The British Snowboard and Freeski Tour made its first indoor stop of the series at the weekend – visiting Castleford SNO!zone, for the Animal British Indoor Slopestyle Championships.

More than 150 of the UK’s top freeskiers and snowboarders took part in the event while another 100 beginners got to take their first turns on snow in the Animal ski and snow learner academy.

In the snowboard competition, standards and competitor numbers were high, with new names and talent along with several old faces making it through to the finals, including GB Freestyle Coach Hamish McKnight.

In the Women’s competition, Laura Berry set the standard and came away with the Animal British Slopestyle Championship title with a smooth and technical run including, a frontside boardslide on the top rail, a big gap to boardslide to fakie on the kinked rail and a technical switch nosepress to 180 out on the box.

Second place went to Leeds local Laura Hill who was the only girl to clean the wall ride all day and third place with a selection of solid boardslides went to Gemma Marshall. 

The men’s competition was hotly contested, with only decimal points separating the top podium spots. Johnny Russell, who (thanks to Jeremy Sladen) was able to cut his afternoon shift at the TSA shop short, was throwing down some 90’s pop star inspired manoeuvres a “Jackson” (50-50 on your toe edge) to frontside boardslide on the kinked rail and a huge 50-50 on the top of the wall ride to take the 2007 Animal Slopestyle Championship title.

Jamie Nicholls came in a very close second after a textbook run including a 270 on 450 off on the top box, a smooth 270 onto the wall ride and 270 on 270 off along the C box.

Third place went to Steve Revill who impressed all with a wrong way 270 onto the top rail, gap to frontside boardslide on the kinked rail and a big stylish frontside wallride to 180 out, finishing off with a switch noseslide to boardslide on the bottom rail.        

Animal British Snowboard Slopestyle Championship Results:

Men                                                                                    

1 – Johnny Russell, Sheffield                                                  

2 – Jamie Nicholls, Bradford                                                   

3 – Steve Revill, Milton Keynes

Women

1 – Laura Berry, Milton Keynes

2 – Laura Hill, Leeds

3 – Gemma Marshall, Sheffield

Salomon “Best Un-sponsored” Awards went to Lynsey Ashdown from Cheshire and Andy Nudds from Halifax, both winning a brand new Salomon set up.

The next event on the British Snow Tour calendar will be the Trespass British Indoor Snowboard / Skiercross Championships and Slopestyle Jam at Milton Keynes SNO!zone, Xscape on Saturday October 13 (please note that competitors must pre register online to compete) for event timings and info please go to www.britishsnowtour.com