Snow sports News  

Snowsport GB looking to the future

A spokesperson for Snowsport GB admitted this week that it has been a frustrating season for its athletes in the World Cup alpine squad. 
 
Whilst Chemmy Alcott from London avoided serious injury to record top 20 World Cup finishes in Super Combined and downhill, only Scotland's Alain Baxter managed to avoid hospital admissions among a men's World Cup squad wracked with injury.
 
And for 34 year-old Baxter, it also proved to be a disappointing season. He failed to record any top 30 World Cup finishes despite notching up nine top 30 finishes in Europa Cup including a 12th in slalom (Italy) and a 6th in an indoor race in Landgraaf, Holland. 
 
For Scotland's three other World Cup skiers, Noel Baxter (slalom / combined), Finlay Mickel (downhill) and Andy Noble (downhill), injuries sustained early in the season dented any hope of improving their rankings.
 
Still, with Mickel now reportedly making steady recovery from an Achilles injury, Noel Baxter back into light training after a knee injury and Noble also rehabilitating well after incurring leg damage early in the season, a Snowsport GB spokesperson admitted they are now looking to put a frustrating season behind them and "hope for a fit team for next year to show what we really can do."
 
Whilst some of their colleagues continue rehabilitation, Alcott, the Baxter's and members of the Europa Cup squad will start their fitness testing in early May as they prepare for the 2008/09 season and the task of qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics.