The British Snow Tour Invitational Championships, Metro Ski & Snowboard Show, London Olympia.

Huge and super stylish 720s was the trick of choice being laid down at the British Freeski and Snowboard Invitational Championships at the Metro Ski & Snowboard Show on Friday. Ten of the UK’s top snowboarders and 13 freeskiers were invited to compete and showcase their tricks in front of a crowd of thousands with the hopes of winning the Championship title.



British Snowboard Invitational Championships
The Snowboarders kick started the British Invitational Championships, which saw the UK’s top riders, including Jamie Nicholls, Andy Nudds and Jack Shackleton charge the kicker. MC’s James Thorne and Pat Sharples excited the crowd and instigated mass Mexican waves as each rider dropped in and pulled out their finest tricks with the hopes of making it through to the final rounds. After super smooth riding from all riders the top four to make it through and battle it out in the finals were, Jaime Nicholls, Danny McCormick, Matt MacWhirter and Andy Nudds.

The finals were a triumphant result for the Halifax area with all three podium spots going to riders haling from the local dryslope. One of the UK’s best riders Jaime Nicholls pulled a super styled and controlled front 720 out of the bag to take home the British Snowboard Invitational Title and the gold. Matt MacWhirter one of he UK’s most effortlessly stylish riders had been riding super strong all comp and narrowly missed out on the first spot, taking second with a frontside 720. One of the UK’s finest big kicker riders, Andy Nudds, landed a massive corked frontside 720 to take the third and final podium spot.

British Snowboard Invitational Championship Results
1st - Jamie Nicholls – Halifax
2nd - Matt MacWhirter – Halifax
3rd - Andy Nudds – Halifax



British Freeski Invitational Championships
The evening made way for the British Freeski Invitational Championships, which was the highlight of the Friday action at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show. 13 of the UK’s top freeskiers, including Paddy Graham, James Woods and Katie Summerhayes charged the kicker, laying down huge rodeos and crowd-pleasing backflips with the hopes of securing a spot through to the finals. After stomping their tricks in the two run qualifications the line up for the finals was James Woods, James Webb, Murray Buchan and Joe Tomlinson.

With four of the best freeskiers in the final it was always going to be a great show for the crowd and a tough call for the judges. The pressure was on for the riders during the two run final with some of the best riding seen all week at the show being thrown down by all four finalists, but there has to be a winner and it was crowd favourite and last years winner James Woods who stepped up to the challenge and threw down a huge switch rodeo 720 Japan securing him the top spot. Second place went to James Webb after also opting for a switch rodeo 720 with the third spot going to Joe Tomlinson who pulled out a misty bow and arrow.



British Freeski Invitational Championship Results
1st - James Woods - Sheffield
2nd - James Webb - Bracknell
2nd – Joe Tomlinson - Haslingden


To check out the pictures and video footage from the Invitational Championships, along with more information about the BRITS 10, which will be taking place out in Laax, Switzerland from the 21st – 28th March 2010 go to: www.britishsnowtour.com and www.brits10.com.



The British Snow Tour would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors:Animal, Trespass, SNO!zone, Cushe, Snow+Rock Demo partners: DC, Ride, K2, Line, and Volkl skis. Media partners Whitelines,Dark Summer, Spiked, Extreme Sports Channel, Metrosnow.co.uk,Snowboardclub.co.uk, Skiclub.co.uk,and Natives.co.uk

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