Freeride.fr's Buck took an unexpected third place medal at the Trespass British Skiercross Championships in Laax last Thursday, pictured far right on the podium below right.

Andrew Buckingham, A.K.A. Buck, has won the Natives Workers Challenge giant slalom in Meribel for the past two years and decided on a whim to drive to Laax and enter the Skiercross. He works for Freeride.fr, long-time sponsor of Natives events and mountain sports retailer and rental company based in the Three Valleys.

He had some close calls in the qualifiers, posting a quicker time to qualify than the eventual winner Andrew Longley, and even beating him in the semi final, but sharp elbows and a couple of spectacular wipe-outs left him in third. Andrew Longley took first, while Thomas Bankes, who won Monday's Trespass Snowboardcross Championships came second.

The whim paid off - Buck receieved a cheque for £100, and MC Pat Sharples described him as a "legend" when he called him up onto the podium.

Another whim that paid off was that of Zack Wragg, editor of Dark Summer freeskiing magazine. After some encouragement to enter, he registered for the Giro Big Air Championships and, after poor weather conditions disrupted the competition, Wragg won gold in the masters category with his first qualifying run.

Next year, the Natives team is planning to enter as many events as possible - competing looked like loads of fun!