We’re out in Tignes at The Brits 2014, where the first event has just gone down: the Bangers & Cash Rail Jam.
With the field stacked and the course immaculate, there was nothing else for it but a good old-fashioned throwdown. Sausages on the grill, photographers on the course and Scott Penman on the mic – and, unlike last year, a blazing sun for riders and spectators alike.
Having cruised through the jam session to the final, Jamie Trinder got straight to work, gapping from one feature to the next. He set the bar early on, with a flawless cab 450 on 270 out on the flat-down. His Team GB cohort Lewis Courtier-Jones wasn’t ready to let him have all the glory, though, with hammers including a crowd-pleasing cab underflip off one of the rails. Meanwhile John Weatherly was making light work of the Monster rail, with clean 270s on and off among others. Cerys Allen, Billy Cockrell, Ella Fry-Taylor and Joe Nixon all brought the bangers too – but who would get the cash?
Once the hour was up, the decision was made to extend the jam for a little longer. After all, the riders still had plenty in the tank, and the crowd were keen for more. The riders continued to drop, high-fiving BSA man Colin Holden’s clipboard on the way in, and rinsed the extra time in fine style.
With the session over the assembled crowd began to drift away, keen to enjoy the last couple of hours of slushy Tignes. Except Jamie, who was feeling a backside rodeo to frontside boardslide on the flat-down… While he didn’t stick it – hell, other than Bode Merrill, who can? – he did walk away with the top prize, with Ella crowned best female.
Next up at The Brits is tomorrow’s snowboard cross, followed by the pipe on Wednesday. Check back to whitelines.com for the full reports.
