Baxter back in the top 20

Published on Monday 5 January 2004 00:00

ALAIN Baxter proved Madonna was no one-hit wonder when he yesterday followed up on his 11th place in the pre-Christmas night slalom in the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio, by posting 18th place in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Slalom in Flachau, Austria.

He finished 2.14 seconds behind winner Kalle Palanderof Finland, and the result pushes Baxter back into the top 20 on the overall slalom World Cup standings. It also ensured he scored valuable world cup points for second consecutive event, the first time he has achieved this in over two years.

"Top ten was the aim today but I have to be happy with getting another result," Baxter said. "It could have been a 30th - it is so tight these days.

"But I’m feeling much more confident and that really is what it is all about, knowing that you can afford to take it to the limit."

Lying 14th after the first run the Scot had a tough target to break the top ten after ruts formed on the course on the first run. He faced a similar level of difficulty on the second heat when he raced 17th.

"It was difficult because there was a real advantage to going down early," explained Baxter, "to the point that being 30th after the first run could have been better."

Baxter now races two Europa Cup races this week before next weekend’s World Cup in Chamonix, with five World Cups between now and the end of January.

Kalle Palander of Finland, the overall World Cup slalom champion, capitalised on his early lead of 0.86 of a second to win.

Baxter’s younger brother Noel was less than 0.25 of a second short of qualifying for a second run.

Over in Megeve, Baxter’s female counterpart in the British team, Chemmy Alcott, finished 17th in the Super G, 2.02 seconds behind Austria’s Alexandra Meissnitzer who led an Austrian clean sweep of first, second and third places.