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).

Baxter and Alcott take Giant Slalom Titles

With the programme for the speed events concluded, the attention at the British Land British Alpine Ski Championships turned to the technical events.  Top seeds Noel Baxter and Chemmy Alcott upheld their status and won the men's and women's races respectively.  The weather conditions recently had meant that over ten tonnes of salt had been mixed into the snow down the course in order to make the snow hard enough to allow a competitive race.  An early start and bright sunshine allowed the races to go ahead.  With a strong foreign contingent the races were full of fire and saw many of the fancied racers take tumbles.

With both courses running side by side and the races taking place at the same time, the hard conditions down the steep pitches that make up the Piste de Corbey meant that early starters on the first run had the better of things.  Finlay Mickel certainly made the most of things on the first run in the men's race as he narrowly lead from Nicholas Sauvage (France) with Noel Baxter in third.  On the second run, Baxter showed why he was the top ranked GS ski in the race as he attacked the course and carved his way to a second British Giant Slalom title.  "I made a big mistake on the first run but held on and then on in it was a battle to stay in," he explained.  "I expected to win and would have been disappointed had I not won.  On the second run I attacked as I had to catch up," continued Baxter.

Finlay Mickel was disappointed not to have held on for his second win of the week.  "It was tough hanging on and not being used to having to do a second run, I was tired!" reflected the downhiller from Edinburgh.  "There were a lot of skiers out there skiing tactically," rued Mickel, adding "My bib was a great advantage as the piste was good!"  Mickel commented that a lot of the young racers in the field were learning how to cope with the terrain and the conditions.  The top of the course saw soft snow and then as the men's course went past the women's start, the experience of some racers saw them deliberately lose speed so that they held good fast lines through the next pitch.

David Harrison showed some of the form that saw him selected to the British team a few years back.  Now on the Scottish Team, Harrison is showing more maturity in his approach and this is starting to bring rewards with his results.

In the Women's race, Chemmy Alcott admitted to having nerves as she felt people were expecting so much of her as the top seed and only World Cup Giant Slalom racer in the field.  "Things are going pretty good," she acknowledged as she won her second race in these Championships.  "I never seem to ski well at the British as there is the pressure to do well.  I was nervous for the second run as I had a large lead! You still have to get down to win so I still had to finish!"  Alcott knows that this has not been the best season for her and as the season draws to a close feels that it is now coming together for her!

Melissa Piper, a seventeen year old on the Scottish Full Time team, stunned the more fancied British team girls and took second British racer in the race.  Piper, 5th overall, was delighted with this performance as it has helped her confidence no end.  Having spent the season training and racing with the Senior Girls team as well as combining her studies at Strathallan, Piper is starting to turn in performances that will earn her selection to the Full time British Team.  Pamela Thorburn and Lynn Sharp shared third place amongst the British racers in eighth place.

Tristan Glasse Davies took the honours in the Junior category finishing in tenth place, 4th British racer, ahead of David Ryding (17th) in the British results.  Ryding came from 40th and was disappointed with his first run yet was just under two seconds behind Baxter on the second run in having the 10th quickest second run time.  Ryding has just recovered from Glandular fever so this is a very promising result.

Tania Scilimati took fifth place amongst the British racers back in twentieth place.

With the Disabled team also competing down the Women's course, this was an event that showed the true dexterity of the scope of British winter sport.

Other British racers that made favourable results in the conditions