17th September 2007
The Animal British Slopestyle Championships kick started the new British Snow Tour on the 15th & 16th September with 100 of the UK’s top snowboarders and freeskiers shredding it up on Chatham’s Ski Slope. Inspired by the high-speed action 200 beginners took advantage of the FREE snowboard/ski lessons up for grabs courtesy of the Animal Lesson Academy, whilst the new event features including the FREE Method freestyle coaching sessions and product testing went down a treat.

Sonia, James and Paddy made their first stop of the schools tour on 13th and 14th September prior to the weekend’s competition and visited two schools, meeting up with over 600 kids. Proving the schools tour initiative works, over the weekend a couple of local snowboarders competed for the first time ever after the schools tour had visited their school back in 2005….go on the schools tour team!

British Snowboard Tour – Saturday 15th
The sun was shinning and so was the local talent at the Animal British Snowboard Slopestyle Championships in Chatham on Saturday, with local riders, Cody Hierons and Callum Wilkin setting the high standard for the day. The Big Air Jam kick started the day’s competition and after throwing down a huge switch underfilp 720, Jamie Nicholls was crowned the men’s champ. Setting a new tour record for the youngest female winner EVER!, 10 year old Katie Ormerod nailed a big backside 360 off the big kicker to take the women’s title.

The sun continued to shine as the afternoon’s Animal British Slopestyle Championships got underway with the top nine male and top four female riders making it through to the two run final. In the women’s final, Samantha Rogers linked together a smooth and faultless run to take home first place and the women’s Animal British Slopestyle title. Her choice of tricks included a boardslide to frontside 360 over the big kicker, to frontside 180 and a noseslide over the bottom rainbow rail. Taking second place, Katie Omerod secured her spot as the “one to watch” with a big method and backside 360, with Vickie Pullin taking home third after a frontside 180 off of the big kicker. In the men’s final Jamie Nicholls stomped a technical run which included, a backside 720 stailfish – tagged the biggest jump of the day – followed by a floaty backside 180 and a switch boardslide, to 50-50 to frontside boardslide to fakie out over the 60ft battleship box rail, securing him the title. Local Chatham boys Cody Hierons and Callum Wilkin, rode well all day and so it was no surprise that they both took podium spots. Cody won second place after pulling off a backside 540 double grab, and text book switch boardslide to frontside to boardslide over the battleship box with Callum taking third after a fluid technical run.

Big Air Jam Results
Men
1st – Jamie Nicholls – Bradford
2nd – Jack Shackelton – Newbury
3rd – Cody Hierons – Chatham
Women
1st – Katie Ormerod – Bradford
2nd – Samantha Rogers – Reading
3rd – Becca Richardson – Middlesex

Animal Slopestyle Championship Results
Men
1st – Jamie Nicholls – Bradford
2nd – Cody Hierons – Chatham
3rd – Callum Wilkin – Canterbury
Women
1st – Samantha Rogers – Reading
2nd – Katie Ormerod – Bradford
3rd – Vickie Pullin – Tewkesbury

Salomon Best Un-sponsored Awards went to, George Wooley, 14 from Derby and Vickie Pullin 22 from Tewkesbury, winning them a brand new Salomon set up.

The next event on the British Snow Tour calendar will be the Trespass British Snowboard / Skiercross Championships and Big Air Jam at Norfolk Ski Club on 22nd and 23rd September (please note that the snowboarding event will be on Sunday 23rd September) for event timings and info please go to www.britishsnowtour.com

The British Snowboard and Freeski Tour would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Animal, Quiksilver, Trespass, SNO!zone, Salomon, Ride, K2 and Faction Ski’s. Official retail partners TSA and Ellis Brigham. Media partners Whitelines, Dark Summer, Extreme.com, Snowboardclub.co.uk and Skiclub.co.uk.

Event Information
The British Snowboard & Freeski Tour Dates:
15th -16th Sept: Chatham – Animal Artificial Slopestyle Championships
22nd – 23rd Sept: Norwich – Trespass Artificial Snowboard/Skiercross Championships
29th – 30th Sept: Warmwell – Quiksilver Artificial Big Air Championships
6th October: SNO!zone, Castleford – Animal Indoor Slopestyle Championships
13th October: SNO!zone, MiltonKeynes– Trespass Snowboardcross/Skiercross Championships
26th October: Metro Ski and Snowboard Show – Best of British Invitational
3rd November: SNO!zone, Glasgow – Quiksilver Indoor Big Air Championships