Mickel faces long injury lay-off

By Anna Thompson

Mickel in action shortly before his accident

Britain's alpine ski team has suffered a second serious blow after downhiller Finlay Mickel fractured his right leg.

The Scot was injured in an accident during training for the Beaver Creek downhill in Colorado.

He joins Chemmy Alcott on the sidelines after she broke her ankle last month while training in Canada.

Mickel, 31, had only just returned to competitive action after a series of injuries forced him to miss most of last season.

Both Mickel and Alcott are aiming to return to action this season.

Head coach Mark Tilston said: "This is obviously very disappointing for Finlay. The prognosis is that Finlay will be on crutches for six weeks."

Mark Simmers, chief executive of Snowsport GB, said it was particularly frustrating for Mickel as "he has battled so hard to recover from his injury problems last season".

This season is pre-Olympic season where skiers can attain the qualifying criteria for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada.

There was better news for slalom specialists Alain and Noel Baxter, who had been competing in the second tier Nor-Am Cups in America.

Both recorded top 20 results ahead of the World Cup slalom in Val d'Isere, France, this weekend.