British team will peak for Turin
By Chemmy Alcott 
(Filed: 21/10/2005)

British skiers will be notable for their absence at the skiing season's World Cup opener being staged on a glacier above Solden, in Austria, tomorrow.

The entire Great Britain Olympic team are on a programme this year which has been geared towards the best possible chance of success at the Winter Olympics in Turin five months from now. We are not out of synch with the more powerful nations. Even the Austrians, taking part on home soil, believe that the gap of five weeks between Solden and the next World Cup event is too long. At this time of year, it is always a massive rush in readiness for this first event - followed by the huge come down of a hiatus of over a month before competition begins again. It clearly needs looking at.

I think the British team move was wise. Personally, the last thing I want is to be burnt out before February.

I have pre-qualified for the Olympics, with the British criteria for selection much more stringent than the Olympic requirements. I think the move was made several years ago so there would be no repeat of an 'Eddie the Eagle' getting into the Games, and also on the grounds of safety. I feel really relaxed about the season because of the extended build-up.

The British team have had 6½ weeks in Argentina in readiness, paid for by Lottery money, and assisted by a Christies' auction. Alain Baxter was one of the auction prizes. He was auctioned off as a 'meal date', which turned out to be very amusing because it was a sushi meal, and 'Our Al' doesn't eat fish.

I was 19 at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, a youth ambassador at the Sydney Summer Games and I'm not really fazed any more by the 'Five Ring Thing'. I've also had two full seasons in senior racing and after a great first year as a rookie, hit obstacles last year with niggling injuries, problems with my feet and a dip in confidence as a result.

They always say the second year as a pro is always the hardest. But I learnt a lot from it, and I'm excited about this third year, especially as it is an Olympic round. When I get to the Olympics I will have done everything possible to be able to ski my best. I am out in the British team headquarters at Lofer in Austria.

You are given a 'long-stay' room if you are in the top 100 in the world, and we have a gym, satellite television and our rooms here. Until two weeks before the Olympics, it will be a stopping post as we compete at World Cup events. I have not decided yet which events I will focus on in Turin, having been the only girl to compete in all four alpine racing disciplines (downhill, super-g, giant slalom and slalom) and the combined event in Salt Lake City.

A few things have changed for me since then - I am sponsored now by Witan, Audi, Tissot watches, and Marks and Spencer and Pure International, and it has been brilliant to have Lottery funding.

Some of my sponsor contracts are up at the end of the Olympics, which is scary in one way, but exciting in another, because you don't know if you are going to surpass your sponsors' expectations. It is a motivating factor, as for years I was funded through my parents, who sacrificed so much for me to get to where I am. I'm ranked just outside the top 30 in the world in downhill, and although I don't set myself targets in ranking position - my aim is to be world No 1 in downhill. I want to improve on finishing 19th at the World Championships in downhill in Bormio, Italy, last season, and better my 14th at the Salt Lake City Olympics.