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Boarder Cross
In the 14th British Boardercross Championships, 80 of the UK’s finest
riders simultaneously competed head to head in heats of three over
a course of jumps and banked turns. With a fresh sprinkling of snow
from the night before, the riders and onlookers were treated to
sunny skies for the first day of the Brits competition.
Defending champion James Foster had the fastest time of the day
in the qualifying heat but unfortunately was taken out in the semi-finals,
leaving the field open to his fellow competitors. In the end it
was a tight final race between Steve Trolland, Chris Southwell and
GB Team member Bud Gallimore. Taking the lead on the first turn,
Trolland proved too fast for his opponents and with a smooth run
picked up the champion’s title with a race time of 1.14.44 minutes.
In the women’s competition Zoe Gillings, GB Team member, was the
favourite to tip the title. Gillings is the only Brit competing
on the World Cup Boardercross circuit, currently ranked 8th. Against
top Brits Liz Osbourne and Mollie Boys, Gillings took the No. 1
spot after clearing the third fastest time across both the men’s
and women’s competition; 1.13.55 minutes.
 Results
Mens
1) Steve Trolland, Aviemore
2) Bud Gallimore, Cheltenham
3) Chris Southwell, London
Womens
1) Zoe Gillings, Isle of Man
2) Liz Osbourne, London
3) Mollie Boys, Bradford
Skier Cross
The Skiercross Championships, consisted of a furious downhill race,
with riders in groups of four competitors, battling it out over
jumps and banked turns to be the first past the finishing line,
in the quickest time possible.
Conditions were overcast with a light snowfall throughout the day.
As a brand new event, a healthy 30 skiers competed for placement
through the qualifying rounds to the finals. Ex British race team
member Henry Taylor had the edge on the day with a time of 1.07.01
minutes, putting big mountain skier Noddy Gowans and Pete Thelwell
in second and third places respectively.
In the women’s final race it was a tight battle between favorite
Abi Pickett, Lizzie Cranfield, Anja Rees-Jones and Faith Dyer, with
Pickett coming up trumps. After a quick judge meeting it was confirmed
that both Pickett and Dyer had a false start resulting in their
disqualifications. The title was passed to wildcard Anja Rees-Jones
in 1.21.06 minutes.
Results:Mens
1) Henry Taylor, Leeds
2) Noddy Gowan, London
3) Pete Thelwell, Sheffield
Womens
1) Anja Rees-Jones, Lewes, E. Sussex
2) Lizzie Cranfield, Lewes, E. Sussex
Snowboard - Halfpipe
Favorites James Foster, defending champion, and GB team members
Dom Harington and Tyler Chorlton were all on top form and used the
pipe to maximum effect. Ultimately, Harington was the strongest
rider with back-to-back high rotations, picking up top points in
all judge categories, finishing his run with a frontside 720. Chortlon
came second and Foster third.
Bottom half of Christian Stevens (RAD TV) |
Ben Kilner in pipe |
Double boarder pipe action |
The UK’s top 6 women
took on the pipe in the Finals. Lesley McKenna, currently ranked
3rd on the World Cup Halfpipe circuit, was the natural favorite
and didn’t disappoint with 7-foot high airs and solid frontside
540s. The run for second and third places was a slightly tighter
race, with Melanie Leando and Zoe Gillings fighting it out. Leando
had the edge, finishing second and Gillings third.
Results: Mens
1) Dom Harington, Leeds
2) Tyler Chorlton, Brighton / Andorra
3) James Foster, Suffolk / Canada
Womens
1) Lesley McKenna, Aviemore
2) Melanie Leando, Jersey
3) Zoe Gillings, Isle of Man
Ski Big Air
Weather closing in around Les Deux Alpes’ famous snowpark, didn’t
stop the UK’s finest. Richard Taylor, who has only skied for six
months, landed the best jump ever by a UK skier - a clean 900 rotation
to take the champion’s title. Jamie Cameron and Andy Bennett were
close behind, finishing second and third respectively. The women’s
competition proved just as spectacular with Abi Pickett pulling
off a clean 360. This earned her the No. 1 spot, whilst fellow competitors
Emma Lonsdale and Faith Dyer placed in the top three at a very respectable
second and third correspondingly.
 Results
Mens
1) Richard Taylor, Wales
2) Jamie Cameron, Cornwall
3) Andy Bennett, Nottingham
Womens
1) Abi Pickett, Chamonix
2) Emma Lonsdale, Kendall
3) Faith Dyer, London Ski
Half-Pipe
In poor conditions there were some remarkable performances. In the
women’s competition the battle was between favorites Abi Pickett
and Emma Lonsdale, as well as wildcard Phillipa Cammell. Ultimately,
Lonsdale took the champion’s title with multiple variations of spins
and grabs, including a 5 foot high clean 360 rotation. Cammell came
in second and Pickett third. In the men’s competition, the adrenalin
soared when Mike Wakefield performed the best run ever in a Halfpipe
by a UK skier. With back-to-back rotations such as a corked 900
and his trademark McTwist, never previously performed by British
skier, he grabbed the champion’s title. The judges all agreed that
Wakefield is destined to be an X-Games hopeful in the next few years.
Andy Bennett, one of Europe’s top 5 skiers landed second, whilst
Milo De Glanville took third position.
 Results
Mens
1) Mike Wakefield, Wakefield
2) Andy Bennett, Nottingham
3) Milo de Glanville, London
Womens
1) Emma Lonsdale, Kendall
2) Phillipa Cammell, Sussex
3) Abi Pickett, Chamonix
Snowboard – Big Air
Excellent conditions greeted Britain’s top women boarders for the
Big Air. However, in anticipation of bad weather, the organizers
took the decision the previous evening to announce the men’s champion
based on scores from the qualifier runs. Again it was the GB team
members Tyler Chorlton and Dom Harington that stole the show. They
had to fight strong opposition from last year’s Slopestyle Champion
Scott McMorris. Chorlton, Olympic hopeful for Turin 2006, easily
grabbed the Champion’s title with an amazing frontside corked 720
rotation. Harington, current Halfpipe Champion came second and McMorris
third. The women’s competition showcased the growing talent within
the UK’s female snowboard scene. Mollie Boys, glowed with pure confidence,
executing a perfect backside 360 over a 17 meter jump. All rounder
Zoe Gillings took second place, closely followed by Gilly Seagrave.
Results Mens
1) Tyler Chorlton, Brighton / Andorra
2) Dom Harington, Leeds
3) Scott McMorris, Edinburgh
Womens
1) Mollie Boys, Bradford
2) Zoe Gillings, Isle of Man
3) Gilly Seagrave, Cambridge
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