.As the nation's skiers and snowboarders descended on the north west, Chill Factore’s park shapers were putting the finishing touches on arguably the most progressive park ever seen at an indoor champs.

As has become tradition, the Brits Indoor offers an amazing chance for the younger riders to shine, and 2016 was no different. Once again, the under 12 and under 16s categories were hotly contested, and The BRITS continues to unearth prodigal talent, and many of these young riders will go on to compete at the highest level.

The youth movement was no clearer than in the Women’s freeski competition as Kirsty Muir took her first overall crown at just 12 years old. The phenomenon from Aberdeen has been threatening to snap up the title since her arrival on the scene, but few could have placed her on the top step before her teenage years. With young British women such as overall BRITS Slopestyle champs Katie Ormerod and Katie Summerhayes already leading the way on the world stage, Kirsty is all set to follow in their footsteps.

With the now tried and tested jam format cutting the field, 8 men and 4 women took on the daunting final zone in the snowboard competition. The largest indoor kicker we have seen in recent years teed Angus Malloch up perfectly for the biggest trick of the day and the win. His huge grabbed gap onto the gas pipe wowed spectators and the judges, capping off an incredible competition. Judge Jamie Keeble described the final as the toughest judging decision he has ever had to make, with Scott Walsh, Billy Cockrell and Lewis Moore all in contention for medals. But a decision had to be made and Walsh and Cockrell took silver and bronze respectively. In the women’s category, it was another young gun who took home the gold. At just 15 years old, Maisie Hill is yet another must watch rider! Last year’s champ Cerys Allen didn’t stomp everything she wanted in the final, but still took the silver medal and added yet another medal to her incredible collection and will look to move back up the podium in Laax. Closing out the podium was Amber Cordingly who took home the bronze.

As soon as the snowboard champs were decorated in gold silver and bronze, it was straight back out to the slope for ski qualifying. Another tough series of decisions for the judges saw the field thinned to the 12 finalists. As it became apparent that Muir would seal her first win, another young talent was grabbing his. Last year's second place and perennial crowd favourite Justin Taylor-Tipton took the men's gold by totally disregarding the landing of the main kicker, and sent his huge inverted rotations well beyond the limits of the jump. The men's podium was closed out by Chris McCormick and 2015 winner Callum Welch. Behind Muir, it was Thea Fenwick and Lex Brown taking women’s silver and bronze in style.

British Indoor Snowboard Champions 2016

OPEN MEN – 1st ANGUS MALLOCH, 2nd SCOTT WALSH, 3rd BILLY COCKRELL
OPEN WOMEN - 1st MAISIE HILL, 2nd CERYS ALLEN, 3rd AMBER CORDINGLY
U16 MEN – 1st Scott Walsh, 2nd Lewis Moore, 3rd Liam Tynan
U16 WOMEN – 1st Jade Walsh, 2nd Hollie Smith, 3rd Maisie Hill
U12 MEN – 1st Max Jorge, 2nd Charlie Lane, 3rd Chris Harrison
U12 WOMEN – 1st Mia Brookes, 2nd Amy Casswell, 3rd Evie Smith

British Indoor Freeski Champions 2016

OPEN MEN - 1st JUSTIN TAYLOR-TIPTON, 2nd CHRIS MCCORMICK, 3rd CALLUM WELCH
OPEN WOMEN - 1st KIRSTY MUIR, 2nd THEA FENWICK, 3rd LEX BROWN
U16 MEN – 1st Jasper Klein, 2nd Thomas Greenway, 3rd Mason Flannery
U16 WOMEN – 1st Kirsty Muir, 2nd Millie Wilkinson, 3rd Olivia Burke
U12 MEN – 1st Bradley Fry, 2nd Paulie Loupis, 3rd Fynnlay Loupis
U12 WOMEN – 1st Grace Harrison, 2nd Fiona Muir, 3rd Bonnie Kirby

Attention is now focused on the overall British Championships staged at The BRITS Festival in Laax from April 2^nd – 9^th 2017. Packages are online. Go to www.the-brits.com for all details on The BRITS Festival.