By Matt Chilton BBC Ski Sunday commentator

There is relief all round at the International Ski Federation (FIS) as there is lots of snow on the mountains in Sweden.

The Swedish resort of Are is hosting the 2007 Alpine Skiing World Championships which kick off on 2 February.

Like the rest of Europe, Are had a slow and worryingly warm start to the season but it is now proudly wearing its best winter coat!

So the white circus heads for the frozen north, where daylight is scarce - less than seven hours a day - but where the few bright hours will be filled with breathtaking high speed action.

In total 11 gold medals are up for grabs with the team event making its second appearance at the World Championships on the final day.

The blue riband competition, the men's downhill takes place on 8 February.

Alcott is aiming to win Britain's first World Championship medal since 1936

British chances lie fairly and squarely with speed specialists Finlay Mickel and Chemmy Alcott.

Alcott is a serious medal threat. You read it here first and I firmly believe it.

She has improved dramatically over the last year, thanks in no small part to successful corrective surgery to both feet.

Alcott has proved herself this season in giant slalom and combined, and she will also be confident going into the downhill and super-G.

Mickel had his second best downhill finish last spring in Are (12th) and obviously enjoys the mountain.

Recent form has been frustrating for the laid-back Scot, but he does like the World Championship stage.

Expect bagpipes to form the soundtrack for each of Mickel's races.

Britain has not won a medal at the World Championships since 1936 when Evie Pinching took gold in the downhill and combined and silver in the slalom

So British success at this level is long overdue and I believe the waiting could be over.

The host nation will have designs on a clutch of medals as Swedish skiing has never been in better shape.

Anja Paerson could sweep the board in the women's races, and Therese Borssen and Anna Ottosson both have medal claims.

Any one of four Swedish men represent slalom medal prospects and the resurgent veteran Patrick Jaerbyn could make the super-G podium.

The Swedish supporters must be rubbing their hands together, and not just to keep warm!

When not screaming for the Swedish racers, the locals will be rooting vigorously for Bode Miller.

This could be the maverick American's last World Championships, and Miller thrives on this particular stage having snatched five gold medals from the last two Worlds.

American Miller has rediscovered his form this season

Miller left the Olympics empty handed last year, but it seems his competitive edge has resurfaced, fuelled in part by a lucrative new ski deal.

Crucially, he won a World Cup super-G in Are last March so the contours of the hill are clearly to Miller's liking.

The American women's team, led by Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Kildow could also have a field day. Mancuso is frighteningly fast this season.

Selection headaches are a feature of the Austrian team's preparations.

As only four skiers from each nation can race in an event, so who goes where? How do you solve a problem like Maier?

As usual I expect final downhill training will be a ski-off for at least one place.

A starting slot in the super-G could be offered as a consolation prize to a couple of big hitters.

Slalom and GS World Cup form will probably decide in the technical disciplines.

Two racers are likely to shine. Marlies Schild has been unstoppable in slalom this season, whilst her boyfriend Benjamin Raich is a trump card for the combined. (And slalom, and GS, and the team event!)

Other Austrians to follow include Renate Goetschl (downhill) and Kathrin Zettel (GS).

Didier Cuche is a man on a mission! What a season the Swiss skier is having.

Bizzarely he hasn't won a race but Cuche has won admirers on both sides of the Atlantic.

He leads the World Cup downhill standings and is comfortably Switzerland's best medal chance, with prospects in downhill, super-G and GS.

The Cuche trademark dismount has been a feature on Ski Sunday this season. Maybe there will be an improved World Championship version on show in Sweden.