Lesley McKenna returns to Europe today having set another milestone for Britain's flourishing snowsports teams this season. Her third place in the FIS World Cup late on Saturday in Canada's east coast resort of Stoneham coupled with her win in Sweden and ninth place in Whistler ensure that the Scot will hold the overall lead in the World Cup tour for the Christmas period. This is the first time in the modern era that a British skier or snowboarder has topped the World Cup standings.

On Saturday McKenna finished an enthralling halfpipe competition only two tenths of a point short of second place. "In reality it was one of the most exciting halfpipe competitions I have done and any one of the top four girls could have won,"said McKenna. "It was so close."
With the halfpipe shorter and flatter than usual, McKenna had to alter her repertoire of tricks, forcing her into doing back to back 540-degree spins dropping in both front and back side and was unable to include her highest scoring final trick � a 720 spin.
"Having done the back to back 540s now if I can match them with my usual 720 then I think I will be on to a winner with pretty much the best combination out there. If I could add the 900 which I have been doing in training then that could be almost unbeatable."