Noel Baxter looks to Val d'Isere to kick-start season

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Posted: Monday 2nd February 2009 | 12:26

NOEL Baxter insists he is fully fit as he prepares for a season-defining World Championships in Val d'Isere, despite a recent bout of altitude sickness.

FOCUS: Noel Baxter, brother of Alain, will concentrate on slalom at this week's World Skiing Championships in Val d'Isere (Getty Images)

The two-Olympian heads back to the French Alps for his fourth World Ski Championships, just weeks after an unsuccessful attempt at climbing the treacherous Mont Blanc.

Baxter, along with fellow British skier Graham Bell, was forced to turn around on Europe's second highest mountain due to dizziness, just 300 metres short of the summit.

But the ten-time British ski champion, who was been plagued by knee injuries for the last 18 months, is convinced the World Championships is the perfect setting to get his season back on track.

"This is the big one for me this season, without doubt," said Baxter - brother of fellow GB skier Alain Baxter and cousin of British snowboarder Lesley McKenna.

"I've been hampered by injuries and I haven't been appearing in the World Cup events. I've just been concentrating on getting my fitness and my speed back.

"But if all goes well at the worlds I can get some World Cup points under my belt then I can look forward to rejoining the World Cup circuit - I'll be looking for a top 15 finish to do that.

"And Val d'Isere is one of my favourite places to ski. There are so many Brits out there it's a bit like a second home so hopefully that can have a positive effect for me.

"Climbing Mont Blanc was an incredible experience but I don't think I was completely prepared for it and didn't know how hard it would be, but that won't happen at Val d'Isere."

With just over a year to go until Vancouver 2010, the World Championships will also play a big part in Olympic qualification with Baxter aiming to rubber-stamp a third appearance at the Winter Olympics.

Baxter has a reputation as a jack of all trades, having finished 14th and 20th in the combined and slalom events respectively in Turin 2006.

The 27-year-old has also competed in the slalom, super combined and giant slalom events in his three previous outings at the World Championships.

But Baxter insists he is putting all his eggs in the slalom basket as he bids to lead a young squad to success in Val d'Isere.

"I think with my injuries affecting my preparation I've focused all of my attentions on the slalom event," he added.

"It's the event that I'm best at and the one that I enjoy most so I'm keen to establish myself in that discipline.

"It's a young squad heading out to France with a few guys making their first appearances. It's the next wave of young talent and time for these guys to establish themselves - hopefully I can lead from the front."

GERARD MEAGHER