Bumper Buffet Helps Briton Trailblaze In China

Despite the new facility, there were no entries from the host country in either race.

British student John Campbell opened a new era in winter sports when he became the first man to ski in an accredited international downhill race in mainland China on Friday.

The 21-year-old from Edinburgh had drawn the number one bib for the men's downhill at the University Winter Games, which the northern province of Heilongjiang is hoping to use as a springboard for a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Campbell braved high winds and a chill factor of minus 30 degrees Celsius at the Yabuli resort, some 200km from Harbin, to charge down the 2,484m course in one minute 38.45 seconds, good enough for 18th place.

"It was pretty awesome actually. It was nice the way the draw came out," the Durham University student said of being the first man to compete on the piste since it was accredited by the International Ski Federation (FIS).

"I've only been out skiing for eight days this year so my result wasn't too bad. Obviously the podium would have been too much to ask so I'm pretty happy."

Campbell said he and his team mates had been enthusiastically enjoying the hospitality of their Chinese hosts, and that may even have improved his result.

"The accommodation is amazing, it's a five star hotel or something so we've been making the most of the all-you-can-eat buffet. I think downward momentum was with me."

China has good facilities for ice sports but Heilongjiang officials knew they would need to show they could develop venues for snow sports too if they wanted to host an Olympics, and the result is the upgraded Yabuli resort with its downhill run.

"It's a good length, I was feeling it in my legs by the end," Campbell said.

"They made it pretty technical, perhaps with it being the first downhill in China, they didn't want anybody to get hurt. Personally I prefer to get my head down and go."

Although the setting was new, the Swiss winner of the race, Sandro Boner, hails from a country with the longest of skiing traditions. His compatriot Tamara Wolf claimed the women's race, also held on Friday.

Despite the new facility, there were no entries from the host country in either race.

"If they can get the Chinese skiing, that would be something," said Campbell.