Animal British Snowboard Slopestyle Championships 2008

The final event of the BRITS 2008, the Animal British Slopestyle Championships opened up to fresh snow and blue skies on Friday 4th April after being rescheduled from the day before due to poor weather conditions. A record number of 106 riders competed and an amazingly high standard of rail and kicker riding combinations were thrown down.

The younger generation of shredders set the standard during the qualification rounds with 14 year old Jamie Nicholls and 16 year old Amiee Fuller qualifying in top spot through to the finals. Youngster Matt Macwhirter also made it through to the top eight men final, progressing through the ranks after being introduced to snowboarding through the AIM Series Schools Tour three years ago.

In the men’s final Nate Kern utilised the slopestyle course to the full and threw down a stylish and technical run which included a frontside boardslide, 270 off on the top box, a backside disaster on the wall ride and a 50-50 frontside noseslide on the up down kinked rail. On the kickers Nate perfectly landed a back to back frontside and backside 900 and cab 720 to take the gold and the 2008 Animal British Slopestyle Championship Title. Second Place went to the youngest competitor in the final, 14 year old Jamie Nicholls who put down one of the most technical rail runs of the day; switch backside to frontside boardslide to backside boardslide, 270 out on the top box, frontside 540 on the wall ride and switch boardslide on the kinked rail. His kicker line included a backside 720, 540 and a cab 540. Jack Shackleton finished off the podium spots to take third place after he put together and landed a technical run including a frontside tailslide 270, blunt tail stall on the wall ride, noseslide and big frontside 360, 540 and cab 540 over the kickers.

Claire Frost, who won the previous days Big Air competition, continued to be on top form in the women’s final and added the Animal British Slopestyle Championship title and another gold medal to her already impressive BRITS collection. Frost linked together a stylish run including a noseslide 270 out on the top box, 360 tailslide on the wall ride, 50-50 noseslide on the kinked rail and a frontside and backside 180 over the medium kickers, finishing off with a big backside 540 over the last kicker. Second place went to Lucy Passmore with a switch boardslide, 50-50 noseslide, backside 180 and frontside 180 straight into a stylish cab 360. Laura Berry who was riding with an injured shoulder didn’t let that stop her throwing down some technical grinds and jumps including a 270 on, onto the top box, a big blunt stall on the wall ride and a frontside 180 and 360 over the kickers.

Animal British Slopestyle Championships Results

Men
1st – Nate Kern, Sussex
2nd – Jamie Nicholls, Bradford
3rd – Jack Shackleton, Newbury

Women
1st – Claire Frost, Edinburgh
2nd – Lucy Passmore, Milton Keynes
3rd – Laura Berry, Milton Keynes

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.

---