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Across the Board 27-02-08

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Zoe Gillings - Rises to the Podium

Great Britain’s number one female snowboarder, Zoe Gillings, has reached new highs, achieving a silver medal at the World Cup Snowboardcross event Gujo-Gifu in Japan, after securing fourth place in the World Cup Snowboardcross event at Sungwoo, Korea the previous weekend.  The 22 year old has been on great form recently with these results being her fourth consecutive top ten placing this season.

The Isle of Man racer passed both Lindsey Jacobellis of the USA and Mellie Francon of Switzerland, ranked 2^nd and 3^rd in the world respectively, to take second place behind Maelle Ricker of Canada, currently the number 1 ranked rider in the world.

"Woohoo, I’m stoked,” said a delighted Gillings. “It’s amazing to be back on the podium, and I’m really please I was able to pass two girls and catch up a little bit to Maelle. I’d really like to take gold next time.” Gillings has moved into fourth place in the overall standings.

Zoe’s male team mates were also well placed in Japan with Dan Wakeham finishing the best of the British males takin g18th in the Half Pipe.  He was then followed by Ben Kilner in 21^st place and Angus Leith in 26^th  whilst James Foster finished  44^th out of 80 competitors in the Snowboardcross event.

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Gala Dinner supports Snowsport Athletes Quest for Glory

London’s Dorchester Hotel played host to the Snowsport GB Gala Dinner on 12 February, where 300 guests attended the prestigious event.  The charity ball was organised to raise funds for the British Alpine Ski and Snowboard teams to assist in their quest for glory at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.  The event also benefited the British Adaptive Ski Team through the charity Disability Snowsport UK. 

The evening began with a drinks reception, followed by an address from HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the patron of Snowsport GB.  After dinner, the Master of Ceremonies, Jonny Gould, put four of Great Britain’s snowsport athletes under the spotlight, discussing their hopes for the forthcoming Winter Olympics.  Britain’s number one Alpine skier, Chemmy Alcott expressed her desire for a podium position this season, while Andy Noble is aiming for a top ten placing next season having been hampered by injury for the majority of this season.  Scottish brothers Noel and Alain Baxter where also grilled with Noel hoping for a medal at the next Winter Olympics and Alain with high hopes as a serious contender.

Following on from ‘An Audience with The British Alpine Ski Team’ the Grand Auction was held, offering guests the opportunity to bid for a variety of exciting prizes.  Prizes included coaching from World Cup Skier Andy Noble, an evening with Chemmy Alcott and a round of golf with Alain Baxter at Loch Lomond.  After entertainment from comedian Marcus Brigstocke, the gala goers were entertained by Rick Parfitt Jnr and the RPJ Rock Band with everyone putting on their dancing shoes to top off the glamorous black tie event.

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Dom Harington leads a British challenge

After achieving his best results of the season with a first in theEuropa Cup Halfpipe in Klinovec, Czech Republic against a competition line up including over 60 of the world’s top snowboarders, British Freestyle Team snowboarder Dom Harington is very much back in action.  The 23 year old Olympic hopeful is currently ranked No. 1 in the Europa Cup standings and is striving for continued success this season.  He puts his success partly down to his combination of ‘having a good meal the night before, a big breakfast and drinking loads of water.’

Following his first snowboarding attempts on the slopes of Aviemore, aged 12, Dom has racked up 11 years of snowboarding experience and is a regular figure on the slopes as part of the British Freestyle Snowboard Team.  For three consecutive years Dom has reigned as the British Half Pipe Champion and in 2007 he landed the first ever 1080 seen at the championships!  Now the talented Brit aspires to ‘land back to back 1080s in the pipe and keep meeting new people, in cool places’.

Although snowboarding is his passion, the Leeds lad loves turning up the volume with his scratching and DJ mixes, rating his DJ turntables amongst his most prized possessions.  However, when it comes to unwinding Dom likes to kick back and relax with his guitar.  The laid back rider rates his recent time at the Europa Cup Half Pipe event as his greatest time in the sport, having spent it riding in ‘an amazing half pipe with a good group of friends’.

Offering advice to up and coming riders, Dom reckons it may soundclichéd but it’s to ‘just try to enjoy yourself’, and although having found his own success Dom is still inspired by his own snowboarding idols.

With a number more competitions left in this year’s freestyle snowboarding calendar, it’s going to be exciting to see the new heights Dom can reach.

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Halfpipe Challengers - Europa Cup Results

Innsbruck, Austria played host to the Europa Cup between 15 and 16 February and witnessed British success in both the male and female Halfpipe events.

The challenge was again led by Dom Harrington with his excellent second and third places.  Following this, Sam Cullum, fresh out of the Half Pipe World Cup in Italy, won sixth and eighth places, while 19 year old Jack Shackleton was placed tenth and twelfth. Great results must run in the family with Kate Foster, sister of Snowboardcross rider James, finishing a fine seventh and eleventh in the ladies Half Pipe events.

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Results Round Up

Britain’s snowboarders have once again proved to be world class this weekend with top positions for the British Snowboard Team riders in World Cup and Europa Cup events and also at the World Rookie Feast.

FIS World Cup Results, Sungwoo, Korea (15th – 17th February):

• Zoe Gillings, World Cup Snowboardcross– 4^th place
• James Foster, World Cup Snowboardcross –  47^th place
• Dan Wakeham, World Cup Half Pipe – 24^th place
• Ben Kilner, World Cup Half Pipe – 31^st place
• Angus Leith, World Cup Half Pipe – 35^th place

FIS World Cup Results, Gujo-gifu, Japan (22nd – 24th February)

• Zoe Gillings, World Cup Snowboardcross – 2^nd place
• James Foster, World Cup Snowboardcross – 44^th place
• Dan Wakeham, World Cup Half Pipe – 18^th place
• Ben Kilner, World Cup Half Pipe – 21^st place
• Angus Leith, World Cup Half Pipe – 26^th place

Europa Cup Results, Innsbruck, Austria (15th – 16th February):

• Dom Harington, Europa Cup halfpipe – 2^nd & 3^rd places
• Sam Cullum, Europa Cup halfpipe – 6^th & 8^th places
• Jack Shackleton, Europa Cup halfpipe – 10^th & 12^th places
• Kate Foster, Europa Cup ladies halfpipe - 7^th & 11^th places

Europa Cup Results, Klinovec, Czech Republic, (23rd – 24th February)

• Dom Harington, Europa Cup halfpipe – 1^st & 3^rd places
• Jack Shackleton – 6^th &10^th places

The British Junior Squad have been in action in the Czech Republic at the O2 World Rookie Feast.  Below are the excellent results achieved by the athletes in the Slope Slyle and Half Pipe events.

Women

Aimee Fuller – 2^nd in both half pipe and slope style

Men 

Half Pipe
GROM (1993 and up)

3 Courtier-Jones Lewis GBR
4 Smith Will GBR
5 Shackleton Henry GBR
8 Hunt Thomas GBR
9 Smith James GBR

Slope Style GROM (1993 AND UP)

4 Hunt Thomas GBR
5 Smith Will GBR
6 Courtier-Jones Lewis GBR
7 Shackleton Henry GBR
8 Smith James GBR

Half Pipe MEN ROOKIE (1990-91-92)

5 Turnbull Sam GBR
6 Jackson Ollie GBR
16 Raper Mark GBR
18 Horsefield Dean GBR

Slope Style MEN ROOKIE (1990-91-92)

12 Jackson Ollie GBR
14 Raper Mark GBR
15 Horsefield Dean GBR
18 Turnbull Sam GBR

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Watch out for...

World Cup 

28-29 Feb – Calgary, Canada, Half Pipe
1-3 Mar – Lake Placid, USA, Snowboard Cross
7-9 Mar – Stoneham, Canada, Half Pipe and Snowboard Cross

Europa Cup

1-2 Mar – Vogel, Slovenia, Big Air and Slope Style
7-8 Mar – Altausse, Austria, Big Air and Slope Style

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