The British ski racing fraternity returns to Les Houches for the fifth time over the coming weekend for their opening championship of the season.
The Chamonix valley, which has a long association with British Alpinism and hosted the first winter Olympics 90 years ago in 1924 will be hosting nearly 350 young British ski racers from 4 to 7 January, for four days of Alpine ski competition.
Mostly of the racing will take place on a section of the Men's World Cup downhill course, la Verte des Houches and races will count for the Anglo Scottish Cup and provide a basis for selection to the GB national ski teams.
"Full credit must be given to the Compagnie du Mont Blanc and the resort of Les Houches for their magnificent co-operation enabling us to stage this major British event," said organiser Eddie Guest.
The slopes of Les Houches have provided the training ground for most of the British ski team of the last decade.
"I am delighted to see so many former academy athletes now competing on the World and Europa Cup circuits. But watch out for our next crop!" said British Ski Academy director Malcolm Erskine.
Also this weekend the resort of Chamonix will host two slaloms of the Europa Cup circuit.
David Ryding, Olympic hopeful, winner of the 2013 Europa Cup slalom series and currently fourth in the standings, will be one of the favourites. Chamonix will then host the Anglo Scottish FIS night slaloms (on the 5th and 6th of January), with many British international racers participating.