The Animal British Slopestyle Championships

The second day of the British Freeski Championships saw stylish and solid runs as the best of British freeskiers attacked the course for the Animal British Slopestyle Championships, with youngsters James Woods and Katie Summerhayes dominating the day. And if that action wasn’t already enough for the crowds to take in, Animal’s Pro Mountain Biker Sam Pilgrim, winner of Europe’s biggest dirt Slopestyle events, also stepped up to the Animal Slopestyle Challenge at this year’s BRITS by hitting the course on his bike, alongside his Animal team mates, Freeskier James Webb and Team GB Snowboarder, Dom Harington!

With the top six women from the qualifications going through to the final, it was the youngest competitor of the day, Katie Summerhayes, 13, who won her first ever BRITS, with a winning run consisting of tail tap over the barrel jib, 180 on the wall, switch up on the box followed by two super high grabbed airs in the quarterpipe. Katie then did a 360 with a solid grab, a 720 and a 540 on the kickers. Claire Hughes scooped the silver with jib over the barrel, a switch up on the box and two big airs in the quarterpipe. On the kickers Claire did a switch 180, 360, and then a straight air off the big kicker. Last years reigning champion Emma Lonsdale took the third spot with a 180 over the barrel, to switch wall ride and a solid grind on the box, followed by two huge grab mute airs in the pipe. On the kicker section she did a switch 180, 360, finishing off with a 180.

Katie Summerhayes said of her win – “It’s an amazing feeling to have won, especially as this is only my second time competing at the BRITS and is my first overall title win at the event. I just can’t believe it, I’ve had a great day competing.”

It was a super tight final in the men’s category with the 12 finalists pulling out all of the stops in the hope of winning the coveted title, keeping the crowds entertained with their array of world class riding. It was regular competitor and winner on the British Snow Tour, James Woods, who was crowned the king of the Animal British Slopestyle Championships, after his impressive and faultless run, consisting of a tailtap 180 out, switch tail press on the wall, 450 out on the street rail followed by huge stylish airs and flares in the quarterpipe. Finishing his run off with a 720 nosegrab, a double lincoln and a switch cork 9. It was super tight between first and second place, with the silver medal going to reining champion and Animal’s very own James Webb. He started off his faultless run with a handplant frontflip over the hitching post, the only competitor to use it, followed by a 180 stall on the wall, a 270 switch up, a massive straight air and air to fakie in the quarterpipe. Over the kickers he chose a switch cork 9, Double Front Flip, followed by a cheeky front flip off the knuckle and then a 9 mute grab to finish. Julian Ball took the final podium spot with a 360 handplant on the snow, 180 stall on the wall, regular 270 off the rail and high airs in the pipe. His tricks of choice for the kickers were a DSpin 7, double backflip, a definite crowd pleaser, and a switch rodeo 7 to finish.

“The competition was pretty intense and such a high level of riding from everyone. This is my first time for winning overall gold at the BRITS so I’m so stoked to have won.” Said James Woods of his win.

Animal British Slopestyle Championship Results
Men
1st – James Woods, Sheffield
2nd – James Webb, Bracknell
3rd – Julian Ball, Kent

Women
1st – Katie Summerhayes, Sheffield
2nd – Claire Hughes, Fife
3rd – Emma Lonsdale, Settle