There's a new generation of talented jumping British snowboard queens - as proved at the Quiksilver British Snowboard Big Air Championships, on Tuesday April 1 in Laax, Switzerland.
Thanks to support from Snowsport GB, freestyle is finally getting the recognition, funding and training (courtesy of awesome new coach Sonia Shaw - Animal rider and Our Camp founder) it deserves in the UK; the Squad dominated last week, with the level of riding pushed far beyond the expected progression from just one year ago.
With both Jenny Jones, Vicci Miller and last year's champ Posy Dixon out with injuries, the gauntlet was open for a new set of rider's to take the crown. Also, previous finalists Jo Chastney and Laura Hill struggled with the slushy cruddy snow, and failed to make the finals - instead a whole fresh crop of names topped the podium.
Roxy hot shot Aimee Fuller is no longer an unknown: this 17 year old was born in Britain but spent the last five years living in Washington DC. Confident, mature and loving it, Aimee entered her first competition in December - no less than the Roxy Chicken Jam Europe in Kaprun - alongside some of the world's biggest female riders, to get through to finals. Now, at her first Brits and part of the Junior Development team, she qualifes for the overall semi-finals to throw a huge attempt at a frontside 720 spin. A trick that could easily have nabbed her first place, she stacked, giving herself concussion, knocking herself out of the finals. Watch out for this girl...
In fact, newcomer's filled the podium this year in a super tight final: Cheshire's Lynsey Ashdown landed a clean frontside 540 to take third, while Bucks dryslope rider and GB team member Samantha Rogers stomped a massive truckdriver grabbed frontflip for the day's biggest crowd pleaser. But it was Scotland's Claire Frost, a former British Squad member herself, who took the crown with two perfectly executed backside 540s.
To see highlights of the entire day's action - from both the men and women's comps check out the video, courtesy of Soulsports, above.
Like this? Then read: Brits Day One Round Up | Roxy Chicken Jam Videos | Jamie Anderson wins 2008 TTR! |
