British Big Air Championships, Milton Keynes SNO!zone, 19th September 2009
The First Indoor British Snow Tour event of the season, The British Big Air Championships got underway at Milton Keynes SNO!zone on Saturday 19th September. Over 110 snowboarders and freeskiers took to the slope to hit the all snow kicker, which was tagged the biggest indoor jump ever created, measuring a whopping 14m from the lip of the jump to the knuckle.
The British Snowboard Big Air Championships
The Snowboard Big Air Championships kicked off the day’s competition with each rider received two qualifying jumps to land their trick and impress the judges to make it through to the finals. The qualification rounds claimed a few injuries narrowing the field and all of a sudden the competition was wide open. After a tough call by the judges the top eight men and four women were selected and the finals got under way.
The younger girls were setting the standard during the Women’s overall final with 12-year-old Katie Ormerod stepping up and hitting the medium kicker and landing a big backside 360 to win the overall British Big Air Title. Second place went to Sophie Nicholls who had been riding really well all day and landed a big cab 180 over the small kicker. With a stylish method grab over the medium kicker third place went to Emily Park.
In the Men’s final it was experienced riders Andy Nudds and Jack Shackleton that set the standard, reaching incredible heights and travelling over 16m through the air before stomping their tricks. Nudds, who had qualified through to the final in first place was victorious and took the 2009 British Big Air title after he landed an enormous textbook frontside 720, one of the biggest jumps ever witnessed indoors. Second place went to Team GB rider, Jack Shackleton, whose experience of riding big kickers shone through after he landed a huge stylish backside 360. Sparrow Knox who was one of the younger riders to make it through to the finals finished in third place after he stomped a big, smooth and floaty backside 180 over the big kicker.
Jamie Nicholls almost hits the roof!
MK’s Big Air Champs Reaches New Heights!
The British Snowboard Big Air Championship Results:
Men
1st – Andy Nudds – Halifax
2nd – Jack Shackleton - Newbury
3rd – Sparrow Knox – London
Women:
1st – Katie Ormerod – Halifax
2nd – Sophie Nicholls – Halifax
3rd – Emily Park – Wiltshire
The British Freeski Big Air Championships
The afternoon made way for the UK’s freeskiers and the standard of riding was immense with over 60 riders charging the kickers and throwing down a selection of huge 720’s, 900’s and double front-flips.
In the Women’s competition the top four skiers went through to the two run, best-run counts final. Youngster Katie Summerhayes fresh from her big air victory at Norfolk last weekend took the title after landing a big 540 with a solid grab over the medium kicker. Second place went to Sissy Herant with a 540 over the medium kicker, whilst Kelly O’Donnell came in third place with a stylish 360.
In the men’s final youngsters Tyler Jay-Harding and Cal Sandieson stepped it up from the kid’s age category to make it through to the finals, giving the older guys a run for their money. It was a battle between the James’s for a podium spot in the finals with James Woods fearlessly dropping in switch and landing a massive switch rodeo 720 Japan to take the overall title. Second place went to Animal rider, James Webb, who had qualified in top spot and also opted for a switch 720 rodeo. James Machon rounded off the podium of James’s after effortlessly landing a huge 900 tail grab.
James Woods Switch Corked 900
The British Freeski Big Air Championship Results
Men
1st – James Woods - Sheffield
2nd – James Webb – Bracknell
3rd – James Machon - Sheffield
Women:
1st – Katie Summerhayes - Sheffield
2nd – Servanne Herant – Stoke-on-Trent
3rd – Kelly O’Donnell – Stoke-on-Trent
Over 80 local youngsters that the Schools Tour Team had visited earlier in the week came along to the event to take part in the FREE lessons and watch the big air action, let’s hope they continue to learn how to ski and snowboard and enjoy shredding.
The next event on the British Snow Tour calendar is the Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships and Rail Jam at Glasgow SNO!zone on Saturday 26th September. Pre-register now and you’ll receive a discounted rate on the Friday night freestyle session. To pre-register for the Glasgow event or to check out the photos and video footage from the British Big Air Championships at Milton Keynes, 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 skis. Media partners Whitelines,Dark Summer, Spiked, Extreme Sports Channel, Metrosnow.co.uk,Snowboardclub.co.uk, Skiclub.co.uk,and Natives.co.uk
British Snowboard Tour – Milton Keynes Picture Gallery
British Freeski Tour – Milton Keynes Picture Gallery
