Fresh snow postpones start of British Skiing Championships

FRESH snow forced the cancellation of the opening races at the British Land National Ski Championships in Meribel.

STAR ATTRACTION: Chemmy Alcott is the star name at the British Championships in Meribel but fresh snow forced the cancellation of opening races (Getty Images)

Planned men's and women's super-G races were postponed after organisers deemed the course unsafe.

However, the forecast for a drop in the mild temperatures gives cause for confidence that a full programme of senior, junior and children's races can be concluded in the next 12 days.

The event is being seen as an important catalyst in the process of trying to build a new structure for British skiing, after the national governing body, SnowsportGB, went into administration on the eve of last month's Vancouver Olympics.

The national championships had looked in jeopardy but the support of leading members of the team, who are paying their own costs to compete, the Meribel resort and a successful campaign to raise £70,000, finally gave organisers the green light.

"It has been an extremely difficult season and this event is the chance to repair or make new bonds, and try and overcome the lack of confidence which has been prevailing," said British coach Mark Tilston.

"For the athletes, for sure this a chance to end their season feeling like there is some support for them, and a chance for British skiing to look outside again and start fighting against the rest of the world to get better again, rather than being forced to look inwards and battle against what has been going."