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Ryan Davis | Photo: Ribbo

16.03.2007 | Laax, Switzerland
The British Snowboard Champs showcases emerging talent under bright blue skies

The British Snowboarding Championships (The Brits) took place this week in Laax, Switzerland under blue skies and spring like conditions allowing the best British riders to throw down and show off their repertoire of skills. The Brits is a unique event taking place over a week with the emphasis not only placed on activities high on the mountain but also in the bars and clubs of Laax where some of the freshest DJ’s and live bands can be heard until the early hours. The action packed program includes competition formats Boardercross, Big Air, Halfpipe and Slopestyle.

The Quiksilver British Big Air Championships brought the sun out again for day two of the TTR THREE(3) STAR event, The British Snowboard Championships (The Brits) Set amongst a backdrop of Laax’s snow capped mountains and the DJ’s rock steady rhythms, the UK’s big hitters attacked the kickers with serious style, skill and tenacity.

In the women’s competition, Posy Dixon (GBR) was the only girl to brave the largest jump to secure her a spot in the final, with Jo Chastney (GBR) qualifying through in top spot after landing a stylish backside 180 Japan. In the women’s final, it was Chastney (GBR) pulling out a super stylish backside 180 double shifty to take the women’s title. Second place went to Lesley McKenna (GBR) and third place going to Posy Dixon (GBR).
In the men’s final the trick of choice was the corked 720, with Simon Brass (GBR) stomped effortlessly to take top spot and the men’s Quiksliver British Big Air title. Second place went to Gary Greenshields (GBR) and third place went to Tom West (GBR).

Day three of the TTR 3(THREE) STAR event, The British Snowboard Championships (The Brits) saw the UK’s leading male and female snowboarders take on Laax’s 6m high superpipe .
In the women’s snowboard halfpipe final, taking bronze was Maria Cork (GBR), with a smooth run packed full of hits. Laura Hill (GBR) came through, keeping everything clean and consistent with all tricks a good 3ft above the top of the coping ensuring she took the silver medal. Thus meaning that Leslie McKenna (GBR) had to be at the top of her game. Going huge, McKenna’s (GBR) winning run included a big backside air, frontside 540 and a smooth 360 on her final hit, meaning she retained her title for the third consecutive year.

In the men’s snowboard Halfpipe final, Gary Greenshields  (GBR) deservedly took bronze with a smooth and fluid run. Second spot went to GB team member, Sam Cullum (GBR), whose successful run included a huge corked frontside 720 on his first hit, looking like it was going to clinch the top spot. But Sam’s GB teammate, Angus Leith (GBR), who was launching out of the pipe, much to the love of the crowd, threw down a solid and technical run including a frontside 540, followed by a big Japan air, to frontside 720 and cab 540 to finish.
In the women’s event, the big news was that first place finisher Lesley McKenna (GBR) had managed to further increase her ranking and moved up from 9th to 7th position on the TTR Ranking List present by SWATCH.

After the smoke had cleared Sam Cullum (GBR) had moved up eleven places on the TTR Ranking List and was now occupying 29th position. Jamie Nicholls (GBR), the UK’s own answer to Shaun White, finishing in fourth gained himself 22 places and was now settling into 56th position.
The final day of competition brought about yet more sunshine as the Animal British Slopestyle Championships got underway with a record number of 101 competitors with the younger generation of shredders impressing all.

In the women’s final, Posy Dixon (GBR) utilised the slopestyle course to the full and threw down a stylish and technical run to secure her the gold and the glory. Second place went to Lucy Passmore (GBR) finishing off her run with a method and nose grab over the kickers. With a super stylish rail run, Laura Hill (GBR) bagged the bronze.

In the men’s competition a new BRITS record was set when 13 year old Jamie Nicholls (GBR) qualified in top spot into the senior men’s final, being the youngest competitor to do so in the history of the BRITS after he threw down a cab 540 and backside 720 indy over the big kickers. In the final, riding with a broken board after he snapped the tail in the qualifiers, Ryan Davis (GBR) didn’t let that stop him and took first and the Animal Slopestyle Championship title.

In second position, narrowly missing out on the gold, was wonder kid Jamie Nicholls (GBR) who threw down a sweet run and Nelson Pratt (GBR) rounded out the top 3 to clinch the bronze.
On the TTR Ranking List presented by SWATCH, the event’s most successful rider was Jamie Nicholls (GBR) His outstanding performance all week long saw him move up to 56th place after the Halfpipe format and after his 2nd place in the combined Slopestyle and Big Air formats gave him 371.14 Ranking Points and acquiring 41st place on the TTR Ranking List.
Gary Greenshields (GBR) also excelled after his 3rd place in the Halfpipe and his win in the combined Slopestyle and Big Air formats giving him 210.43 Ranking Points and putting him at 139 on the TTR Ranking List.

RESULTS:

HALFPIPE

Women’s
1st - Lesley McKenna
2nd – Laura Hill
3rd – Maria Cork

Men’s
1st – Angus Leith
2nd – Sam Cullum
3rd – Gary Greenshields

COMBINED BIG AIR AND SLOPESTYLE RESULT

Women’s
1st Posy Dixon
2nd Lucy Passmore
3rd Laura Hill

Men’s
1st Gary Greenshields
2nd Jamie Nicholls
3rd Josh Wolf


:: source : ttr press