With a nationwide field, including a raft of young prodigal talent, there were plenty of competitors who wanted to put themselves in the picture for a possible overall crown when we return to Switzerland. Carrying on from last year’s breakout year for the youth categories, it was once again the under 12s and under 16s who stole the show. With many of the young riders sessioning the rail gardens of their local indoor or dry slopes every week, they were totally at home amongst the expertly shaped features laid on by the Chill Factore team.

 

Whilst youth may have been the buzzword of the day, none were more youthful than 4 year old snowboarder Travis Henderson. Possibly the youngest ever competitor at any British Championship, Travis even managed to score a 4th position in the under 12s division, and become the first “must watch” athlete for 2030 Winter Olympics selection!

 

 

In the overall Snowboard contest, after the field had been brutally cut through the elimination zones, the final 6 men, and 4 women put on an incredible show. The biggest features on the course forced the riders to test their mettle, and new champions Jake Binnee and Cerys Allen showed theirs in style with a barrage of bangers on the daunting cannon rail. With Jake taking out the win, it was a battle of the stylish young guns, as Scott Walsh took the advantage and the silver medal ahead of rail demon Will Gilmore, who picked up his 2nd bronze in as many years. Behind Cerys, Jade Walsh grabbed the second step of the podium by constantly improving her hits through each zone, whilst Luci Winnard booked her 3rd place with some creative and diverse shredding.

 

Following the snowboard masterclass, it was the turn of the skiers to push the limits of what can be achieved indoors even higher. The final zone was a battle between some outrageous technical trickery, and those who wanted to go huge. In the final minutes of the jam Callum Welch managed to combine the two with a huge 10m gap to pretzel 270 on the gas pipe, and with a barrage of other hammers, he took the overall crown from Justin Taylor-Tipton in 2nd and Row Emery in 3rd. Millie Wilkinson’s clinical technicality and consistency made her the Women’s Indoor Champion, closely followed by Kirsty Muir, who showed skills far beyond her age of just 11. Thea Fenwick grabbed third spot on a podium stacked with talent.

 

British Indoor Snowboard Champions 2015

 

OPEN MEN – 1st JAKE BINNEE, 2nd SCOTT WALSH, 3rd WILL GILMORE

OPEN WOMEN - 1st CERYS ALLEN, 2nd JADE WALSH, 3rd LUCI WINNARD

U16 MEN – 1st Scott Walsh, 2nd Josh Cook, 3rd Harry Waite

U16 WOMEN – 1st Cerys Allen, 2nd Jade Walsh, 3rd Luci Winnard

U12 MEN – 1st Lewis Hopkinson, 2nd Liam Tynan, 3rd Sam Dunn

U12 WOMEN – 1st Mia Brookes, 2nd Nicole Haines, 3rd Anya Allen

British Indoor Freeski Champions 2015

OPEN MEN - 1st CALLUM WELCH, 2nd JUSTIN TALYOR-TIPTON, 3rd ROW EMERY

OPEN WOMEN - 1st MILLIE WILKINSON, 2nd KIRSTY MUIR, 3rd THEA FENWICK

U16 MEN – Comp cancelled due to injury

U16 WOMEN – 1st Jodie Grant, 2nd Millie Wilkinson, 3rd Thea Fenwick

U12 MEN – 1st Bradley Fry, 2nd Sam Annis, 3rd Fynnlay Loupis

U12 WOMEN – 1st Kirsty Muir, 2nd Lara Shaw, 3rd Grace Harrison

 

Attention is now focused on the overall British Championships staged at The BRITS Festival in Laax from April 3rd - 10th 2016. Packages are online. Go to www.the-brits.com for all details on The BRITS Festival.