All photos: Wully Donald

Who didn’t love the snowboard cross events at Sochi? With six riders in each heat and no protracted arguments about style and/or judging scores, it was a hoot from start to finish. With everyone still buzzing from it, last weekend was the perfect time to host the Scottish Snowboard Cross Championships.

Back for its fourth year, the event took entries from over 120 competitors from all corners of the UK. Thanks to Glenshee’s bountiful snow, the course was well stacked with features including the Toblerone, the Valley Of Death and, of course, the final ‘Jacobellis’ jump.

Gordon Adam clocked the fastest male qualifying time on the Saturday, also going on to win the over-30 category the next day. Rory Ewart won a tight competition in the 16-29s, while Douglas Green did the same in the under-16s. Finally, promising young ripper Cameron Smith took the top spot in the under-12 event.

In the women’s event, it was another veteran (Christina Elesmore) who qualified in the fastest time, but she was beaten to the over-30s crown by Anne Smollet. Tayla Hammond took gold in the 16-29s, while Skyla Bailey and Emma Swanson won the under-16s and under-12s respectively.

By all accounts it was the best SBX event yet to be held on UK snow, so it might be worth sharpening those edges – and elbows – in time for next year’s fifth anniversary.