Full Speed Ahead - The BRITS Round-Up
 Laax,
Switzerland recently played host to the Snowsport GB British
Snowboard Team as they descended upon the 'Swiss national
treasure', displaying an array of glittering talent, for the
eagerly anticipated BRITS '08. Held from 31 March - 5 April,
hundreds of spectators watched on as the best in British snowboarding
competed in some of the fastest and most exciting events in
recent history.
The BRITS 2008 would not be possible without its highly supportive
sponsors: Animal, Quiksilver, Trespass, SNO!zone, Salomon,
Ride, K2 and Faction Ski's. Official footwear partner Cushe.
Official retail partners TSA and Ellis Brigham. Media partners
Whitelines, Dark Summer, Extreme.com, Snowboardclub.co.uk
and Skiclub.co.uk and Official Destination Partners, Laax.
Snowsport GB would like to offer extend a huge thanks to all.
Photo's from the event and video can be viewed on the Snowsport
GB website, simply visit the following page http://www.snowsportgb.com/BRITS-Pictures-and-Videos
Day 1: Let the games begin...
Sunshine welcomed competitors on the first day of the wintersports
festival with the Tresspass British Snowboardcross Championships
and The SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships kicking off
the event. Over 90 snowboarders challenged each other until
only the fastest remained to battle it out in the adrenalin
fuelled finals. Snowsport GB British Snowboard Team members,
James Foster and Zoe Gillings dominated the day's competition,
both taking the podium top spots as well as claiming the two
fastest race times of the competition.
The women's final featured three Olympians and four Snowsport
GB British Snowboard Team members, made for a tight and highly
competitive race. Zoe took a fast lead with the gold firmly
set in her sights, whilst the other finalists, Ivy Taylor,
Lesley McKenna and Kate Foster were ready to steal the lead
at any possible opportunity. A well deserved gold went to
Zoe with Ivy coming in a close second place, followed by Lesley
and Kate.
The men's final was just as competitive with James gaining
the fastest time of the day's competition after benefiting
from a great start. By pulling away from the other riders
and securing the lead, which he held onto for the entire race,
James relished in an impressive run and claimed the top spot
and title.
Day 2: Newcomers sweep the slopes with riders
The Quiksilver British Big Air Championships opened day two
of competition at the BRITS 2008, Laax Switzerland with over
100 riders attacking the 7, 14 and 20 metre kickers. New comers
to the BRITS, Richard Hookes and Claire Frost stepped it up
to take the overall 2008 Quiksilver Big Air Championship titles.
It was a close competition during the eight men final with
only one point separating the top six placings. New to the
BRITS and un-sponsored rider Richard Hookes, threw down a
huge cab 900, switch tail, to walk away with the overall men's
title, not bad for his first BRITS appearance! Second place
went to British Snowboard Team member, Ben Kilner, who was
riding super strong all day and perfectly landed a text book
corked backside 720. Nelson Pratt took third place after he
pulled out a stylish cab 900.
A relative newcomer on the scene, Claire Frost made her mark
in the women's final when she landed two textbook backside
540s to take the 2008 Quiksilver Big Air title. Samantha Rogers,
who had been riding strongly all day, pulled a big frontflip
out of the bag on her final jump, and received a mighty cheer
from the crowd and second place. Third place went to Lynsey
Ashdown after she landed a clean frontside 540.
Day 3: Day of Domination...
The highly anticipated SNO!zone British Half Pipe Championships
kicked off Day 3 of action packed events and although there
was a snowy start the weather didn't dampen the riders' spirits.
Dan Wakeham set the standard during the qualification rounds
after putting together a super technical run and securing
himself a place in the final. It was a British Snowboard Team
showdown during the final, with 2007 British Champion Angus
Leith, Dom Harington, Sam Cullum, Ben Kilner, Dan Wakeham,
Jack Shackleton, James Foster and Ben Knox - the only non
British Snowboard Team member in the final, all fighting it
out for the top three podium spots.
Recently named the Europa Cup Halfpipe Champion, Dom Harington,
took gold and the 2008 SNO!zone British Halfpipe title with
a clean run, Ben Kilner picked up second and the final spot
went to Sam Cullum.
Day 4: Can't rain on our parade!
The final day of the BRITS '08, Friday 4 April, opened up
to fresh snow, blue skies and the Animal British Slopestyle
Championships after being rescheduled from the previous day
due to poor weather conditions. A record number of riders
competed with an amazingly high standard of rail and kicker
riding combinations thrown down.
The younger generation of shredders set the standard during
the qualification rounds with 14 year old Jamie Nicholls and
16 year old Aimee Fuller qualifying in top spot through to
the finals.
Nate Kern threw down a stylish and technical run to take
both the gold and the title. Second place went to the final's
youngest competitor in the Men's Final, 14 year old Jamie
Nicholl taking silver and final podium place going to Jack
Shackelton.
Home Run and Homeward Bound
The Red Bull Home Run debuted on the closing day of The BRITS
with 201 skiers and snowboarders jostling for positions on
the start line for a Le Mans start. On the starter's pistol
the carnage began, with racers fighting to get their gear
on, and away down the hill. It was the skiers who got away
quickly, leaving the snowboarders close behind. The competitors
then faced 5km of graded black/red slopes with 1200m of vertical
descent.
British Snowboard Team members Ben Kilner and Laura Berry
took the male and the female snowboard titles (see tomorrows
1st edition of Air Time for the ski results!).
Incredibly, Laura raced, and won, with a floating collarbone
break! The injury was sustained a number of weeks ago during
training, Laura is currently waiting for an operation, but
couldn't resist competing. The Home Run win rounded off a
great final day for the 19 year old, who also took 3rd place
in the Slopestyle discipline at the Brits.
A Disciplined Sport - The Enthusiasts Guide
To some people, snowboarding might still seem a little confusing
so we've put together an enthusiast's guide to the disciplines
of snowboarding...
Snowboardcross - Considered one of the newest events in the
snowboarding world, snowboardcross
Half Pipe- The half-pipe is a semi-circular ditch or purpose
built ramp in which competitors perform tricks whilst traveling
from one side to side and also whilst in the air above the
pipe.
Big Air- Big Air competitions allow riders to perform tricks
after launching off a man made jump built specifically for
the event.
Freestyle/Slope Style- Freestyle snowboarding incorporates
man-made terrain features such as rails, boxes, handrails,
jumps and half pipe, alongside a number of other natural features
and is the practice of doing different kinds of tricks on
a snowboard.
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