New competition aims to build British freestyle ski and snowboarding
With success in recent Olympic and World Cup competitions, British freestyle skiing and snowboarding is slowly increasing its international profile. And, with the number of indoor facilities growing all over the country, there is a concerted effort to increase competition amongst UK-based snow enthusiasts.
But, as we all know, getting to the slopes of France, Austria or Italy is more than a simple day trip. To help local athletes improve, the best in Britain will look to compete against each other at local indoor venues. But unlike traditional competitions, athletes will compete via video submissions. A panel of qualified judges will score runs made at home ski complexes and match the videos up against other ski teams from Britain.
The Championship Ski and Snowboard (CSS) initiative has been started to create better opportunities for British freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Organisers hope the effort will get more Brits involved in snow sports.
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“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,” a GB Park and Pipe Team said in a statement to In the Snow In the Snow magazine.
“The GB Park & Pipe team has shown itself to be able to take on the best in the world,” added Lesley McKenna, Team Manager. “CSS is an essential link between the proven top level GB Park & Pipe team and the grassroots in the UK.”
Although there are some fantastic ski chalets in Meribel, La Rosiere and across the French Alps, to compete at an international level, home-based athletes and skiing novices alike need to practice their sport. To increase the profile of local indoor centres, the CSS competition model was created.
The CSS idea was created by Hamish McKnight, head snowboard coach of the GB Park and Pipe Team. McKnight wanted to create an opportunity for younger snow freestyle talent to showcase their talent.
The Championship Ski and Snowboard initiative is set to begin in May and go through the summer until the live finals in October.
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