The Highlander returns

Baxter finished 11th in the world last season

BBC Sport Online's Anna Thompson talks to Britain's top skier, Alain Baxter.

Alain Baxter surprised even himself with his brilliant form last season.

He had been hoping to break into the world's top 30 in the slalom discipline.

Instead he finished 11th in the World Cup standings, the highest ever position for a British skier, and has been catapulted into the limelight.

The new skis are really fast but it's also quite hard to balance

Alain Baxter

Baxter, 27, now has to do it all again this season, and he is relishing the challenge.

He said: "Last season everything went right. My skis were really good and my form kept on improving.

"I didn't want last season to end because I didn't want to get out of form.

"But I'm pleased with how training has gone over the summer and I'm confident."

The Scot, nicknamed the Highlander, just missed out on his first ever podium spot when he came fourth at Are in Sweden in March.

  Alain Baxter facts

Age: 27

Been on British ski team for 10 years

Named after French ski star Alain Penz

Spends 30 weeks a year on the slopes

Current World Cup standing - 11th

Highest World Cup finish - 4th

But his aim this season is to get a first, second or third placing on a regular basis.

He has shortened his skis again - by 12cms this time - as he attempts to increase his speed.

Baxter, who grew up on the slopes of Aviemore, said: "I'm amazed at how short skis are getting.

"The new skis are really fast but it's also quite hard to balance."

Baxter has been spending the summer improving his fitness at the British Olympic Association's training centre in Lofer, Austria, as well as skiing in the Alpine glacial resorts.

The World Cup ski season gets under way with men's and women's giant slaloms at Soelden, Austria, on 27 and 28 October.

Olympic medal?

But because Baxter is concentrating on slalom, his first race will not be until 25 November at Aspen in America.

He will spend the next couple of weeks at home with his parents Iain and Sue in Scotland before heading to America on 6 November.

And in February 2002 he will be taking part in his second Winter Olympics, at Salt Lake City in Utah.

He is not ruling himself out as an outside medal chance in the slalom.

He said: "I'll see how the first four World Cup races go before I make any predictions about the Olympics.

Baxter skiing in a Scottish kilt

"But if I'm performing well, a medal is not out of the question."

Baxter has had to endure a number of frustrating seasons on the slopes and has not had the financial backing of the top stars.

But last year he took up with Austrian coach Christian Schwaiger, got a new sponsor and changed his skis.

In addition, he worked on his technique to maximise the new style and worked on his fitness to create a powerful slalom specialist's physique.

It is all paying off and Baxter knows he can now compete with the world's best.

"Who knows what will happen this season? There isn't a lot which separates the top skiers so it will be really exciting," said Baxter.

They run a ski school in Scotland so I'm in all the promotional brochures

Baxter on his parents

His parents know their hard work has paid off too, having introduced him to the slopes from a very young age.

They were ski buffs and in fact named Baxter after French 1970s ski legend Alain Penz.

Alain added: "They are delighted for me. They run a ski school in Scotland so I'm in all the promotional brochures. I'm a good advert for them."

He has also had to get used to media - and fans' - attention.

Before his rise up the rankings, Baxter was hardly a household name.

But he is now getting recognised and the media are always hungry for an interview.

Baxter has launched his own website, www.alainbaxter.co.uk, to give his eager supporters all the information they need.

"It's a different kind of pressure but a nice one," added Baxter.