The spectacle that is the LG Freeze event set up on the banks of the Thames, with the formidable Battersea Power Station forming an impressive background.
Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, managed to get up on the judges gantry for some eye level shots
The onslope action lifted the 15,000 spectators, all craning skywards to glimpse their snowboarding heroes in action; Ben Kilner, Nate Kern, Jamie Nicolls and Jack Shackleton were sent out to defend our nations pride against the World’s best. Back in the dark days when Skiing was the only wintersport, Eddie the Eagle flew the flag for us and we applauded and cheered mediocraty.
Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, managed to get up on the judges gantry for some eye level shots
Thankfully those day are banished to history with a vengeance, as a host of talented British snowboarders nurtured through the Brits Snowtour, climb up the World Rankings and look set to light up the Olympics in Vancouver in little more than two months time.
This competition, the UK leg of the FIS World Cup Big Air is a qualifier for the Olympics, so the stakes were high for all the UK riders entering with lofty olympic aspirations. The Brits didn’t disappoint, Nate Kern for a while looked like he would make it to the final, with a super-massive first round air, the Scandinavians sensing an upset, went all out in the second round, with experience and weight of numbers the Norwegians, Swedes and Finnish riders came good in round two. Stefan Gimpl, winner of the Nokia Air and Style 3 years running, an Austrian legend, launched his challenge for the crown early, with an unbeaten first round air.
Shot with GX 20, Manual setting, F9, 1/180sec, ISO 100, Tamron 70 - 300mm telezoom lens
In Heat 2, Jamie Nicolls UK stepped up to the plate, this young man made his World Cup debut last year but was disappointed and frankly lucky to be alive when his small frame, despite flatlining it from the top of the drop in, didn’t have the mass to propel him beyond the dreaded knuckle of death. Since then, Jamie has been gorging himself on whole chickens, buffalo steaks and little people - let’s not kid ourselves, launching yourself hard and fast into the sky to land 30 m away is not easy, to do it with grace and style takes practice, lots and lots of practice.
Drop in time, with the introduction by Ed Leigh and a massive cheer echoing up the ramp, Jamie went high and true, spinning and grabbing a 720 for a mid table score, first round safe air out of the way Jamie went one better in round two landing a grabbed backside 900 to claim 27th place, his ascent as a professional snowboarder continues, meanwhile his compatriat Ben Kilner another young gun who at 19, has a little more experience, demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with.
A first round air that had the crowd cheering in disbeleif as he threw down a huge stylish 900, that left him rubbing shoulders with the top riders, if followed up with a clean safe air, a place in the final awaits (Ben Kilner clean fresh air, are you kidding !!?) ”Death or Glory Kilner” went inverted and just failed to stick his landing 14th place and the highest placed among the Brits was his consolation. good work Ben.
Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, Pentax TTR power pack and AF58 flash operated remotely,
As the light went down the big boys came out to play, the format for the final was simple: 10 riders, each have 3 jumps and the best 2 count. Roope Tonteri FIN with a double backflip, then Ulrik Badertschaer NOR with a 1260 looked like early candidates for the podium, but in competition format Gimpl, the chirpy and dimunitive Austrian, is unstoppable and landed the best trick of the contest in round two. Gian Luca Cavigelli of Switzerland and Domen Bizjak, Slovenia’s finest, pushed Stefan close, but the crowd’s favourite and birthday boy took a well deserved win in the London leg of the World Cup big air series. Congratulations Stefan.
Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, Pentax TTR power pack and Pentax AF58 flash gun operated remotely
