Across the Board 26.03.08
 Sacrifice
in Switzerland results in Harington as Europa Cup Champion!!!
British Snowboard Team member Dom Harington made a huge sacrifice
last weekend in missing his brother's wedding (albeit with
full support of his family) to win the FIS (International
Ski Federation) Europa Cup half pipe series. As a result Harrington
(23, Leeds) has earned himself a World Cup starting spot which
puts him in contention for a place at the 2010 Winter Olympic
Games, Vancouver, Canada.
Harington's closest challenger, Jan Michaelis of Germany,
failed to show allowing Dom to secure the title by the semi
finals of the competition. This resulted in a mad dash to
the airport in an attempt to catch a plane back to the UK
for the reception.
The wait is overThe Brits are here!
The greatest music and snowsports event of 2008 is finally
upon us with the BRITS 2008 about to kick off in Laax, Switzerland.
Six days of world class snowboard and freeski action are planned
from 29 March - 5 April when Europe's ultimate winter festival
celebrates its 18th birthday at the end of this month. Featuring
a combination of DJ's, live bands and freestyle ski and snowboarding
championships, it is an event for all snowsport fanatics.
Set to be the biggest and best yet, The BRITS will feature
both the Animal Slopestyle and the Quiksilver Big Air Championships,
alongside a line up of three hot new bands that will kick
off the inaugural, Ride, K2 and Salomon Live Après
Sessions. British bands Kovak, Hey Molly and Bohica will begin
each Live Après Sessions in head - banging style.
Top placing for Halfpipe riders in Valmalenco
After finishing 10th overall at the FIS World Cup Finals in
Valmalenco, Italy, Plymouth born snowboarder, Dan Wakeham,
has ended his World Cup season on a real high. This is Dan's
best result in the World Cup this year and places him 28th
in the world standing.
Dan's halfpipe team mate, Ben Kilner was also on top form
finishing in 20th place - another great result from the Banchory
snowboarder. Coverage from the Valmalenco World Cup event,
including interviews with Dan, Ben and Zoe, will be aired
on Channel 4 at 8am on Sunday 30 March.
Unfortunately British snowboarders, Lesley McKenna and Zoe
Gillings, were not able to compete in Valmalenco, after sustaining
injuries, keeping them both out of action despite qualifying
for the World Cup Finals.
Dan and Ben, along with the rest of the British Snowboard
Teams, will be heading out to Laax, Switzerland, from 29 March
- 5 April to compete in the BRITS '08. Following on from the
great worldwide successes, this season's standards are set
to soar!
Profile: Leo Addington - World Cup Half Pipe Coach
How long have you been snowboarding for?
13 years
What/who first got you interested in the sport?
Some weird Californian skater and his brother who moved to
Calgary and worked at Canadian Olympic Park (COP). He sold
me my first board, 163 Santa Cruz with packman bites.
What is you preferred discipline within the sport?
Riding powder, pipe when there's no powder, jumps when my
knees allow.
What type of board do you ride?
Technine 159 Dropin Science and 157 Icon
What have been your best/ most memorable sporting
achievements to date?
Working with SSGB
What are your snowboarding aspirations?
Same thing every night pinky, try to take over the snowboard
world. Oh, and coach a medal win at the Olympics.
Where is your favourite resort and why?
Whistler/Blackcomb. Best snow, terrain, food, and the village
is rad.
How do you prepare for competitions and events?
Make sure the athletes are ready and my boots aren't on the
balcony overnight.
Nothing's going to get in our way... not even the
weather!
The British Junior Snowboard Team has recently returned from
an exhilarating training week in French resort of Morzine
- Avoriaz. British Junior Squad coach and Animal rider, Sonia
Shaw, was on hand alongside the week's guest coach, Ryan Davies.
The week started brilliantly, the riders were newly kitted
out in their TSA gear, there was a mass of snow and the newly
created 'Stash Park' to play in, an excellent introduction
to the home of many of the UK's Pro-riders.
On the second night, the weather took a turn for the worse
but resulted in fresh snow and powder the following day! This
gave the team the perfect opportunity to learn and enjoy one
of the biggest rushes of snowboarding - powder and cliff drops!
The aim of the Junior programme is to transfer the athlete's
skills from dry or indoor slopes to the snow and to teach
them how to ride well in ALL aspects of snowboarding so this
was too good an opportunity to miss!
World Junior Championships
After a recent rescheduling of location, the 2008 FIS World
Junior Snowboard Championships were successfully held last
week in Valmalenco, Italy. From 16 - 23 March, Great Britain's
talented young riders showcased their skills and secured a
host of top positions.
Sam Cullum led the way for the Brits making it through to
the finals in both the Big Air and Halfpipe Championships.
Stomping a huge backside corked 900 in the Big Air Sam continued
his for in the Half Pipe the following day throwing down a
frontside 720, cab 720, and massive McTwist during the Championships.
A special shout out also goes to the younger riders, Sam Turnball,
Mark Raper and Lee Tarran who stepped it up and achieved great
results off a HUGE 20m kicker.
Junior World Big Air Championship Results, Wednesday
19th March
Sam Cullum - 6th
Jack Shakleton - 45th
Angus Leith - 50th
Ben Kilner - 52nd
Sam Turnball - 61st
Mark Raper - 65th
Watch out for...Snowboarding...26.03.08
BRITS 2008 - 29th March to 5th April, Laax, Switzerland
|
