Events
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British Artificial Snowboard Championships, Norfolk 12th & 13th September 2009
Monday 14th September – It was a glorious start to the 2009 British Snow Tour at the weekend as blue skies welcomed over 100 of the UK’s best riders from across the land to Norfolk for the Mini BRITS weekender. The BBQ, MC and music got rocking as riders hit the slope and showcased their big bag of tricks in the British Big Air, Trespass Snowboardcross and Animal Slopestyle Championships!
Trespass Snowboardcross Championships
The Trespass Snowboardcross Championships kicked off the snowboard action on Saturday morning with possibly one of the closest UK snowboardcross events ever! In the men’s final all four riders charged out of the start gates and over the rollers at the same time with Edward Castle-Henry feeling the squeeze. With lightning quick reactions, Castle-Henry who had been forced into an awkward 90 position in mid-air continued the rotation and amazingly landed a clean 360 to continue down the course. Wayne Taylor, maintained his dominating form from the quarterfinals to cross the line in first, followed by a very pleased Edward Castle-Henry, with Jordan Southgate and Tom Moriarty finishing in third and fourth respectively.
In the women’s final Gemma Marshall was first out of the start gates with Vicky Pullin and Alice Blake hot on her heels. Gemma held onto her lead with the gap closing quickly behind her as she crossed the line in first place with Vicky and Alice finishing in second and third.
Trespass Snowboardcross Championship Results
Men Women
1st – Wayne Taylor – Halifax 1st – Gemma Marshall – Sheffield
2nd – Edward Castle-Henry - Hertfordshire 2nd – Vicky Pullin – Gloucestershire
3rd - Jordan Southgate - Norwich 3rd – Alice Blake - Hertfordshire
4th – Tom Moriarty - Norfolk
British Snowboard Big Air Championships
The sun continued to shine as the Big Air Championships got underway on Saturday afternoon. The top four women and eight men from the qualification round went through to the final with the more experienced riders stepping it up and setting the standard. Wayne Taylor, fresh from his Snowboardcross victory made it a double win for the day taking the overall men’s title with a very stylish corked backside 720. Second place went to Chatham local Cody Hierons who stomped a smooth backside 540, whilst Ben Knox finished in third place with a huge backside 540.
In the women’s final it was also experienced rider Liz Osbourn who showed the younger riders how it was done with a big stylish backside 360 tail grab, which secured her the gold. Second place went to Katie Ormerod, who landed another big backside 360 with Lynsey Ashdown taking third with a frontside 360.
British Snowboard Big Air Championship Results
Men Women
1st - Wayne Taylor – Halifax 1st – Liz Osbourn - Cambridge
2nd – Cody Hierons – Chatham 2nd – Katie Ormerod – Halifax
3rd – Ben Knox – London 3rd – Lynsey Ashdown - Manchester
British Big Air Championships
After an eventful Saturday night when team ‘Ben’s Bandits’ downed 10 pickled onions in under a minute to win the ‘Big Ride Quiz’, Sunday afternoon welcomed in the final event of the weekend, The Animal Slopestyle Championships. Local Halifax rider, Andy Nudds, who had travelled down to Norfolk just for this event, soon set the standard and qualified in first place through to the final.
Nudds maintained his top form throughout both runs during the final to take the 2009 Animal British Slopestyle Championship Title. His textbook run included a switch backside 180 to boardslide and fakie off on the top rail followed by a very controlled and stylish half cab nose press on the middle box and a 270 on 270 off on the flat up and along box. Winning his second silver medal over the weekend was Cody Hierons, with a smooth cab 270 on the top box, to 180 on, 270 off on the middle box and the judge’s favourite trick of the day, a gap 270 to boardslide on the bottom shark fin rail. Ben Knox finished in third place after throwing down a 270 on 270 off on the top box and a 180 boardslide on the shark fin.
In the women’s final 12 year old Katie Ormerod won the overall Animal British Slopestyle Championship title, cementing the fact that the future of British snowboarding looks very strong. Katie’s technical and faultless run included a cab 180 to regular on the top box, a boardslide to fakie over the double box and a switch-up 50-50 over the bottom shark fin rail. Sophie Nicholls who had been riding very strong all day and qualified into the finals in top spot, demonstrated that it’s not just the boy’s in the Nicholls family with all the talent by finishing in second place overall. Sophie’s run included a cab boardslide to tail tap on the top box and an impressive 270 on 270 off on the double box. Third place went to Lynsey Ashdown with a combination of tidy boardslides over the shark fin rail.
Animal British Slopestyle Championship Results:
Men Women
1st – Andy Nudds - Halifax 1st - Katie Ormerod - Halifax
2nd – Cody Hierons - Chatham 2nd – Sophie Nicholls - Halifax
3rd – Ben Knox - London 3rd – Lynsey Ashdown – Manchester
British Artificial Freeski Championships, Norfolk 12th & 13th September 2009
Over 200 local youngsters that the Schools Tour Team had visited came along to the event to take part in the FREE lessons, watch the UK’s best in action and cheer on local freeskier Tom Coe, who had proved to be a big hit at the schools. Let’s hope we see some of them continue to learn how to shred and hopefully competing next year.
Animal Freeski Slopestyle Championships
The Animal Slopestyle Championships kicked off the freeski action on Saturday afternoon and it soon became apparent that the summer training camps had achieved their goal as the standard of skiing was immense with some technical rail tricks being displayed. In the men’s final a special shout out and thwack of respect from the judges and competitors alike went to 11-year-old Glaswegian Cal Sandieson who showed no fear and skilfully attacked the Animal Slopestyle course all day.
Josh Birch who had been skiing well all day won the Men’s Animal Slopestyle Championships, and walked away with a smile on his face and his first ever overall British Championship Title. Josh’s run included a 270 on 450 out on the top rail, followed by a switch 270 on 270 out and a blind switch up on the intimidating shark fin rail. Second place went to 2008 Champ, James Woods who did a 270 on 270 out on the street rail, a switch 270 in 270 out on the box and a 270 out on the bottom shark fin rail. 12-year-old Tyler Jay-Harding continued to pave the way for the younger freeskiers and finished in third place with a consistent and faultless run.
In the women’s final it was defending Slopestyle Champ, Katie Summerhayes who impressed the most and added the 2009 Animal British Slopestyle Championship title to here already impressive collection. The only skier to land a 450 out on the first rail, which none of the boys had even attempted, Katie proved herself to be world class and a worthy Champion. Second place went to Kelly O’Donnell who also stepped it up and opted for the bigger rail line whilst third place went to Rowen Cheshire who had a clean run with a 270 on the middle box.
Animal Freeski Slopestyle Championship Results:
Men Women
1st – Josh Birch - London 1st – Katie Summerhayes - Sheffield
2nd – James Woods - Sheffield 2nd – Kelly O’Donnell – Stoke-on-Trent
3rd - Tyler Jay-Harding - Halifax 3rd - Rowen Cheshire – Stoke-on-Trent
Trespass Skiercross Championships
The Trespass Skiercross Championships kicked off Sunday’s freeski action and competition was fierce, with over 60 skiers going through the start gates and on into the head to head heats with some spectacular wipe-outs along the way. In the men’s final only the fastest skiers remained and Stuart Riches made the most of an early lead out of the start gates to lead the pack over the finish line. Byron Haywood-Alexander and Michael Molloy collided on the first turn leaving Alex Abbott to take second place. After getting to their feet and with only one ski a piece, Michael and Byron continued down the course to take third and fourth respectively.
During the women’s final it was Danielle Freeze who finished in first place, after taking over Joanne Llewellyn and Kelly O’Donnell right at the final turn. Kelly finished in second with Joanne and Ashlea Martin finishing in third and fourth.
Trespass Skiercross Championship Results
Men Women
1st – Stuart Riches - Suffolk 1st – Danielle Freeze - Kent
2nd – Alex Abbott - Norwich 2nd – Kelly O’Donnell – Stoke-on-Trent
3rd – Michael Molloy - Norwich 3rd – Joanna Llewellyn - Kent
4th – Byron Haywood-Alexander - Sheffield 4th – Ashlea Martin - Norfolk
British Big Air Championships
Sunday afternoon saw the Freeski Big Hitters take to the slope for the highly anticipated and final competition of the day, The British Big Air Championships. The top eight men and four women from the qualification round made it through to the finals with skies going that big they were almost clearing the landing!
In the men’s final Joe Hides just missed out on a podium spot but deserved a special shout out after throwing down massive rodeo Japans. First place and the 2009 British Big Air title went to James Woods with a huge switch rodeo 720 Japan. Second place went to Stoke-on-Trent local Josh Fawcett with a big switch 720 nose mute whilst third place with a perfectly landed switch misty 720 went to Charlie Richards.
In the women’s final Katie Summerhayes who had been on fire all day, continued to step it up in the Big Air and landed a huge switch 720 to take her second gold and overall British Championship Title of the weekend. Second place with a 720 went to Rowan Cheshire, who had also landed an impressive corked 720 during the qualifications. Molly Summerhayes finished in third place with a big and textbook 540.
British Big Air Championships
Men Women
1st – James Woods – Sheffield 1st – Katie Summerhayes – Sheffield
2nd – Josh Fawcett – Stoke-on-Trent 2nd – Rowan Cheshire – Stoke-on-Trent
3rd – Charlie Richards – Sheffield 3rd – Molly Summerhayes - Sheffield
Over 200 local youngsters that the Schools Tour Team had visited came along to the event to take part in the FREE lessons, watch the UK’s best in action and cheer on local freeskier Tom Coe, who had proved to be a big hit at the schools. Let’s hope we see some of them continue to learn how to shred and hopefully competing next year.
The next event on the British Snow Tour calendar is the British Big Air Championships in Milton Keynes on Saturday 19th September. To check out the images and video footage from the event and pre register for the Big Air next week go to: www.britishsnowtour.com
The British Snow Tour and Schools Tour programme would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Animal, Trespass, SNO!zone, Cushe, Snow+Rock. Demo partners: DC, Ride, K2, Line and Volkl Ski’s. Media partners: Whitelines, Dark Summer, Skiclub.co.uk, Natives.co.uk, Metrosnow.co.uk, Extreme Sports Channel, Spiked and Snowboardclub.co.uk.