SCOTTISH FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS LAUNCHED!
Seventy of Scotland’s top snowboarders and skiers will converge on Snow Factor at Intu Braehead west of Glasgow on Saturday (30 August) for the Scottish Indoor Freestyle Championships.
Organised by Snowsport Scotland, over two separate runs competitors in the discipline known as ‘slopestyle’ will aim to impress judges with tricks and jumps down a purpose built course. Scored on the height, difficulty, variety and execution of their freestyle manoeuvres, the top 4 scoring (ranked) female skiers and snowboarders and top 8 ranked male skiers and snowboarders’ will progress to a final to contest the overall championship.
In slopestyle, there are prizes for U-12’s, U-16’s and seniors in the men’s and women’s ski and snowboard categories.
Last year’s winners in the Ski category, 17 year old Molly Summerhayes (Sheffield) and 16 year old Cal Sandieson (Glasgow) are both currently training with the British Freestyle Team in Switzerland, so the door’s wide open for new champions. Contenders include 16 year old Chris McCormick (Bearsden, Glasgow) who won the (outdoor) Scottish Freestyle Championships in April at Cairngorm.
In the Snowboard category, last year’s winners 17 year old Vaila Chapman (Edinburgh) and 17 year old Matt McCormick (Bearsden, Glasgow) are among the competitors from as far afield as Milton Keynes who will be going for gold in Scotland’s only indoor real snow ‘resort.’
Jane Campbell Morrison, CEO of Snowsport Scotland, commented: “We are looking forward to a great event, with some demonstrations of great skill and ability from the park & pipe guys, at Scotland’s fantastic indoor facility, Snow Factor. Thanks to the hard work of our Development Officer, Lauren MacCallum, the Scottish Indoor Freestyle Championships promise to be a great event.”
Jamie Smith, owner of Snow Factor, added: “We are proud to be again working with Snowsport Scotland to host yet another major indoor championship in the ski / snowboard calendar.
“The promise of competing on freshly groomed snow throughout the year ensures Snow Factor increasingly attracts snowboarders and skiers of all ages and ability. This includes World Cup snowboarder Ben Kilner and other members of the British Park & Ride Team who occasionally use Snow Factor to practice.”
Snow Factor, Scotland’s newest snow-sports destination also incorporates the UK’s largest indoor urban ice climbing wall, sledging and an ice-luge run while Bar Varia café bar serves up a Tyrolean styled apres-ski experience.
More information can be found one www.snowfactor.com and www.snowsportscotland.org