By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport, Salt Lake City

Alain Baxter is aiming high after securing the first ever Olympic alpine skiing medal for Great Britain and sending shockwaves around the traditional ski powers of Europe.

Baxter's slalom bronze was one better than Switzerland achieved in their entire alpine programme.

Swiss ski coach Dieter Bartsch, who resigned as a result of his squad's poor performance, said: "I never thought I would see the day when a British skier would win an Olympic medal. You have no mountains. No-one takes skiing from there seriously."

They do now, and Baxter is serious about channelling the confidence he will gain from that respect into establishing himself amongst the world's top order.

After a poor season which saw him slip from 11th to 28th in the world rankings, the 28-year-old Scot was an unlikely creator of British Olympic history.

But he and his Austrian coach Christian Schwaiger believe he has what it takes to build on his surprise success.

"It's a huge year for me next year with 11 World Cup races, but there's no reason why I can't be ranked in the top eight," Baxter said.

"I think I'm a good enough skier technically and I've got it in me to be one of the best guys."

Schwaiger, who lives near the British Olympic Association's Lofer training camp, where Baxter spends large chunks of his season, admitted Saturday's result was "one of the best days of my life".

He has struggled to create a competent British ski team in tough circumstances, with funding gradually being cut in the last five years and few bright moments to boost the confidence.

"Alain has been one of the most consistent racers on the slalom circuit and that tells me he's world class," Schwaiger said.

"It all comes down to having the confidence to go out there. This year Alain will start with the pressure to bring back those results again.

"Now that he's sorted out his equipment problems and won a medal, he has set himself a target to reach again."

Baxter's next target is the World Cup final in Flachau next month. The British Ski Federation were working hard today to secure him a place on the basis of his bronze medal. At the moment his ranking of 28th is not enough to secure him a place.

First Baxter will head home to Aviemore for a well-earned break. When he flies into Edinburgh airport later this week he will be met by a piper and no doubt cheering crowds.

But Baxter, like his fellow medallists Alex Coomber and Rhona Martin, is not one for the spotlight, despite his bright blue hair. "Aviemore's a pretty quiet place," he shrugged.