The BRITS is back to LAAX ! Snowboard slopestyle and skicross provide the kick-off to the British Snowboard Championships 2016.
Team GB is there in force as well as a lot of very talented up and coming young athletes.
Due to the poor weather and the sticky snow the decision was made to cut down the slopestyle competition to two runs, of which the best one counted. What the judges expect to see is amplitude on the kickers, grabs – hold as long as possible – the difficulty and the execution of the tricks are taken into account as the overall impression. The final rating will is divided into 60% technique and 40 % style.
Consistency pays off. In the women’s contest Katie Ormerod had two good runs and made her way to the podium. Clearly stoked on her win, Katie said, “I’m so excited to be back here in Laax at the BRITS and to win the slopestyle event. Such a fun day riding with all my British friends.”
For the overall men’s category, Rowan Coultas takes the gold medals, followed by the recent bronze medalist at the X-Games Billy Morgan and the Aberdeen based rider Fin Bremner. After a huge return to form, Rowan said “I had a banger of an end to the season, it didn’t start that great, but managed to come back from injury pretty quickly and got a few results at the end of the season”
After the ski cross qualification run and the semi-finals, Matthew Ray claimed victory in the finals in the overall men’s category. After taking the silver medal last year at the BRITS, Emma Peters was overwhelmed to claim the overall title this year: “It is amazing to win the title. I never thought I would get to become British Champion. I was second last year, so to get the win feels great. The BRITS have been great so far this year and they have done well with the course despite late season conditions. The event has such a good vibe and atmosphere.”
The weather conditions were not easy today, it was very windy, the snow deep and heavy but all the athletes did a super job, demonstrating style and trick technicality.
SLOPESTYLE RESULTS
Women Open :
1st Katie Ormerod, 2nd Fiona Reid, 3rd Cerys Allen
Men Open :
1st Rowan Coultas, 2nd Billy Morgan, 3rd Fin Bremner
SKICROSS RESULTS
Women Open :
1st Emma Peters, 2nd Isobel Brown, 3rd Katie Summerhayes
Men Open :
1st Matthew Ray, 2nd Jonathan Bingham, 3rd Luke Feneley
Check all the results and picture galleries of the day at www.the-brits.com