The Brits is the highlight of the British snowboarding calendar where old favourites and fresh faced newcomers come to compete to be the best in Britain. Started in 1989, the event has a long history and is known for its epic parties as well as the snowboarding on show.
In 1989, the Brits was held up in Glenshee where there were slalom and freestyle disciplines. The afterparty ended with fire extinguishers being set off ad furniture being thrown out of windows. Other years have seen golf buggies being ‘borrowed’ for a bit of a drive around resort but nowadays the party is a bit less raucous but just as fun with acts like Chase and Status, DJ Yoda and the Nextmen performing.
On the slopes, there’s big air, slopestyle, boardercross and the bangers and cash rail jam. The standard of riding is always progressing and it’s one of those competitions where the famous riders don’t always win. In 2008, unsponsored rider Richard Hookes came out of nowhere and beat all the pros and lots of up and coming riders have cut their teeth at the Brits.
In 2013 Katie Omerod and Ben Kilner showed that their team GB training was paying off as they won the halfpipe events. Sam Turnbull and Katie Blundell took the top spots in the slopestyle and in the bangers and cash rail jam Andy Nudds and Becky Menday were victorious. The Brits is a true celebration of UK snowboarding talent and no doubt it will continue to be one of the most fun snowboard events for years to come.