|
 150
Entrants at Castleford Xscape
The first indoor event of the Orange AIM Series 2004 saw a record
number of 100 snowboard and 50 ski competitors battling it out in
the national Indoor Slopestyle Championships at Xscape, Castleford
on the 4th September.
Freestyle skiers take off
For the earlier parts of the day it was UK's top freestyle skiers
that ruled the purposed built Slopestyle course which included a
flat-down, rainbow and a gas pipe at the top to straight rail, wide
box, big flat-down and finished with a nice C-box. Local star and
British Champion Mike Wakefield from Hemsworth was unfortunately
unable to start due to injury, which opened up the field for his
main opponents Andy Bennett, Paddy Graham and Eddie Thelwell, all
from around Sheffield and shredding as the Kneesall Massive. Through
a smooth run the chief of the Sheffield scene Bennett snapped the
title from his Line team mates Graham, second and Thelwell, third.
Local amateur and Xscape ski instructor Colin Andrews, Doncaster
took a well deserved fourth place.
 Emma
Londsdale, current British Halfpipe Champion and Dryslope Big Air/
Skiercross champion is officially UK's first ski lady after adding
yet another title to her name over the weekend. New to the AIM scene,
Kim Vince, Nottingham and Kate Williams, Sheffield surprisingly
showed great talent and dedication winning second and third place
in the women's competition.
Snowboard comp stiff competition
In the afternoon's snowboard competition the startlist reached its
limits when 100 snowboarders of all ages and performance levels
took over the course. The gathered professionals soon met stiff
competition from local and un-sponsored amateurs and in time for
the men's final the race was close.
In the end it was reigning Indoor Champion James
Thorne, Norfolk, that performed the day's most precise and smooth
run with skill and control, beating amateurs Ben McHugh, Glasgow
and Jon Russell, Sheffield, to second and third place. Thorne who
already been given a TTR to the Red Bull Storm on the 25th Sep,
passed on his ticket to Russell who did not believe his luck. Both
Russell and McHugh now have a TTR for the UK amateur comp at this
international event in Glasgow.
In the women's competition it was last
year's Junior Champion Lucy Passmore, Milton Keynes that took her
revenge for the overall title, beating UK's Slopestyle queen, British
Champion and fellow Milton Keynes rider Laura Berry to the title.
McHugh and Lucy Butler were awarded the Salomon Best Un-sponsored
award, taking home £200 worth of Salomon gear. Here are the results:
Men's Freestyle Ski Slopestyle Championships
1) Andy Bennett, Kneesall
Winning run included unnatural railslide to fakie on the rainbow
and fakie 270 on to 270 off the box
2) Paddy Graham, Sheffield
3) Eddie Thelwell, Sheffield
Women's Freestyle Ski Slopestyle Championships
1) Emma Londsdale, Settle
Winning run included clean solid rail slides over the gas pipe,
box and straight rail
2) Kim Vince, Nottingham
3) Kate Williams, Sheffield
Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Championships
1) James Thorne, Norfolk
Winning run included solid cab 270's on and off the rails to front-side
boardslides and front-side noseslides
2) Ben McHugh, Glasgow
3) Jon Russell, Sheffield
Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Championships
1) Lucy Passmore, Milton Keynes
Winning run included boardslide revert, 50:50 to boardslide and
cab-slide to 180 off.
2) Laura Berry, Milton Keynes
3) Lucy Butler, Stockport
Mail
this page to a friend
What do you think? Tell us in the Chat
Room
|
