WARMWELL HOSTS LAST ORANGE AIM NATIONAL FREESKI COMPETITION IN THE 2006 SERIES

UK’s top snowboarders and freeskiers, amongst them Olympians and British Champions, descended on the new snowflex slope at the Dorset Snowsport Centre at the beginning of October for the finale event of the Orange AIM Series 2006 calendar.

It proved a very popular event with families taking the opportunity to stay for a few nights at Warmwell and enjoy the facilities on offer. A record number of over 160 competitors took part, hoping to win the British Artificial Big Air Championship titles.

The event also served as a qualifier for the British Quarterpipe Championships at the Metro Ski Show, London on the 20th October, with the top three skiers qualifying to compete at the prestigious event.

MURRAY WINS THROUGH

The Snowboarding event took place on the Saturday with the skiers taking possession of the slope on Sunday 1st October.

For the first time in the history of the AIM Series there were more skiers participating than snowboarders and the great majority of them were under 18 years old, reflecting the massive growth in popularity of freestyle skiing in the UK.

The younger skiers quickly set the pace of the day with LINE Pro skier Murray Buchan (14) setting the standard. Traveling down from Edinburgh with his dad and brother to compete, Murray blew the other competitors away to take first place in the Quarterpipe competition and gain entry to the London Ski Show after his consistent and clean skiing, which included an impressive 540 double nose grab.

Second and third places went to Andrew Longley and Ben Hawker, respectively, after both chose stylish flares as their trick of choice. (As Andrew is unable to compete in the London Ski Show his ticket was passed to Charlie Richards who finished fourth.)

In the women’s Quarterpipe competition, it was victory for one of freeskiing’s young stars, Kate Williams, who landed solid and stylish 360’s.

Natasha Tanner Wood came in second with a huge 360 and third place went to Emily Evans who performed clean straight airs out of the pipe.

In the Big Air final in the afternoon it was Murray who again dominated the competition; taking home the gold after perfectly landing a switch 720 double nose grab.

James Woods, another young skier and one of the most adventurous of the day, performed a succession of successful runs including a corked 540 tail grab and 720.

Third place went to Orange AIM Series regular and defending big air champ, James Webb, who performed several cleanly landed misty 720’s.

In the women’s competition it was Kate Williams’ second victory of the day, after successfully landing a 540, guaranteeing her the title.

Second place went to defending champion Shelley Jones, who despite nursing an existing broken wrist, still managed to perform a stylish and perfectly landed 360.

Bronze went to Warmwell skier Teri Spencer who did a 360 tail grab over the jump.

PHOTOGRAPHS

For photographs from the event click here to view the Galleries area, then click though to view the photographs.

Some of the photographs here and in the Galleries were taken by Rick Hutchings, see his website at: www.rickhutchings.com.

FREESKI RESULTS

Men’s Quarterpipe Competition:

1) Murray Buchan, Edinburgh

2) Andrew Longley, Sheffield

3) Ben Hawker, Bournemouth

Women's Quarterpipe Competition:

1) Kate Williams, Sheffield

2) Natasha Tanner Wood

3) Emily Evans, Kent

Mens' Big Air Championships:

1) Murray Buchan, Edinburgh

2) James Woods, Sheffield

3) James Webb, Bracknell

Women's Big Air Championships:

1) Kate Williams, Sheffield

2) Shelley Jones, Stoke-on-Trent

3) Teri Spencer, Warmwell

WHAT NEXT?

Next on the Orange AIM Series calendar is the British Quarterpipe Championships at the Metro London Ski Show on the 20th October 2006, where the six qualifiers from Warmwell will be joining the ten pre-selected riders and five wild card riders at the event. For more information check out: www.aimseries.com.