The British Junior Snowboard Team, which is made up of 12 of the UK’s most promising young snowboarders, recently returned from the TTR THREE(3) STAR, World Rookie Fest event in Czech Republic, where great results and podium spots were achieved.

Despite the poor weather conditions at the event the juniors did an amazing job and pulled together all their training to gain great results in their age categories. In the combined Halfpipe and Slopestyle competition the juniors surpassed themselves, with Lewis Courtier-Jones managing to boost over 9 feet out of the Halfpipe, the highest he has ever been, to take 3rd place in his age category. Not bad for someone that barley comes up to your knees! So impressive was his first hit the organisers used his picture for the post event press release.

Junior coach, Sonia Shaw commented “they have all really proved themselves and shown that with more time on snow and further coaching that they will be a very strong team that filter nicely into the British Freestyle and World Cup Teams one day”. Will Hughes was also on hand to help coach and throw out some high fives at the event and a special shout out goes to Lesley McKenna who spent time in Morzine with the juniors, giving them their first tips from a pro, who has competed in two Olympic Halfpipe events.

Results from the World Rookie Fest, Czech Republic
Male Groms: 1993 and up
Lewis Courtier-Jones: 3rd - =4th place overall
Will Smith: 4th - =4th place overall
Henry Shackleton: 6th - 6th place overall
Tom Hunt: 7th - 7th place overall
James Smith: 10th - 10th place overall

Female Rookies: 1990 - 1992
Amy Fuller: 2nd place (gaining a competition spot in the final World Rookie Fest event in Austria in April)

Male Rookies: 1990 - 1992
Sam Turnball came 5th - 13th place overall.
Ollie Jackson: 6th - 9th place overall.
Mark Raper: 16th - 17th place overall
Dean Horsefield: 18th - 18th place overall

The British Junior Team is heading out to Les Portes du Soleil on Saturday 1st March for a week’s training camp before heading over to compete at the BRITS, Laax, Switzerland 29th March – 5th April. For regular team news updates subscribe for FREE to the “Across the Board” newsletter at www.snowsportsgb.com

The British Snowboard Team would like to thank the following for their invaluable support: Sponsors: Zoom Airlines - www.flyzoom.com, Halliwells - www.halliwells.co.uk, FOGG - www.fogginsure.co.uk and Junior Squad sponsors, TSA – www.snowboardasylum.com and SNO!zone – www.snozone.co.uk
Funding organisations: UK Sport – www.uksport.gov.uk, TASS – www.tass.gov.uk, Sport Scotland – www.sportscotland.org.uk, BOA - www.boa.org.uk