Across the Board 12.03.08
Rookie Round Up
The British Junior Snowboard Squad recently took to the slopes
in the Czech Republic, achieving great results and podium
positions, at the TTR THREE (3) STAR, World Rookie Fest.
Poor weather conditions couldn't deter the Junior Squad who
pulled together all the training to achieve great results
in their age categories. In the combined Halfpipe and Slopestyle
competition the Juniors excelled themselves, with Lewis Courtier-Jones
managing to boost over eight feet out of the Half pipe - resulting
in a 3rd place ranking in his age category.
Alongside Junior coach Sonia Shaw, Will Hughes was on hand
to help with the coaching and to cheer the team along. Sonia
commented: "They have all really proved themselves and
shown that with more time on snow and further coaching they
will be a very strong team that filter nicely into the British
Freestyle and World Cup Teams."
Welcome to the British Snowboardcross team...
Tim McGregor...Ready to Race
Tim first tried skiing at the age of 4 but soon switched to
snowboarding taking his first tentative steps on a snowboard
on the Scottish slopes in the days of ski boots and race bindings
- he never looked back! He has now been riding for fifteen
years.
Tim enjoys the variety of all snowboard disciplines, in particular
the excitement of snowboard cross, but loves taking time out
to go free-riding. This season has seen Tim enter in his first
FIS races, where he has enjoyed reaching the finish line ahead
of many of his French, Swiss, Austrian and Italian competitors.
He hopes to break into the World Cup competitions very soon
Mick Arrowsmith... From the Navy, to novice,
to Nationals
Mick's snowboarding background comes from his full-time career
in the Navy, where, on a ski lesson on a Navy Adventurous
training week he decided that snowboarding looked more fun.
"All of my snowboarding since has been with the Navy
except for last season when they kindly allowed him to join
British Snowboardcross Team".
Going from a novice to last season joining the British Team,
Mick's attitude towards the sport comes from testing the Navy
adage, 'pain is weakness leaving the body'.
Freestylin' it all the way to Slovenia
Whilst the World Cup Half pipe and Snowboardcross Team were
competing in Canada, the British Freestyle Team was due to
head to Altausee, Austria, to contend in the next Europa Cup
event of the season. After this event was re-scheduled however,
Laura Berry, Dom Harington and Jack Shackleton made their
way across Europe to Rogla, Slovenia to the replacement Europa
Cup competition.
The athletes continued to fill podium spots over the weekend
when they competed in the Big Air and Slope style events.
Laura Berry proved to be back to full fitness in the Big Air
and Slopestyle, when she scooped gold in both events after
being the only girl in the competition to not only hit but
spin (360) over the big 18m kicker. Dom Harington walked away
with a silver and bronze to add to his collection after he
landed a solid cab 900 in the Big Air and a front-side 540
to cab 540 in the slope style competition.
 Riding
High on Success
Stoneham, Canada played host to the recent stop on the World
Cup schedule with the World Cup Halfpipe and Snowboardcross
events. Zoe Gillings took 12th overall position in Snowboardcross.
Sam Cullum was the best of the Brits in Halfpipe with 18th
place, the best World Cup result of his career. He just beat
rider Dan Wakeham into 19th place, while the British places
were completed by Ben Kilner and Kate Foster who linked together
solid runs to both finish in 23rd place overall.
Zoe Gillings, Dan Wakeham, Ben Kilner and Lesley McKenna
have secured their qualifying place in the World Cup finals
which take place 13 -16 March in Valmalenco, Italy.
With some top performances from the British Snowboarding
Teams this season, we'll be gripping the edge of our boards
in anticipation of more world-class results in the final competitions.
Get your ski's on...... The BRITS 2008 are fast
approaching
Europe's ultimate winter sports festival is celebrating its
18th birthday later this month and is set to be the biggest
and best yet. From the 29 March - 5 April, the BRITS, which
features half pipe, big air, slope style and snowboard cross
competitions, will dominate the resort of Laax, Switzerland.
The BRITS is a true celebration of all that is great about
UK snowboarding and skiing and gives the chance for competitors
from across the world to take on the best of British snowsport
talent. The BRITS 2008 is set to attract more talent than
ever including Dan Wakeham, Jenny Jones and Dom Harington,
to name just a few. The UK competitors look promising to deliver
a display of the most progressive snowboarding and free skiing
talent on offer.
Top UK Slopestyle rider, Sam Cullum is also confirmed to
be at the event, competing in the Animal Slopestyle. Widely
considered as the ultimate measure of a rider's all round
freestyle ability, the Slopestyle discipline combines technical
rails and kickers, all rolled into creative lines and clean
landings. Judging by last year's performances, the 2008 Animal
Slopestyle Championships promise to be a major highlight of
the music-fuelled week.
The closing date for applications for the competition is
28 March so you better get your ski's on!
Watch out for...Snowboarding...12.03.08
World Cup Finals - Valmalenco, Italy, 13-16 March
World Junior Snowboard Championships - Valmalenco, Italy,
16-21 March
The BRITS - Laax, Switzerland, 29 March - 5 April
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