A new concept in snowsports competition, which will grow and nurture British freestyle talent, has been launched today by the GB Park & Pipe team. The first snowsports competition of its kind in the world, Championship Ski and Snowboard (CSS), is a brand new competition league where crews representing local slopes will go head to head with other teams from across the UK.

CSS League - Promo from CSS League on Vimeo.

CSS will see crews submit videos of their best tricks filmed at their local indoor or dryslope scene. Footage will then be judged, scored and edited into “matches” which will then be live on the CSS website and shared across social media.

The CSS concept is the brainchild of Hamish McKnight, head snowboard coach of the GB Park and Pipe Team, who wanted to create a platform where young freestyle talent could be showcased and allowed to thrive. CSS will provide a competition structure that supports what lies at the heart of the core scene - doing tricks, having fun and being able to show them off to everyone.  

The league, which will be judged by international level judges, provides the opportunity for freestyle snowsport communities to compete against each other, without the cost of having to travel to competitions. Teams can win prizes, which include a new feature for their slope and the kudos of being crowned “best scene in Great Britain”, and the top teams will be invited to the live finals taking place at major UK ski and snowboard events in October.

Lesley McKenna, GB Park and Pipe Team Manager said of the launch: “The GB Park & Pipe team has shown itself to be able to take on the best in the world. There is a really deep wealth of talent following in the footsteps of the current team and CSS will ensure that in years to come this talent will continue to come through and be able to challenge at the very top level.  CSS is an essential link between the proven top level GB Park & Pipe team and the grassroots in the UK.”

Hamish McKnight, Head Snowboard Coach for GB Park and Pipe said: “CSS embodies everything that has been missing from UK freeski and freestyle snowboarding over the past few years. But most of all, my idea for CSS was starting something that should just be great fun.”

Championship Ski and Snowboard will begin in May and run until the live finals in October, with teams consisting of four riders, including one female and one young gun who is under 15, as well as two others.

CSS is endorsed by GB Park & Pipe and supported through The Snowboard Asylum, Ellis Brigham as well The National Lottery, UK Sport and national governing bodies Snowsport England and Snowsport Scotland.

For more information visit www.cssleague.co.uk. Anyone looking to enter a team should contact Josie on 07989 538044 or email [email protected]