The First Indoor British Snow Tour event of the season, The British Big Air Championships got underway at Milton Keynes SNO!zone on Saturday 19th September. Over 110 snowboarders and freeskiers took to the slope to hit the all snow kicker, which was tagged the biggest indoor jump ever created, measuring a whopping 14m from the lip of the jump to the knuckle.

After a morning of snowboarding, the afternoon made way for the UK’s freeskiers and the standard of riding was immense with over 60 riders charging the kickers and throwing down a selection of huge 720’s, 900’s and double front-flips.

In the Women’s competition the top four skiers went through to the two run, best-run counts final. Youngster Katie Summerhayes fresh from her big air victory at Norfolk last weekend took the title after landing a big 540 with a solid grab over the medium kicker. Second place went to Sissy Herant with a 540 over the medium kicker, whilst Kelly O’Donnell came in third place with a stylish 360.

In the men’s final youngsters Tyler Jay-Harding and Cal Sandieson stepped it up from the kid’s age category to make it through to the finals, giving the older guys a run for their money. It was a battle between the James’s for a podium spot in the finals with James Woods fearlessly dropping in switch and landing a massive switch rodeo 720 Japan to take the overall title. Second place went to Animal rider, James Webb, who had qualified in top spot and also opted for a switch 720 rodeo. James Machon rounded off the podium of James’s after effortlessly landing a huge 900 tail grab.

The British Freeski Big Air Championship Results

Women:

1st – Katie Summerhayes – Sheffield

2nd – Servanne Herant – Stoke-on-Trent

3rd – Kelly O’Donnell – Stoke-on-Trent

Men

1st – James Woods – Sheffield

2nd – James Webb – Bracknell

3rd – James Machon – Sheffield

Over 80 local youngsters that the Schools Tour Team had visited earlier in the week came along to the event to take part in the FREE lessons and watch the big air action, let’s hope they continue to learn how to ski and snowboard and enjoy shredding.

The next event on the British Snow Tour calendar is the Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships and Rail Jam at Glasgow SNO!zone on Saturday 26th September. Pre-register now and you’ll receive a discounted rate on the Friday night freestyle session. To pre-register for the Glasgow event or to check out the photos and video footage from the British Big Air Championships at Milton Keynes, go to: www.britishsnowtour.com