Britain's rising ski star

Alcott in action at the Winter Olympics

By Anna Thompson BBC Sport Online in Austria

Britain's top woman skier Chemmy Alcott will get her season under way with a World Cup race on Saturday.

She is taking part in the giant slalom in Solden, in Austria.

At just 20, many are predicting a bright future for Alcott.

She is being tipped as a potential medallist at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

The fun and the games are over - this is getting serious

Chemmy Alcott

And she is aiming to prove everyone right.

At the end of last season she parted company with her former coach to give her a fresh impetus and is now with Austrian Gerhard Greber.

She told BBC Sport Online: "He can't speak much English and I can't speak much German so it is a very professional relationship.

"But that's what I need right now. The fun and the games are over. This is getting serious."

Alcott, originally from Richmond in Surrey, has managed to keep up her studies as well as her skiing and has four A levels at grade A.

But she is putting her studies on hold until her ski career ends.

She said: "My ski career is the most important thing over the next 12 years."

Alcott is one of a very few skiers who can compete adequately in all four disciplines.

Alcott relaxes after double ski training

She was the only woman skier to enter all the alpine ski events at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

She said: "I ski them all because I enjoy it.

"If I start excelling in one or two disciplines then I will consider focusing on them."

Alcott finished 14th in the combined event, which is a downhill and two slaloms, at the Olympics and was inside the top 32 for the downhill, giant slalom and super-G.

She is in the top 100 in the world in all disciplines, despite not having raced in a lot of high-ranking races.

Alcott added: "My main aim this season is the World Championships in February but I also want to keep on improving my world ranking.

"St Moritz is a great venue. A very glitzy affair. It's what people in England think ski racing is all about.

"But I had one of my best results in St Moritz so I am really looking forward to it."