UK Event News

The ThirtyTwo International team decides to hit the UK earlier this week; Chill Factore, Tamworth SnowDome and The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead where the SCUK Box got some love from the likes of Chris Grenier, JP Walker, Dani Rajcsanyi, Toni Kerkela, Danny Larsen, Scott Stevens and Joe Sexton.

Brace yourselves for a live AV set from DJ Yoda, a SCRATCH night to remember as Mr Thing and Yungun join Scratch resident Matt Smooth and DJ Lyley, dance floor devastation with DJ Cheeba and a night of technical trickery at the Whitelines Rail Jam. With an on-mountain Reggae BBQ, The Sledgercross and a Punk fancy dress party already in the bill, The BRITS Snow & Music Festival just keeps getting better and better!

First seen at The BRITS in 2004, world renowned scratch legend DJ Yoda is set to return with an incredible live audio-visual set for 2012. Expect to hear the Indiana Jones theme mixed with woofer-worrying Dubstep or The Muppet theme cut with MIA when Yoda descends on Laax with a brand new live AV show to blow your thermal socks off! Known for his mind-blowing turntable skills that fuse funk, reggae, drum ‘n’ bass and even big band swing and country & western and dubbed as “one of the ten DJs to see before you die” by Q Magazine you’d be mad to miss this!


DJ Yoda

BRITS regulars and SCRATCH residents Matt Smooth and DJ Lyley will be joined by UK hip-hop heavy weights Yungun and Mr Thing for a night of grimy beats and rhymes. Following a string of collaborations with the likes of Guru and The Nextmen, Yungun is set to rock Laax with his eclectic mix of hip-hop, disco, soul, house, jazz and electronica. Providing the backdrop to Yungun’s needle-sharp raps will be DMC Scratch winner and THE party DJ, Mr Thing. Having toured with the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Beastie Boys and Run DMC expect the mountains to shake with this one!

We did intend to give you time to recuperate but instead we’re bringing you a night of epic live action, which will include a banging live band (to be announced shortly!) and a live AV set from Bristol based turntable genius DJ Cheeba. So get ready to stick matchsticks in your eyes and peel back your ears as Cheeba takes you on a trip of long forgotten beats, breaks and videotapes.

Not enough? We’ve teamed up with UK shred mag Whitelines to bring you the Whitelines Rail Jam at The BRITS 2012. For one night only we’ll be transporting all the action down to the après arena and awarding those that put board to metal to impress the judges, there’s beer money at stake here so expect big things!

• Monday 19th March SCRATH DJ Collective, presented by Trespass and SCUK
  
• Tuesday 20th March Live Band Night, presented by Dare 2b and skiclub.co.uk
  
• Wednesday 21st March DJ Cheeba, presented by Snow + Rock and metrosnow.co.uk
  
• Thursday 22nd March Punk Fancy Dress, presented by Protest & Whitelines Magazine
  
• Friday 23rd March DJ Yoda
  
• Saturday 24th March The Send Off Session, presented by In The Snow and Downdays.eu

Haven’t booked your snow fix yet this season? Week-packages start from an amazing *£279 and include seven nights’ accommodation, seven day liftpass, festival wristband, which includes free access to all the club nights and a horde of discounts, and an official BRITS Funi beanie, so don’t delay, get booking!

Check out www.the-brits.com for the full week’s schedule and booking details 18-25th March, 2012 at Laax, Switzerland

*411CHF – GBP equivalent may vary with exchange rate.

The BRITS would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Protest, Trespass, Dare2b and Snow+Rock. Media partners: Whitelines, Huck, Extreme Sports Channel, Downdays.eu, Ski Club of Great Britain, Metrosnow.co.uk, In The Snow and Snowboardclub.co.uk. Destination partners: Switzerland Tourism and LAAX. Governing Bodies: TTR, AFP, WSF and BSS.

Snowbombing will be taking over Parkstrife at SNO!zone Milton Keynes and Castleford in February 2012! As well as the usual sick park the Snowbombing crew will be doing their thing with pro riders and banging DJs slopeside (Urban Knights and Ch!co confirmed for both events).

It gets even better if you've booked your Snowbombing tickets for April 'cos you get to ride this Parkstrife for just £30! Bargain!

Parkstrife will take place on 3rd Feb in MK and 24th Feb in Castleford.

To book call 08712225670 or visit the www.snozoneuk.com

Prices

5 Hour Adult - £37
5 Hour Junior - £29

Scotland’s six real snow ski areas are joining in the World Snow Day fun on Sunday 22 January 2012.

World SnowDay is a global initiative organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) as part of their “Bring the Children to the Snow” campaign; in Scotland there are also events for adults as well as children. There are competitions, races, taster sessions, equipment testing, safety demos, sledging, tubing, après-ski, sled dogs and even the chance to learn how to build an igloo!

Ski and snowboard taster sessions are aimed at complete beginners and include equipment, instruction and lift ticket and must be booked in advance. Costs vary from £25 per person for half a day at Nevis Range and the Lecht to £5 per hour at Glenshee. And CairnGorm Mountain is offering 50 taster sessions completely free, as competition prizes. There are also improver sessions for £10 at Nevis Range, and free Race Training for kids at Glencoe Mountain.

Races and competitions include fun races for kids at Glencoe, kids and adults at Nevis Range, a fun dual slalom for kids and juniors on skis or boards at Glenshee, snow sculpture and snowman building competitions at Glenshee, Nevis Range and Glencoe and even a “World Snow Wear – dress to impress” competition at Nevis Range. Glenshee and the Lecht will be offering tubing while Glencoe and the indoor snow SNO!zone in Glasgow are offering free sledging sessions.

Demonstrations include ski and snowboard equipment tests at Glenshee and Glencoe, with safety and avalanche/backcountry demos/training at Glenshee, Nevis Range and Glencoe. There are also fun demos including “how to build an igloo” at Glencoe and sled dog demos at Glenshee.

Full details of all these events, including the all-important times and booking information are on www.ski-scotland.com All events are of course snow- and weather dependent, except at SNO!zone, which has snow every day of the year!

world-snow-day.com

Thirtytwo is proud to announce that the team will be on tour for the first time in Europe from 23rd January to 6th February. Jp Walker, Scott Stevens, Joe Sexton, Markku Koski, Danny Larsen, and Chris Grenier, along with the Europe AM team will be touring through the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France hosting demo’s, shop signings and communal ride days.

UK Dates

23rd Jan - Subvert at Chill Factore, Trafford
24th Jan - TSA at Tamworth SnowDome
25th Jan - S+R at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead



Check www.ThirtyTwo.com and www.facebook.com/ThirtyTwo.Europe for the latest on the brand and its riders.

Scotland’s premier Snowsports competition has a new sponsor for 2012 - Premier Oil has teamed up with Aberdeen Snowsports Club to deliver the 3rd Scottish Skier and Boarder-cross Championships on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th March 2012 at Glenshee Ski Centre. Premier Oil plc is a growing FTSE 250 oil and gas exploration and production company with current interests in eight countries around the world.

Organised by Aberdeen Snowsports Club and supported by Snowsport Scotland a dedicated team of volunteers are quickly becoming the force in British Snowsports. In this, the 50th year of Scottish Ski-ing over 100 competitors from all over the United Kingdom are expected to descend upon Glenshee and race head to head in an adrenalin and action packed knockout race along a course consisting of man-made and natural rollers, jumps, kickers and banked turns.

Aberdeen Snowsports Club’s Jen Surma and Chief of Competition for the event said “We were delighted with the success of last year’s event and were thrilled to run it on our local mountain. Officially voted Scotland’s best competition by Snowsport Scotland, with the support of a great company like Premier Oil I’m sure Aberdeen Snowsports Club can deliver an even greater and outstanding competition.”

Nigel Wilson, Aberdeen Business Unit Manager, said “Premier Oil is delighted to support this Scottish snowsports competition and hopes that competitors and supporters alike will make this the most exciting championship yet. “

This year’s competition is going to be bigger and better with top athletes from the British Ski Cross and Boardercross teams expected to attend as well as first timers. An action packed weekend, not to be missed!

PUNK PARTY, SLEDGERCROSS & NEW SNOW PARK ANNOUNCED
18th – 25th March 2012, LAAX, Switzerland

Not ones for skimping at The BRITS, this year’s snow and music buffet is an ‘all you can eat’ - though not all of necessarily good for your health. Prepare to partake in a world first at the BRITS Sledgercross, kick back at the reggae BBQ, break out the Mohawks for the fabled fancy dress and go crazy in the all new Snow + Park arena.

Laax park update

Once more, Laax have shown why they are considered to be the Godfathers of European freestyle by building a new world class freestyle playground. Built in the area between the renowned Laax Superpipe that hosts the Dare2B Halfpipe and the brand new six seater chair lift, the vast Snow & Park arena features endless obstacles and kickers aimed at the intermediate to advanced rider, plus a banked slalom and a dedicated beginner’s area equipped with mini rails and kickers. Crucially for the British Championships, Snow & Park will also boast a permanent Cross course, which will be designed from the outset with The Trespass Snowboarder/Skiercross needs in mind, assisted by Team GB coach James Foster, and with an innovative new layout proposed for the Protest Slopestyle, the Snow & Park arena promises to shake things up for 2012.

Apres

Breaking ground at The BRITS, organisers will be staging the new (unofficial) discipline of ‘Sledgercross’. Individual timed trials will be held throughout the week during Apres, with the fastest 32 going through to the knock-out finals on Saturday evening. Four man/women heats will see sledgers hurtling down a hefty drop in and a series of obstacles in the bid to become the inaugural BRITS Sledgercross Champion. Get practising people, there’s pride at stake here!

To combat the stresses of a day on the slopes (yeah, right!), Swiss reggae legends, Idren Sounds will be laying down the backing track to the chilled-out Reggae BBQ at Larnags mountain restaurant. BRITS wristband holders can expect cheap beer and bangers and laid-back beats… everyting gonna be i-ree.

Nightlife

The BRITS fancy dress is now rightly the stuff of legend, having seen some stellar outfits, from a rack of human bowling pins and bowling ball to a rather confused Kendo Nagasaki in a Mankini – more frightening, than funny. For 2012, it’s the year of the Punk and so expect ceiling-high Mohawks, 14-eye Doc Martens, the tight-ass tartan pants. By popular demand, BRITS favourite Christian Stevenson will be pulling the strings and instigating an almighty mosh-pit.

Headwear brand FUNI have teamed up The BRITS for another year to be the supplier of the official BRITS beanie, which will be gifted to everyone who books an official BRITS package.

Week-packages start from £295, including seven nights accommodation, seven day liftpass, BRITS event wristband, which includes free access to all the club nights and a horde of discounts, and an official BRITS beanie. With return flights with Easyjet currently at £70, there’s no better time to book…

The BRITS would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Protest, Trespass, Dare2b and Snow+Rock.
Media partners: Whitelines, Huck, Extreme Sports Channel, Downdays.eu, Ski Club of Great Britain, Metrosnow.co.uk, In The Snow and Snowboardclub.co.uk.
Destination partners: Switzerland Tourism and LAAX. Governing Bodies: TTR, AFP, WSF and BSS.

www.the-brits.com

SCUK are a bit late with this official release as we didn't get it until today, but those that have been following the vote on facebook will know that this year... drum roll...

Tamworth Snowdome won the Golden Shovel Award.

The online voting saw votes come in thick and fast, with a few leader changes along the way.

Congratulations to the Tamworth park team who did an epic job of creating their High 5 park in just 2 hours. The Snowdome will receive two of this year's Burton High 5 features to use in their park set ups from now on, plus a holiday to Rude Chalets in Morzine-Avoriaz for four of their park team.

We'd like to say well done and thank you to all the other slopes around the country who put in a sterling effort and really created some innovative parks for this year's Burton High 5 Tour. It always amazes us how good the standard of park building is in the UK, and how much the riding progresses year on year.

Isabelle Chadbourne at Tamworth SnowDome said "WOW! We are super-super-stoked to have won this year’s Burton Hi 5 Golden Shovel award! It’s a bit like we’ve won an Oscar so here we go with a suitably large thank you list:

Firstly, well done to all the other fridges and their park teams, you all put out some great lines to be proud of as was clear to see in the videos!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who voted for us. The support..."

You can re-live the tour at Gonzilla.tv.

Here is the confirmed rider list, so far, for Friday's Nike Chosen Series event at The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead.

If you want to enter, then you need to complete the entry form and bring it with you to Hemel on Friday. There will also be some available at the slope.

Completion of the entry form does not guarantee entry and you will still need to buy slope time from TSC. There will be a cap of 50 and Nike say first come first served is the fairest way to do it.

Currently there are 25-30 riders confirmed who are of the standard Nike believe are able to hit this kicker. Many will be put off once they see the size!



Any queries on entry can be emailed to samuel at urb-orbis.com

There will be a further shape and cut tonight but we're looking at 10m minimum.

People are still encouraged to come down even if they're not hitting the kicker as there will be a banging normal park set up as well and the riding should be a great experience for anyone watching.

Read the details on Whitelines...


More Snowboarding Videos

The Final Results – Morrow Jam 2011 - 18th year

Mens
1st Ross Welch
2nd Mark King
3rd Tom Pilling

Women
1st Pippa Stowell
2nd Alise Blalode
3rd Vicki Harding

Junior
1st Callum Welch
2nd Sasha Needham
3rd Maddy Rowlands
Special award Josh Ogden

Highest Quarterpipe air – Duncan Carr

Special Award for an amazing park shaping – Norm from the DWA

Thanks to:- Katrina, , Dave S, Paul N, Ben and, the Shepherds Bush Massive, Lon, Brian, Mike L, Tai, Barnaby, Mark T, Andy L, Daz, The Snowcentre staff, DWA

Scaffolders:- Dave P and Hemel Scaffolding

Live band:- The Kings of Langley

DJs:- Mat Elms and the boys

Sponsors
Morrow, TSA, SS20, Santa Cruz, Westbeach, 32 Boots, Bond, Ride, SVDLR, Etnies, Dephect, SCUK, Sputnik, Salomon, Wild duck, Absolute Snow, Eleven Clothing, Imperium, K2, Bonfire, Banshee Bungees, UK Tall Tees, Demon, Ignite, Conspiracy, Weekend Snowboards, Trespass, Burton, AMC Developments, Never Summer, Vans, SP, Snow and Rock.

Photos from SCUK

Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre was the setting for the final stop of this year’s Burton Hi 5 Tour. Did the infamous DWA have what it took to bring a fresh park to the Hi 5 table? That they did and with it a record turn out of riders. Some came from as far north as Scotland others from Belgium!

The set up was split into two sides, which immediately posed for a difficult final. The Right side consisted of some larger features. A Rocket box with a tree gap, as well as the Burton 6 inch round bar. This feature has been a huge hit across the tour with Gazza Andrews, Andy Nudds and Ross Needham tearing it apart.

Following this was a tidy cheese wedge kicker and the Burton wedge once again set as a rocket box. A rocket box to VAN! That’s right the DWA put a van on the slope for the riders to get jib crazy on. Local rider Lewis Sonvico made this feature his own, doing back 3 transfer from the kicker. The rainbow rail placed alone at the bottom didn’t really seem to match up to the features above.

The Left side was rail fuelled with two of Hemel's own 6 inch round bars at the top, followed on by some crazy rails they had left put into the mid-section. The Burton Bench, ‘Big Buttas’ and the Down flat down where in amongst the medley check out the video for this part of the course a lot went down. Tom Smith getting a nice back one on switch 50-50 through both kinks cab 3 out, very technical in the space this feature provides. A simple gas pipe and shotgun rail followed, with what must be the uk’s largest C rail ever created at the bottom, Belgium rider Aston Egelmeers made good use of the feature getting the whole way round, whilst Angus Leith cleared the tree line attached to it.

Burton High 5 2011 - Hemel Hempstead from gonzilla.tv on Vimeo.

If you didn't make it to the video you hopefully at least made it in front of Dunx's lens.

Making it through to the finals where Pippa Stowell, Becky Menday and Emilla Vanni who took 3rd with a fine Regular board 270 out on the 6 inch bar, Alice Blake grabbed 2nd place with an awesome front one on switch back one out on the same bar. Orla Doolin saw 1st with a solid set of runs that just picked the podium, consistency and no falls paid off.

In the men’s final we had Calum Paton who rode solidly all night again, watch out for this 17-year-old, unfortunately a few falls in the finals set him back. Gazza Andrews, Ross Needham and Ollie Dutton once again easily through with some crazy skills, 6 stops over and I still don’t think people know which way round Dutton rides! Angus Leith took home the Christmas trees and bought his Scottish steeze for all to admire into the final. Cody Herions fresh to 32 also proved he had the skills. Sam Cullen took 3rd with the biggest back rodeo I think anyone has seen indoors; Aston Egelmeers from Belgium went home with 2nd place just in time to catch his flight straight to Breck. 1st place went to Lewis Sonvico, taking a lot of people by surprise, solid night through out and bringing one home for the Locals!

Female Kids
1st Becky Menday
2nd Cyrys Allen
3rd Roxy Whittrick

Male Kids
1st Billy Cockrell
2nd Leo Fordham
3rd Branden Bow

Female Senior
1st Orla Doolin
2nd Alice Blake
3rd Emilla Vanni

Male Juniors
1st Josh Ogden
2nd Heinrich Watson-Miller
3rd Jake Terry

Male Senior
1st Lewis Sonvico
2nd Aston Egelmeers
3rd Sam Cullen

So it down to YOU to vote for which slope will take home this year's Golden Shovel. Check out www.Gonzilla.Tv for a video re-cap of all the parks then vote, which one you feel deserve the bragging rights to ‘Best Park in Britain’.

www.gonzilla.tv/category/gonzilla-tv/burton-high-5-tour/

Voting closes on Friday 9th December at 5pm. Please note that this is a blind vote and so the results will not be visible until they are announced on Monday 12th December. Keep an eye on the Burton High 5 Facebook page for sneaky voting updates and of course that all-important result.

Hi 5! Keep snowboarding remember it doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you're smiling!

In celebration of the festive period and women’s snowboarding TSA have hooked up with Les Ettes to put on the TSA Xmas Stocking at Tamworth SnowDome. This night is all about women’s snowboarding with a mince pie or two thrown in. It’s going to be an amazing evening; check out what is going on;

• TSA Tamworth will have a 10% discount on all female specific snowboard kit and clobber on the night.
  
• A charity raffle with amazing prizes to support The Lavender Trust for Breast Cancer Awareness.
  
• Tamworth Spa will have exclusive offers and discounts.
  
• Snowboard servicing workshops.
  
• Mince pies, mulled wine and a snowboard movie screening,
  
• Goodie bags for all female attendees.
  
• 30% off slope prices if you pre book.
  
• Free Reason T Shirt with every magazine subscription.

So when is this all going down( Friday 9th December, Tamworth SnowDome from 6pm – 11pm.

We took about 600 shots last night and have gone with our usual "quantity over quality" approach.

I've picked out the 100 best, but for the rest, check out album 1, album 2, album 3 and album 4.

Round 5 was a trip up to Chill Factore in Manchester, these guys where looking to up their efforts from last year and boy did they come through. Once again sticking to the favored slopestyle course which we have seen run throughout the competition this year, with four sections running top to bottom yet upping the anti to four features per section. A lot of hits in a small line, but the riders seemed to enjoy it.

The top section held the down flat down and a set of boxes with a donkey dick Transco pipe. Following this was a rocket gas pipe, a large gas pipe, street rail and another box. The lower middle section housed the Burton features and where put to use. The Wedge used as a rocket once again which Kieran Stanton sent a huge laid out front flip off. The bench was flat with the 6 inch Burton round bar sat close to offer some awesome transfer opportunities with James Hull taking full advantage of this. There was an awesome picnic bench to box transfer letting some of the young guns such as Matt Corry, Jake Binnie and Alex Brandwood get technical on. The final section had a wooden stall a double gas pipe with a quarter pipe gas pipe.

There was a great vibe throughout the night and a turn out that out did both Milton Keynes and Castleford. Icy patches meant that riders had to land their tricks bolts throughout the night. This may be what helped to create possibly the greatest Men’s High 5 final this competition has ever seen. Making it through was Ross Needham, Tom Guilmard, Will Smith, Matt McWhitter, Ollie Dutton, Calum Paton, James Hull, Sean Tumelty, John Wetherley and Jason Rickwood. Through to the girls final were Katie Omerod, Orla Doolin, Emila Vanni, Becky Menday and Sophie Anderson. The girls final came down to a blow by blow final, each rider upping the game after the next. Orla getting a front one out the donkey dick Transco, followed by Katie getting a front 3 out. Not to be out done Becky Menday got a 3 too but slipped out on the tricky icy conditions. Emila came back with a 270 on to the gas pipe and Sophie was laying down some smooth back tails on the top box. As for the men’s final after the first run 6 guys where tied for first. There was just no guessing who would be taking home the number 1 spot. After the second run first place and second where stand outs but 4 where tied for third! To get the full low down on the men’s final check the video because there is far too much to put into words! It was intense!

Burton High 5 2011: Manchester from gonzilla.tv on Vimeo.

Kids Girls
1st Becky Menday
2nd Bradie Zimmer

Kids Boys
1st Tomski Robinson
2nd Billy Crockwell
3rd Jake Binnie

Junior Girls
1st Katie Omerod
2nd Natalie Silkstone

Junior Boys
1st Kieran Stanton
2nd Matt Corry
3rd Alex Brandwood

Senior Female
1st Katie Omerod
2nd Orla Doolin
3rd Becky Menday

Senior Men
1st Will Smith
2nd Calum Paton
3rd Matt McWhirter

Could Manchester throw up a shock winner for the Golden Shovel Award after that final? Who knows? Voting starts on the 2nd December at www.Gonzilla.tv. This is your chance to vote which slope takes home two of this year's Hi 5 features as well as the chance for 4 of the park staff to win a holiday to Morzine with Rude Chalets.

See you next week (yesterday!) for the final stop at Hemel Hempstead where the rumours are that something new is being unveiled.

Hi 5!!!

The BRITS organisers are proud to announce Dare2b as the new title sponsor of the British Snowboard and Freeski Halfpipe Championships 2012 and 2013 as they help groom British athletes ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics.



The Dare2b British Halfpipe Championships will attract the UK's Olympic hopefuls to the World-famous super-pipe in Laax, Switzerland from the 18th - 25th March 2012 to battle it out for the coveted British titles. "The Brits has always been at the forefront of snowsports and Dare 2b are extremely pleased to be involved with the Halfpipe discipline" says Helen O'Carroll, Marketing Manager for Dare2b.

It is even more fitting when you consider that Dare2b's clobber will offer high performance that doesn't cost the earth, leaving you with more £'s for the all-important Après Sessions and Club Nights!.. details on the associated Dare2b Club Night at The BRITS to follow.

And finally, Dare2b are stoked to reveal that they have taken 3 times British Freeski Halfpipe Champion, James Machon under their wing and will be backing his Olympic dreams in the coming years. James will be rocking the latest threads this winter before heading to Laax to defend his British crown for an unprecedented 4th time… you wouldn't bet against him.

Next Friday is the Morrow Jam at Hemel. This one is al about fun and spot of mayhem at the hands of BSA member number 1; Rob Needham.

SCUK will be there representing and celebrating the 18th year of this event.

Whitelines are holding Rail Jam event at SNO!sone Milton Keynes on Dec 2nd, but this time round and along with our usual Rail Jam set up we are also staging a world record attempt for the longest rail grind on a snowboard and installing an 80m long rail into the dome.

SNO!zone Milton Keynes, defending champions of the Golden Shovel award produce another epic park for this years Hi 5 Tour. It was all a bit kinky!

Again another slope style orientated course that really suits this completion format down to a tee. The top section consisted of a Quad kink, Transco donkey dick and 6 inch round bar that got a lot of attention from the riders! Andy Nudds, Ollie Dutton and John Weatherly where stand outs in this section, but we can’t fail to mention Callum Patton getting the sickest front board through the Quad kink. The following section had yet another kink, this time in the shape of a gas pipe down flat down with the Burton bench as a flat box and yet another 6 inch round bar which Jake Binnie destroyed with his front ones on switch 50-50 switch nose tap out.

After was a kicker, the wedge with a larger landing and an up gas pipe with a gap to down gas pipe. Chris Chatt sending some crazy back 270’s over this feature. The bottom section saw the box at a 45-degree angle with a box above similar to that we saw at both Tamworth and Braehead.

A lot is to be said about the atmosphere at MK, super fun and super progressive with bangers being thrown left right and centre, defiantly a step up from Castleford but not quite the kamikaze atmosphere we witnessed at Braehaed. Their where smiles all round.

Through to the finals saw Ollie Dutton, try some insane switch run that would have been a winner if he could of held it down his own tech just getting the better of him, Will Randle-Scott, Ross Needham, Andy Nudds, Rob Stronach who took away best unsponsored, park shaper Neil Campbell, Reece and Conner Gould who took 1st and 2nd place in the juniors to name a few.

In the girls final, Izzy Jones came through to take 3rd, Orla Doolin 2nd just picked to the post by young gun Becky Menday who had another amazing night. Ross Needham had yet another impressive week taking third. Mr Andy Nudds walked away with 2nd who was just edged aside by John Weatherly. Just watch the video to see how good his final run was.

Burton High 5 2011: Milton Keynes from gonzilla.tv on Vimeo.

Kids Girls

1st Becky Menday
2nd Cerys Allen
3rd Skyla Bailey

Kids Boys

1st Jake Binnie
2nd Tomski Robinson
3rd Leo Fordham

Junior Girls

1st Natalie Silkstone

Junior Boys

1st Reece Gould
2nd Conner Gould
3rd Josh Ogden

Senior Female

1st Becky Menday
2nd Orla Doolin
3rd Izzi Jones

Senior Men’s

1st John Weatherly
2nd Andy Nudds
3rd Ross Needham

Milton Keynes have done a great job on defending their title so its now just down to the final two, Chill Factore this week followed by Hemel Hempstead! See you there.

TheAirBag.net hits the road after a wee bit of a holiday - a wee bit of winter sun was needed before the carnage of the winter commenced.

We are visiting two slopes this weekend starting with SNO!zone Castleford on Friday night. From 7 we will be there ready to catch you safely as you fly off a big real snow kicker doing what you do best - some looking very stylish (mostly the young kids) while most get off the ramp and appear to have a mid air panic attack. Sessions begin at 7 and run in the usual 45 minute blocks. For more info or to book check out www.snozoneuk.com or call 0871 222 5671

Then on Saturday night we head off to Stoke Ski Centre. This is going to be a great session at a slope that has been getting a lot of praise recently. We start at 6pm and sessions run in hour blocks until 10pm. Booking can made by calling 01782 204159 and is recommended. Hope to see you all over the weekend!

If you feel like giving of your opinion (and who doesn't), then the nice people at www.metrosnow.co.uk would actually appreciate your thoughts on the recent Ski and Snowboard Show at London's Earls Court.

www.metrosnow.co.uk/the_show/Ski-Snowboard-Show-2011-Survey/

No, but it actually was... Bonfire night and the stars definitely shone bright with the standard of riding being the best we have seen so far (how cheesy?)

Bearsden was the final stop for the Series in 2011 and whilst the riding throughout the series has been off the wall we all knew that Bearsden was going to be something special… we weren’t disappointed.



The day started frosty with an ethereal glow as the sun came up and shone on one of the best snowflex slopes the UK has ever seen and slowly but surely competitors started to arrive along with a strong contingent of spectators coming from far and wide. Bearsden is one of few dryslopes in the UK still managing to hold an incredible yet friendly freestyle scene with some the the best of the UK’s up and coming riders regularly meeting to hone their skills. Luckily they all turned up on that sunny day with a few new names thrown in to shake things up.

There are always a million extra prizes at the series for the judges to find winners for and this one was no exception, this meant we saw a very deserving Matt McCormick take the Treeline Chalets Shredder of the Series award winning a holiday to Treeline Chalets in Morzine, an Endeavor snowboard and a pair of SP bindings. The stepchild ‘Child Support’ rail jam was taken by Connor Carey and the Whitelines/TSA best unsponsored fell to Jo Gardner.

The comp itself kicked off with the usual jam session seeing all the competitors shredding up the snowflex and showing the judges their skills in order to be taken through to the 8 person semi finals. Once the first jam sessions were over the semi finals began. The semi finals for the under 16 boys and men were a tricky one for the judges and saw Tomski Robinson just missing out on going through but taking the Northwave boots most improved throughout the day for relentlessly trying his 5’s and finally nailing it. Again the riding in the mens was also a tough one as the standard was so high but saw Danny McCormick, Jesse Smith and Pete Meadows go through to the super final.



There were only 3 ladies at Bearsden this year (come on ladies where are you!) and this meant Vaila Chapman could try her 7’s confidently as she had taken 1st place in her category, though she chose to ride all the way through to the super final! Anna Beswick and Liz Osborn placed 2nd and 1st respectively with 3’s being the order of the day.

As soon as the rail jam and quarter pipe sessions were over we headed straight into the 2 run super final.



The under 16’s boys snowboard saw Fin Bremner, a regular to the series take 3rd place just sliding out on his Back 7 and 9, Matt Correy came in 2nd, throwing a clean Back side 7 stale fish leaving Matt McCormick in 1st with his Back side 9 and a cool switch back 7. The men’s final had to have some double front flips in there with Jesse Smith stomping one to take 3rd, Danny McCormick took 2nd with his late cork Back side 7 and Pete Meadows finishing off the series to come first with a HUGE backside 9.

Spectators and riders alike mucked in to help us clear the slope of banners and tents so we could announce the final results. The prize giving was the usual affair yet interrupted by some local fireworks going off scarily close, this was however a very fitting end to this years series. Thanks to everyone who came to ride, came to lend a hand and came to watch.

Words: Sue Garlick Photos: Mark Cheshire www.photoboxgallery.com/gromcamps

Go to the website for all films and more photos snowflexseries.westbeach.com

Snowboard

Ski

So after the short break the 2011 tour was back this Friday at SNO!zone Castleford. A SNO!zone renowned for creating some of the best parks in the country and they did not disappoint.

Burton High 5 2011: Castleford from gonzilla.tv on Vimeo.

With an opening section of two round bars, one being the Burton 6 inch round tube with a pole jam saw the creative likes of Jonny Russell and Will Smith get some inspiring pole jam transfers to either rails. Following on from this was the Burton down flat down but dug in to be an up flat up and the Burton Bench also acting as an up box, strong knees where needed for the landing. The wedge was once again set as a rocket box but this time suspended an extra 2 feet higher on ice blocks containing the Burton process and High 5 logos, flags hung above the feature making it quite the spectacle.

For young guns such as Tomski Robinson, Harvey Ormerod and Jake Binnie to name a few where making it over the wedge. This was impressive these guys where coming down from 10 feet to a pretty bombed out landing yet where still holding there own until Katie Ormerod came through and showed everyone how it was done with a huge laid back cab 1 off. The final section was one of the most creative section of boxes we have ever seen on this tour with an up box flat box and down Burton butters box. It was a great combo which Gazza Andrews and Ross Needham tearing them up with Orla Doolin and Becky Menday not to far of the pace.

As qualifying got underway the heat was turned up. Not kamikaze go big or go home as it did at Braehead which was maybe slightly disappointing but Ollie Dutton, Sam Turnball and Matt McWhitter where slaying in there usual styles. Calum Paton who has just stepped up to the mens division was really catching eyes as well as young gun Josh Ogden. The girls where putting down although the bomb holed course took its toll, Sophie Anderson, Emilia Vani and Orla Doolin coming through strong but where chased hard and outdone in some aspects by the fresher younger legs of Becky Menday and Katie Ormerod who both rode solid all night.

With that in mind Becky Menday finished a strong third, with Orla Doolin finally being knocked off the top spot for the third round but placing second. Katie Ormerod was star of the show placing first. Front board through the 6inch round bar was pure quality. The men’s finals saw Calum Paton take third, a great show by the young gun. Will Smith again by far the most creative rider in the UK at present came second narrowly missing out on first place that went to Matt MacWhirter.

Results

Kids Girls

Becky Menday

Kids Boys

1st Tomski Robinson
2nd Bailey Doyle (10)
3rd John Etham (39)

Junior Girls

1st Katie Ormerod
2nd Becky Menday
3rd Natalie Silkstone (24)

Junior Boys

1st Josh Ogden (22)
2nd Connor Welch
3rd Connor Gould

Senior Ladies

1st Katie Ormerod
2nd Orla Doolin
3rd Becky Menday

Senior Men

1st Matt MacWhirter
2nd Will Smith
3rd Calum Paton

Thanks Castleford for another great stop, but it's on to Milton Keynes this Friday and being defending champions of the Golden Shovel Award. I’m sure they will pull out all the stops to make their park one of the sickest we will see this year.

Here are The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead parks for this Thursday and Friday.

This week is Rookie Night so we have a really easy park for anyone who has never been before. It's a great opportunity for the '1 week a year' riders to dust off their snowboards and skis and get some practice before the coming winter.

Maverix (fully booked), Definition, Grounded and Onyx will be coaching during the Rookie Night. Just email any of the following companies to get your free coaching session.
info@definitioncamps.com
dave@grounded-agency.com
info@onyxsnowboarding.com

Big events are good, but sometimes small events are better, especially when there's zombies involved. They don't come much smaller and zombier than the recent Zombie Jam held in an alley in Glasgow for Halloween. A couple of boxes, a pallet, three buckets of snow from SNO!zone. Event sorted. Everybody happy.

Check out more photos from this Shaka event on Facebook.

Photos by Keith Johnson.