Tom Hunt has taken the men’s title at the Animal Indoor Slopestyle Championships – the final event of the British Snow Tour.

Riding hard on his home slope, the Castleford local beat Jamie Nicholls and John Weatherley into second and third place respectively with his super technical run. Meanwhile Lynsey Ashdown claimed the women’s indoor slopestyle crown, narrowly beating Helen Fox and Sophie Nicholls into second and third.

In both events the level of riding was super-high, as witnessed by the fact that more established riders like Andy Nudds, Stu Edwards and Jack Shackleton missed out on podium spots altogether. Hopefully this bodes well for a broadening of the British talent pool, and some serious competition at this year’s British Championships in March.

The British Snow Tour’s Jo Brown sent us this match report from Castleford: “The Animal Snowboard Slopestyle Championships kicked off the day’s competition and the standard of riding was immense. Over 85 riders, 25 of them impressively coming from the women’s category hit the slope and linked together impressive and super technical runs making it a tough call to narrow the field for the finals for the judges.

It was extremely tight during the women’s qualification round, with the top four spots through to the final being increased to six after fourth place was tied between three riders. Lynsey Ashdown, who had been riding consistently well all day and qualified in first place, was victorious and walked away with the 2009 Animal Slopestyle Championship title. Lynsey’s winning run included a 50-50 180 out on the top rail, to switch boardslide on the middle rail, followed by a smooth frontside 360 over the kicker and cab 270 on the bottom box. Second place went to Helen Fox who charged the course and linked together a frontside lipslide on the top rail, a switch frontside boardslide on the middle rail and big method over the kicker. Sophie Nicholls, who has really stepped it up during this year’s British Snow Tour events, finished in third place with a smooth frontside lipslide on the top rail, to switch boardslide on the middle rail and an impressive 270 on the box.

In the men’s final Andy Nudds, Stu Edwards and Jack Shackleton where amongst the riders pushing the limits and raising the bar with incredibly tech rail tricks, big 540’s and cab 720’s being thrown down. Younger rider and Castleford local Tom Hunt, who had been killing it all day and impressed all with his consistent riding was crowned the 2009 Men’s Animal Slopestyle Champion. Tom’s impressive run included a 50–50 backside pivot cab 180 out on the top rail, to gap switch noseslide 180 out on the middle rail, to cab 720 mute over the kicker and a cab 180 to front blunt on the bottom gas pipe. A very close second place went to fellow Castleford rider, Jamie Nicholls who nailed a clean and stylish run that included a frontside blunt pivot 270, tap cab 180 out on the top rail, to 50-50 frontside 180 on the middle rail, to cab 720 melon over the kicker, to frontside blunt cab 360 out on the bottom gas pipe. John Weatherly finished in third place with a frontside blunt 270 out on the top rail, a gap frontside boardslide on the middle rail, to cab 270 off on the elevated pipe and a 180 on cab 360 off on the bottom gas pipe.”

Animal Snowboard Slopestyle Championship Results:

Men                                                                Women
1st – Tom Hunt – Leeds                                  1st – Lynsey Ashdown -Manchester
2nd – Jamie Nicholls – Bradford                  2nd – Helen Fox – London
3rd – John Weatherly – Chester                     3rd – Sophie Nicholls – Bradford