The 2010 British Snow Tour made its first stop of the series over the weekend - 11^th & 12^th September at Norfolk Snowsports Centre for the Protest Slopestyle, Giro Big Air and Trespass Snowboardcross Championships. The all-new three run, best run counts National Championship competition format and Big Air & Slopestyle Jam sessions proved to be a big hit with over 60 of the UK’s top riders hitting the slope and throwing down some impressive riding skills.

The new Big Air & Slopestyle Jam sessions were rolled-out before each Championship event. Offering spot prizes to riders pushing their own limits before awarding an overall jam session winner from the under 16’s, over 16’s and Women’s categories.

Protest Slopestyle Championships

The Slopestyle Jam kicked off the snowboard action on Saturday with Matt Corry (under 16’s), David McCarthy (over 16’s) and Vickie Pullin (women’s) walking away as the overall jam session winners. A special shout out also goes to 7 year old Harvey Ormerod, the youngest rider of the day, who had nose-slides on the box on lockdown.

Moving on to the Protest Slopestyle Championships, where British Championship titles and cash prizes were up for grabs, the younger riders in the women’s competition were stepping it up and setting the standard. 12 year old, Becky Menday from the kid’s age category won the overall Protest Slopestyle Championship Title, with a fast and stylish run that included a solid 50-50 to boardslide over the bottom shark-fin rail. 13 year old Katie Ormerod, who was attempting front-flips off the box, scooped up second place whilst third place with a smooth 50-50 to boardslide went to 14 year old Nathalie Silkstone.

In the men’s competition it was local Halifax riders Andy Nudds and Matt Macwhirter who set the standard and threw down a selection of consistently technical runs. Defending slopestyle champ, Andy Nudds added the 2010 Protest British Slopestyle Championship title to his already impressive collection. Nuddsy’s winning run included a switch up on the top rail, a 50-50 to backside 360 off, on the middle rail and a frontside boardside on the bottom shark-fin rail – tagged by the judges as the best trick of the day. Matt Macwhirter finished in second place with a stylish backside boardslide to 180 to frontside boardslide on the bottom rail, whilst Simon Cudlip who’d been riding super strong all day walked away with third place.

Protest Slopestyle Championship Results:

Men                                                      Women

1^st – Andy Nudds – Halifax                     1^st - Becky Menday – Milton Keynes

2^nd Matt Macwhirter – Halifax                  2^nd – Katie Ormerod – Halifax

3^rd – Simon Cudlip – Castleford              3^rd – Nathalie Silkstone - Belper

Trespass Snowboardcross Championships

Sunday morning welcomed the Trespass Snowboardcross Championships with riders going against the clock and then head-to-head in the eliminating rounds until only the fastest four male and four female snowboarders were remaining.

In the women’s final it was a head-to-head race against Gemma Marshall, Katie Ormerod, Vickie Pullin and Nathalie Silkstone. It was a close race out of the start gates with Gemma edging her way into the lead after the first set of rollers. It was a close race between Katie, Vickie and Nathalie for second place but it was Vickie who charged over the line at the last minute to take second place, with Katie and Nathalie finishing in third and fourth place respectively.

In the men’s final it was another close race out of the start gates. Joe Gaze wiped-out going into the first turn but dusted himself off and made an amazing recovering to get back into the race. Local rider Tom Moriarty was first over the rollers and managed to maintain his lead and cross the finish line in first place to take the 2010 Trespass British Snowboardcross Championship title. Ben Fearnside and Edward Castle-Henry who’d both dominated the eliminating rounds finished in second and third with Joe Gaze unable to make up enough ground finishing in fourth.

Trespass Snowboardcross Championship Results:

Men                                                                  Women           

1^st – Tom Moriarty – Norfolk                               1^st - Gemma Marshall - Sheffield

2^nd – Ben Fearnside – Hemel Hempstead            2^nd - Vickie Pullin - Gloucestershire

3^rd – Edward Castle-Henry - Hertfordshire            3^rd - Katie Ormerod - Halifax

4^th – Joe Gaze – Norfolk                                                4^th - Nathalie Silkstone - Belper

Giro Big Air Championships

The Big Air Jam kicked off the afternoon’s action with Andy Nudds (over 16’s) Jordan Gee (under 16’s) and Katie Ormerod (women’s) impressing the most to be crowned the Big Air Jam session winners.

The final event of the day was the highly anticipated Giro British Big Air Championships. During the women’s competition, Katie Ormerod continued her top form to win the Giro Big Air Championship title after she threw down a big and perfectly landed front-flip. Stepping it up with a super clean frontside 360 and to take second place was Castleford local, Faye Young, with Gemma Marshall, who landed a smooth frontside 180 taking third.

Andy Nudds was crowned the overall Giro British Big Air Champion in the men’s competition after he landed a huge and textbook backside 720, stalefish. Second place with a stylish and big backside 720 mute, went to Simon Cudlip with Matt Macwhirter taking third place with a perfectly landed frontside 720.

Giro Big Air Championship Results:   

Men                                                      Women

1^st - Andy Nudds – Halifax                     1^st – Katie Ormerod – Halifax

2^nd - Simon Cudlip – Castleford              2^nd – Faye Young – Castleford

3^rd – Matt Macwhirter – Halifax                3^rd – Gemma Marshall – Sheffield

For a full list of results and to check out the pictures and videos from the British Artificial Championships, go to: www.britishsnowtour.com/championships/norwich

The British Snow Tour isn’t just about the competition. The inspirational schools tour team, which included Pat Sharples, Becky Hammond, Paddy Graham and local skier Tom Coe, stopped off at two secondary schools in Norwich to inspire more local kids to get involved in snow sports. The team presented to 500 kids with over 100 coming along to the event to give skiing or snowboarding a go courtesy of the Trespass, Giro & Protest free taster lessons.