Alcott disappointed but vows to improve at Worlds

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Posted: Wednesday 4th February 2009 | 17:23

BRITISH No.1 Chemmy Alcott admits she should have done better in her World Championships Super-G outing, despite securing a career-best finish.

Alcott sets herself the highest standards at the World Championships
HARD BARGAIN: British No.1 Chemmy Alcott insists he can do better despite a career-best finish

Alcott, who was on crutches just six weeks ago, recovering from a broken ankle she sustained in November, finished 20th yesterday in her best ever world Super-G finish.

The 26-year-old has hit the ground running since returning from injury and came 15th at her comeback race in Cortina just ten days ago.

For most, a top 20 and career-best finish at the World Championshiips would represent remarkable progress, but Alcott - a five-time British champion - is not one to rest on her laurels.

And as the winner of the only previous female race on the giant slalom piste in Val d'Isere, at the 2007 French Championships, Alcott is adamant her World Championships have not peaked just yet.

"I heard something about a best finish but to be honest I'm not that bothered by it," she said. "I was disappointed with how I skied yesterday but I'm sure to improve as the competition goes on.

"The preparation for the race really wasn't very good. I arrived there at about two o'clock in the morning, had a little bit of practice and then was straight into it the next morning.

"But I also didn't ski with enough confidence and that ultimately cost me.

"The giant slalom isn't until the end of next week though so I've got plenty of time to prepare for that - I think that's probably my best chance of a top ten finish and that would be a great achievement.

"The good thing is that my ankle is great. It gets better every time I ski and the fast I go and the quicker I go around the turns, the stronger it feels."

After this morning's men's Super-G competition, America's Bode Miller lent his voice to a growing murmur that the early events have become too defensive, with the competitors conserving their energies.

But Alcott is adamant that, from what she has seen, the intensity of the competition in Val d'Isere is on a par with anything she has previously encountered.

"I don't think there's any truth in the notion about people taking it easy," she added. "This is the World Championships for goodness sake.

"The only reason that might appear to be the case is that the courses are a real step up from anything on the World Cup courses in terms of toughness.

"But there's no way that would be the case for me. I didn't expect to make it here after my injury but I'm an eternal optimist and now that I've made it I wouldn't be doing myself justice if I didn't give my all."