World first for Brit speed skier

High Altitude - Graham Bell tries speed skiing

British speed skier Marc Poncin has narrowly missed out on winning a second world title.

But by finishing second in the World Cup standings this season he becomes the first British snowsport competitor to finish in the top three twice.

The 42-year-old was World Cup champion in 2008 but this year was beaten to the overall title by Austrian Gunter Foidl.

He races in the production category which means he uses normal skis and wears a standard suit.

There is also an S1 category which is for those who use specialist skis and suits which enable them to reach faster speeds, of up to 200kph.

Speed skiing is not an Olympic sport but there are hopes it will be included by the 2018 Games.

Former British Olympic skier Graham Bell tasted speed skiing for the BBC programme High Altitude and declared it "a great adrenalin buzz".