The British Land National Ski Championships return to Meribel in France for the fourth successive year with Chemmy Alcott looking to make championship history by becoming the first skier ever to win the overall title five times. Noel Baxter (24, Aviemore), the defending men's champion is looking to equal his brother Alain's tally of four overall titles.

But with the top accolade open to men and women - decided on aggregated championship points - the question is: who will leave Meribel next Saturday with the top overall title.

Chemmy Alcott on form
On current form Chemmy (24, Twickenham), as Britain's top World Cup skier this season, should not be troubled by any of the chasing pack of British girls, and has long since grown out of the nervousness which used to affect her in her teens which was completely disproportionate to the level of the event, but she knows the titles are hers to lose rather than win, and that means pressure.

"I really am just going to enjoy myself, come what may. It is always great to hook up with the rest of the guys on The British Land Alpine team at the end of the season. We don't see each other enough."

Another Baxter challenging
Noel Baxter's all-round World Cup programme, focussing on Super Combined, means Downhill and Super G racing and training as well as slalom has been a big part of his season. The form book suggests he should not be giving Finlay Mickel (30, Edinburgh) a run for his money in Downhill, but the Meribel Olympic downhill piste punishes inattention or overconfidence with some difficult terrain and direction changes.

Super G should be a closer affair and on his day Noel could give Mickel something to think about. Roger Cruickshank, fresh from his Olympic experience pushed Mickel to within seven hundredths last year, but retired shortly afterwards. Now a full time RAF pilot, Cruickshank is believed to be entering the Super G.

For the up and coming younger skiers the British Land National Ski Championships is always an important platform to present a challenge to the established world cup racers. Among those on form are David Ryding (21, Lancs), who has skied to a set of promising FIS results in his first season on the British Land Alpine team including a 9th in GS in Slovenia earlier this month, but so too Douglas Crawford (20, Bearsden, Glasgow) and Andy Noble (23, Edinburgh) are well capable of title wins.
The most exciting event of the week should be the Men's Slalom. Alain Baxter (34, Stirling) is likely to only compete in this event, and has been regularly outpaced by Noel in timed trials this season, but the young guns will have nothing to lose.

Competition starts tomorrow
Racing starts Tuesday with downhill, if the programme runs to schedule, and finishes Friday with Slalom, but heavy snowfall is forecast.

The event has been supported continuously for the last 28 years by The British Land Company plc - this is their 29th as headline sponsor - and the company chairman Sir John Ritblat enjoys his skiing at the championships and will host HRH The Duke of Wessex, Patron of Snowsport GB