilst he came down into 28th place, Alain did not stay there and despite holding on for a number of racers before dropping out of the top 30.  Alain has spent the past few days ill yet refused to let this be the reason for his failure to qualify for the second run.

Schoenfelder had to change skis between runs as he had broken his skis on the first run.  Despite dropping to second he was still happy with this.

For Noel it was another day at the office and despite having spent the time since Sestriere chasing race results, the younger Baxter was resigned to concentrating on racing rather than chasing points. 

The Slalom team now take a break before recommencing battle in Chamonix in the New Year.  Alain will be spending the time in Portugal after one final race.

Over in St Moritz, a miserable day for British racing was completed with Chemmy Alcott's performance in the Giant Slalom.  Starting back in 72, the poor course conditions did not aid Chemmy in scoring her first Giant Slalom points of the year.  The combination of foot injuries and a lack of training early on in the season has meant that she is still playing catch up.

Men's Slalom, Flachau

1. Giorgio Rocca ITA                47.30, 47.56        1.34.86

2 Rainer Schoenfelder Aut        47.17, 47.93        1.35.10

3 Alois Vogl Ger                        47.63, 47.54        1.35.17

38 Alain Baxter GBR                   

46 Noel Baxter

Women's Giant Slalom, St Moritz

1 Tina Maze                         Slo     1.13.53, 1.13.46        2.26.99

2 Anja Paerson                   SWE    1.13.20, 1.13.91        2.27.11

3 Maria Rienda Contreras  Spa     1.13.97, 1.13.76        2.27.73

48 Chemmy Alcott            GBR      1.17.37,