SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships

It was a snowy start for day three at the BRITS, Wednesday 3rd April for the highly anticipated SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships but the weather didn’t dampen rider’s spirits with a selection of World Class Halfpipe runs being thrown down.

Dan Wakeham set the standard during the qualification rounds after putting together a super technical run which included huge back to back inverts, putting him through to the eight men final in top spot. It was a British Snowboard Team showdown during the final with 2007 British Champion Angus Leith, Dom Harington, Sam Cullum, Ben Kilner, Dan Wakeham, Jack Shackleton, James Foster and Ben Knox fighting it out for the top three podium spots.

Dom Harington, who has recently been crowned the Europa Cup Halfpipe Champion took gold and the 2008 SNO!zone British Halfpipe title with a clean run including a big frontside 720, to haakon flip 720, massive frontside air, to Mctwist and alley-oop 540 to finish. Ben Kilner picked up his second silver in as many days to take second place with a textbook run consisting of a frontside 720, haakon flip 720, frontside 540, to a huge and stylish backside melon. The final spot went to Sam Cullum with a smooth run including, a big frontside air, backside melon and cab 720.

Kate Foster demonstrated her well practised halfpipe skills to take gold in the women’s final and the 2008 SNO!zone British Halfpipe title after cleanly landing a solid run including, a backside melon, alley-oop, backside air, frontside 360 to cab 360 on her final hit. British World Cup Halfpipe team member and 2006 Olympian, Lesley McKenna qualified through to the final in top spot but lost a little speed during her final run to take second place overall. Third place went to Laura Hill, who linked together a combination of smooth frontside and cab 360’s.

A special mention goes out to the younger riders pushing up through the ranks including, 15 year old British Junior Team rider Lee Tarran, who just missed out on a spot into the final and fellow team member 16 year old Amiee Fuller who was the youngest rider to make it through to the women’s final. James Foster also gets a shout out for bringing back some old school style with some long forgotten stylish Japan airs.

SNO!zone British Halfpipe Championships Results

Men
1st – Dom Harington, Leeds
2nd – Ben Kilner, Edinburgh
3rd – Sam Cullum

Women
1st – Kate Foster, East Sussex
2nd – Lesley McKenna, Aviemore
3rd – Laura Hill, Leeds

Don’t forget to check out the BRITS 2008 daily webcasts at www.brits08.com, where you will be able to review the coolest snowboard and freeski action from the previous day’s competition, including the best footage from the qualifications and finals.

The BRITS 08 would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Animal, Quiksilver, Trespass, SNO!zone, Salomon, Ride, K2 and Faction Ski’s.Official footwear partner Cushe. Official retail partners TSA and Ellis Brigham. Media partners Whitelines, Dark Summer, Extreme.com, Snowboardclub.co.uk and Skiclub.co.uk and Official Destination Partners, Laax.

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