Across the Board 12.03.08
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Welcome to the British Snowboardcross Team... Freestylin' it all the way to Slovenia Get your ski's on...The Brits are fast approaching Watch out for..Snowboarding.. 12.03.08 |
Welcome to the latest edition of Across the Board from SnowsportGB which will keep you updated on all the latest from the British Snowboard team. Along with results, we'll be featuring profiles of the athletes and teams, will hear from the coaches and sponsors and will keep you informed about the main news and events throughout the season.
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.”
Olympic Halfpipe competitor Lesley McKenna also spent time with the team in Morzine, sharing her top tips for snowboarding success.
Results – World Rookie Feast, Czech Republic
Male Groms: 1993 and up
Lewis Courtier-Jones: 4th place overall
Will Smith: 4th place overall
Henry Shackleton: 6th place overall
Tom Hunt: 7th place overall
James Smith: 10th place overall
Female Rookies: 1990 - 1992
Amy Fuller: 2nd place (gaining a competition spot in the final World Rookie Fest event in Austria in April)
Male Rookies: 1990 - 1992
Sam Turnball: 13th place overall
Ollie Jackson: 9th place overall
Mark Raper: 17th place overall
Dean Horsefield: 18th place overall
On the back of their successes at the event, the team, comprised of 12 of the UK’s most promising young snowboarders, is spending time in Les Portes du Soleil for a week’s training camp before heading off to Laax, Switzerland where they will be showcasing their talents at the BRITS between the 29March and 5 April.
Welcome to the British Snowboardcross team…
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.
He puts this seasons success down to improving his technique and pushing himself in aspects of his riding he had not before. He also believes good race preparation is also vital ensuring he eats well before races and gets pleanty of sleep to ensure his body is ready for race day!
When it comes to his favorite place to ride he says he is very happy anywhere which has a foot and a half of fresh powder and some nice terrain. His advice to young boarders is to get good quality training, ride at every opportunity and always push your limits but don't try to run before you can walk.
With his determination and skill on the slopes, we're sure to be seeing a lot more of Tim in the seasons to come.
(pictured Mick Arrowsmith in competition)
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’.
Since developing the craft of snowboarding, he was crowned 2006 National Indoor Snowboardcross Champion and also finished 3rd place at the Snowboardcross GB Nationals in Laax last year. Mick hopes to get to World Cup level soon, and qualify for the Olympics.
In order to get there, Mick trains 3-4 times a week, and although he has suffered a variety of injuries in the past, he commends the fantastic coaching team for helping him along the way.
Previously a keen enthusiast in skateboarding, wakeboarding and BMX, Mick notes his idols as fellow sportsmen Shaun Palmer and Michael Schumacher.
With Snowboardcross as his favorite discipline, Mick likes nothing more than riding his 08 Palmer Crown board, and spending time with his daughter, Francesca.
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.
The Europa Cup Snowboardcross team has been left with a number of riders out of action this season after sustaining injuries. After competing in the King of the Mountain event, Tamsin Evans suffered a broken pelvis and Matt Higgin is also injured at the moment, leaving him unable to ride. We wish them speedy recoveries.
However, Tim McGregor and Mick Arrowsmith headed over to Chamonix, France, at the weekend, to compete in the FIS Snowboardcross event. Tim, who is new to the British Snowboardcross Team this season, achieved an impressive 18th place and continues to go from strength to strength. Mick, who has recently returned from injury and was riding in only his second race of the season finished in a respectable 34th and 38th place.
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 freestyle 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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