The final leg of the Westbeach Snowflex Tour took competitors to France, where they got to shred the best Snowflex slope in Europe. The Nouex Les Mines slope, near Calais (on the wrong side of the English Channel) features not only one of the best Snowflex kickers around, but also some pretty impressive rail features.
However, despite the location of the slope, it was the experienced English shredders who ruled the roost on the day, as Westbeach’s Sue Garlick explains:
With over 50 competitors, a bluebird day, some fresh rain and a ton of bread and cheese the comp went off. Despite the rain the night before it seemed the slope wanted to create a little bit of havoc and run slow stylee. That didnʼt stop the shredders working their way through the jam sessions to be finally whittled down by the 3 judges to a final 3 in each category to fight it out in the super final.
Though the slope was running a little slow the super finalists stepped it up by hitting the bigger kicker of the 2 with Mike Austin taking up the challenge first, stomping a back 1 melon… this was closely followed machine, Andy Nudds throwing down a back 7 and Marc McClement going for a back 7 in his wake. Nuddsy bagged 1st place with some nose slide 270ʼs off the battle ship and a 450 out of the flat box with Mike and Marc taking a joint 2nd.
The 16 and under menʼs snowboard final 1st place went to Will Smith with a trade mark floaty 5 off the middle kicker, followed by a back 1, pivot to 180 on the battle ship just pipping Pete Meadows to the post, even though Pete had been throwing down back 5ʼs and 7ʼs the rails ended up the decision maker. Cody Hierons came in to take 3rd place and had been stomping some steezy back 5ʼs throughout the day.
The womenʼs final saw Liz Osbourne and Sam Rogers battling it out for 1st and 2nd place and despite Lizʼs slick back 1 indy over the kicker she lost speed for a complete rail run coming in 2nd place leaving Sam Rogers to take a 1st place spot with her front 1 and a line of solid rail tricks. There was some sick riding throughout the day from all the riders and the lack of speed didnʼt stop everyone from getting involved in the Chinese Downhill Race with a twist, you could either make it the whole way down and try to be first or go pick up random prizes from the many spectators planted at the side of the slope… no rules, elbows out! Liz Osbourne and Lewis Sonvico beat the masses to the finish line for snowboarding bagging themselves the bragging rights and the goodies.”
Results
16 and under Girls Snowboard: 1st Charlotte Pilonczyke
Womens Snowboard: 1st Samantha Rogers, 2nd Liz OʼDonnel
16 and under Mens Snowboard: 1st Will Smith, 2nd Pete Meadows, 3rd Cody Hierons
Mens Snowboard: 1st Andy Nudds, 2nd (joint) Marc McClement, 2nd (joint) Mike Austin
Document Best Unsponsored rider: Lewis Sonvico
Stepchild Best Unsponsored rider: Lewis Sonvico
Fear of the Park (treelinechalets.com): Pete Meadows
