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Air-Time-14-05-2008

Welcome to the latest edition of Air Time, the official newsletter from Snowsport GB which will keep you updated on all the latest from the British Freestyle Team. Along with results, we'll be featuring profiles of the athletes and teams, and will keep you informed about the main news and events from the British Moguls, Ski Cross, Half Pipe and Aerials Teams.

Bring it on – BRITS ‘08
Murray Buchan and Emma Lonsdale Take Top Honours in the SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships
James Webb and Emma Lonsdale Showcase Serious Style in the Animal British Freeski Slopestyle
British Freestyle Ski Team Triumph in Trespass Skiercross
Joe Murrell and Teri Spencer Take Title at the Quicksilver Big Air
The British Ski Cross Series

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Bring it on - BRITS '08

Laax, Switzerland recently played host to the British Freestyle Team as they descended upon the 'Swiss national treasure', displaying an array of glittering talent, for the eagerly anticipated BRITS '08.  Held from 29 March - 5 April, hundreds of spectators watched on as the best in British freestyle skiing competed in some of the fastest and most exciting events in recent history.

In this edition of Air Time you will find reports on all the action from the BRITS '08, you can also watch video highlights from the event on the Snowsport GB website, simply go to http://www.snowsportgb.com/BRITS-Pictures-and-Videos.

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Murray Buchan and Emma Lonsdale Take Top Honours in the SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships

The SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships kicked off the BRITS 08 Freeski Championships in style on Monday 31st March, with Murray Buchan and Emma Lonsdale taking top honours and the 2008 SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championship Titles.

Over 45 skiers dropped into Laax's freshly cut and shaped Super pipe with the hopes of making it through to the top eight men and top four women final. Murray Buchan was on top form and linked together a super stylish run including a 900, to 1080 and reverse mute alley-oop to take home the gold and the 2008 SNO!zone British Halfpipe title. Second place went to James Machon, who threw down a run full of spins including an unnatural 540, 900 and 720. Third place went to Paddy Graham who was going huge and pulled out a super stylish alley-oop 540 and big d-spin 900. 

In the women's final, it was Emma Londsdale who scooped the gold with a selection of big stylish grabs and an alley-oop 540. Second place went to Becky Hammond who linked together huge alley-oops and stylish grabs. Claire Hughes finished in third place with a run including smooth back to back alley-oops. After the competition had finished all 45 competitors headed up to the top of the pipe for a Chinese downhill train through the pipe in true camaraderie style, which was a great finish to an epic first day of competition.

SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships Results

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James Webb and Emma Lonsdale Showcase Serious Style in the Animal British Freeski Slopestyle

The second day of the British Freeski Championships saw stylish, skilful and solid runs as the best of British freeskiers attacked the course for the Animal British Slopestyle Championships, with James Webb and Emma Lonsdale taking home the gold and the glory.

Due to bad weather delaying the start of the contest, it was decided that there wouldn't be a final and that the skiers would have two chances to put together a winning run. The women's competition was dominated by reigning Animal British Slopestyle Champion, Emma Lonsdale, who was also fresh from gaining gold in the previous days Halfpipe Championships and was eager to add a second medal of the week to her impressive collection. With a winning run including a lipside unnatural onto the box followed by a switch 180, 360 and 180 over the kickers, she was destined to take the top spot. Teri Spencer scooped the silver with her smooth rail riding finishing her run with solid 360's over the kickers whilst third place went to Becky Hammond with a selection of solid 360's.

In the men's contest, competitiveness was high and everyone was pulling out all the stops in the hope of winning the coveted title. It was regular competitor and winner on the British Snow Tour, James Webb, who was crowned the king of the Animal British Slopestyle Championships, after his impressive run consisting of a 270 on 270 off on the rails followed by a switch 900, 540 and switch 720 mute off of the kickers, much to the delight of the crowd and judges. A very deserving second spot went to youngster James Woods after pulling out a 270 on 270 off and 450 on the rails before finishing off his run with a 720, unnatural rodeo and switch 720 over the kickers. Joe Murrell took the final podium position with a 270 on the rail followed by a switch bio 720, a very impressive switch bio 900 finished off with a rodeo 720. 

Animal British Slopestyle Championships Results

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British Freestyle Ski Team Triumph in Trespass Skiercross

It was a snowy third day for the skiers as they went head to head in the battle for the sought after skiercross title. British Freestyle Ski Team members Angus Morison and Emily Sarsfield, here at the BRITS specially to compete in the Trespass British Skiercross Championships, were on form and flying the flag for British skiing both taking gold for the second year running.

The women's skiercross was seriously fast paced and from the starting gates, the podium was set. 2007 Trespass British Skiercross Champion, Emily Sarsfield led from the start and had the race under control right through to the end, ensuring she held onto the title for another year. Second spot went to Danielle Freeze, third to Becky Hammond and in fourth was Elspeth Rogers.

In the men's competition, Angus Morison, fresh from a recent 3rd place in a FIS Europa Cup competition, lead the pack from the start gates, and despite persistence from the other competitors, Andrew Matthew, Edward Cozzi and Steve Trotter, who stepped up the pace in the hope of closing the gap on Angus and taking the title from him.  There was no stopping Angus as he had the finish line in his midst, cruising through to claim first place and the title for another year. Andrew Matthew took the silver, third and fourth place went to Edward and Steve respectively.

Both Angus and Emily were delighted to defend their titles against some of the up and coming British talent.  The tricky weather conditions made life difficult for all the competitiors and a special shout out goes to 15 year old Martin Trotter who produced the 5th fastest qualifying time which would have been good enough for a place in the men's semi final!

Trespass British Skiercross Championships Results:

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Joe Murrell and Teri Spencer Take Title at the Quicksilver Big Air

Following the postponement of the Big Air on Thursday 3rd April due to severe weather and the high standard of kicker riding from the Slopestyle Championships earlier in the week, everyone was excited and anticipation was high to see what the freeskiers would pull out of the bag for the final day of competition, the Quiksilver British Freeski Big Air Championships.

In the women's competition, after a two run elimination qualification round in which the best run counted, four girls went head to head in the semi finals until only two remained for the adrenalin fuelled final. Teri Spencer took the title after landing a massive and stylish 360 reverse mute grab off of the big kicker whilst Katie Summerhayes came in second place opting for a 720 off of the medium kicker. The bronze medal was awarded to Claire Hughes who pulled a solid 360 off the big kicker.

Following the same format as the women's competition, it was now time for eight of Britain's finest freeskiers to go through to the final, going head to head in the hope of winning the title. The finalists had been saving something special, and certainly stepped it up a notch with all final scores being extremely close and hard to determine who'd be victorious. Joe Murrell took the men's comp in hand winning with a perfectly executed switch bio 900, adding more medals to his growing collection. On fine form throughout the whole week's competition, youngster James Woods added some more silverware to his collection after stomping a switch 1080 mute grab with the third spot going to 2008 British Slopestyle Champion, James Webb who impressed with a switch 900 mute grab.

Quiksilver British Big Air Championships Results

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The British Ski Cross Series

This summer will see skiing's most exciting new event hit the indoor slopes of the UK. Skier Cross has been a popular mid point between racing and freestyle for professional skiers everywhere for years, but with the sport being declared as an Olympic discipline for the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Games, the sport will become more and more prominent to those not directly involved.  At present the only opportunity that British Athletes, freestyle or alpine, get to try the sport is once a winter at the national freestyle championships and once a summer at the national artificial championships.

Following discussions with members of the Snowsport GB Ski Cross Team, Hype Events will be responsible for running the first ever British Series, in partnership with SNO!zone, the UK's premier indoor snow slope facility. The idea is to attract more athletes from both alpine and freestyle backgrounds to compete together. This will allow those looking to progress in the sport the opportunity to compete and learn from their peers on a regular basis in the UK. The 3 SNO!zone centres will host 5 events across the summer, with one running per month from May to September.

Also in attendance will be members of the British Ski Cross Team and the one of the Team Selectors, who will be hoping to source the up and coming talent. British Ski Cross Team Manager Ian Findlay was pleased to see the growing exposure his sport is getting. 'It's great for the sport of Ski Cross in the UK to have a series running this summer.  It will give skiers the chance to try the sport of Ski Cross and it can only help to move the sport forward towards the 2010 Winter Olympics."

The events kick off on the Saturday nights with open practice on the Skier Cross course and the chance to test new equipment from the leading brands supporting the Series, including Atomic, Salomon, Head & D3O protection. Sunday is the competition day, with time trials starting from 11am and Head to Head Knock out rounds starting from 2pm. Whilst the competitors hit the slopes guest Djs will entertain spectators who are able to chill out in the riders area and watch the event. All this combined with more than 60 different prizes across the weekend and cash prizes for overall winners means a series of events to remember!

Entries can be made at www.hypeevents.co.uk 

For more information  please contact sam@hypeevents.co.uk

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