Press Release
Issued on behalf of Snowsport GB
SOELDEN, AUSTRIA, SATURDAY 25/10/03

Best ever GS finish for Alcott, Baxter races Sunday                                 Full Results

Chemmy Alcott, (21, Twickenham) carved herself another slice of British ski racing history today at the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season opener, the giant slalom weekend in Soelden, Austria, as she today scored the best British Women's Giant Slalom result at World Cup level for nearly 15 years when she skied to 25th place.

All-rounder Allcott, who skis all four disciplines, proved the value of her long summer of fitness training in Salzburgerland, Austria, as she composed an attacking first run from the lowly start number, 50, to lie 23rd after the first heat.

After over a metre of fresh snow over the last few days up on Soelden's Rittenbach Glacier, conditions turned in Alcott's favour with a hard overnight frost and clear skies which ensured the first track held firm to give her a fighting chance in the 70 strong women's field. Last year on the same course Alcott came to grief on the final pitch, but today it was a much more mature and confident skier who proved able to convert the recent training form into her first ever world cup points scoring result in giant slalom.

" It's a good way to start the season," grinned British champion Alcott, "The first run I skied really fast and on the edge and nearly came out a few times, but the second run was tighter and more turny and I did not like it quite as much. I made loads of little mistakes on both runs. I had my hand on the snow at one point and the top of my leg touched down at another, so there is plenty of scope to do better."

Significantly Alcott is the second youngest skier among the top 30 finishers today, further proof that she has the potential to win in the not too distant future. Today's winner Germany's Martina Ertl is nine years Alcott's senior.

" This is a strong start for Chemmy and for our team. We have had a good summer of training and seen some very promising advances. On the one hand it is great to see her making a good result, but of course you are still left wondering what if she hadn't made the mistakes, but overall a result to build on." Comments British skiing's Performance Director Mark Tilston.

Alcott's result lays down the gauntlet for Alain Baxter (29, Aviemore), the former World No. 11 Slalom racer who will also be looking to make his first ever World Cup giant slalom result. Like Alcott, Baxter has shown a leap in his giant slalom form over the past few weeks and his coaching staff are confident he can match Alcott's score.

Audi FIS Ski World Cup, Soelden, Austria.

Saturday: Women's Giant Slalom:

1 M Ertl (Ger) 1:13.53, 1:18.33, 2:31.86,

2 A Paerson (Swe) 1:13.86, 1:18.20, 2:32.06,

3 M Rienda-Contreras (Esp) 1:13.49, 1:18.76 2:32.25,

4 T Maze (Slo) 1:14.46, 1:18.89, 2:33.35,

5 T Poutianinen (Fin) 1:14.74, 1:19.23, 2:33.97.

25 C Alcott (GBR) 1:16.49, 1:20.05 2:36.54.

Ends