WhiteWorld

Tim Farr leading British Medal Hope

Tim Farr is one of Britain’s top hopes for medals at the 2010 paralympics in Whistler. Tim is part of a highly successful British Disabled ski team that boosts a number of top athletes including Russell Docker, Sean Rose and Jane Soweby amongst many more.

After a great season last winter in which Tim had numerous podium finishes, Snowzone TV caught up with him at his home to see how his summer training had gone and his plans for the busy winter ahead.

Following a summer of training on the glacier in Saas Fee, wheel chair races, water skiing and gym work, Tim is in confident mode about the coming season with the goal being to qualify for the Paralympics. Tim is in very good shape to do this and once he does will present a very strong case to challenge the worlds best for medals.

For more information on the British Disabled team have a look at  www.britishdisabledskiteam.co.uk

You can see the full interview with Tim on www.snowzone.tv

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LONDON, OCTOBER 2008: Following the success of The Beach and The Ice Disco, this winter The O2 invites you to hit ‘The Slopes’, London’s first ever indoor artificial twin ski slope. Running from late November to January 09, visitors will be able to ski, snowboard or snow tube at The O2, making it THE London winter attraction.

The twin slopes, both 45 meters in length will bring the whole skiing experience even closer to the people of London. Not only will visitors be able to learn to ski or snowboard but The Slopes will be open to experienced skiers to warm up their ski/snowboard legs before heading to the mountains.

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, the more adventurous mountain person will be able to try out the snow tubes. These inflatable sledges are perfect for everyone whether you like spinning, sliding or just sledging.

The Warren Smith Ski Academy, the leading British snow sport coaching school, will offer top level coaching for all levels at The Slopes. Ski and Snowboard manufacturers, K2, will be supplying top of the range skis and snowboards.

Niccy Hallifax, Head of Special Events at The O2, said: ‘The Slopes is a fun and safe way for both experienced skiers and snowboarders to gear themselves up for the real thing or as an introduction for complete beginners. The Slopes are designed for all abilities and the snow tubes are ideal for both small and big kids alike!’

With the whole of the London Piazza themed like a winter wonderland, The Slopes, along with real snow covered trees and chalet will help create the perfect day out this winter.

A trip to The Slopes could also be combined with a visit to one of The O2’s 26 bars and restaurants, a show in The O2 arena or indigO2, or to see a film at the 11 screen Vue cinema.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 10th October at 9am. Prices start at £15.00 per adult per hour (Ski/board rental £5) and snow tubes £8 per half hour (subject to booking fee).Tickets can be purchased via www.theo2.co.uk or by calling 0844 856 0202.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Stephanie Jones  stephanie.jones@aegworldwide.co.uk /020 8463 2573 or

Lucy Ellison lucy.ellison@aegworldwide.co.uk/ 020 8463 2572

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Burton Snowboards and Flachauwinkl Resort in Salzburg, Austria today announced the development of The Stash®, the first run of its kind in Austria, which is also home to Burton’s European headquarters. Scheduled to open in January 2009, the Stash in Flachauwinkl will be the fifth run worldwide and only the second in Europe after the opening of The Stash in Avoriaz, France last year.

The Stash is an evolution of freestyle terrain in a natural environment, created by Jake Burton and the Burton global team riders. Located on the north-side of the mountain opposite the Absolut freestyle park, the kilometer-long Stash run will follow the natural line of the mountain providing riders with an organic, big mountain terrain park. The Stash run in Flachauwinkl will take on an ‘Old West’ theme and feature over 40 obstacles, including some unique features like a bridge, a saloon-style cabin, hitching posts and banked wall rides. Also unique to The Stash at Flachauwinkl is Lil’ Stash, which will include small features perfect for kids and beginner riders at the top of the Stash run. The main Stash run is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders.

Burton team riders Stephan Maurer and Christian Haller were already onsite in Flachauwinkl to help choose features for the new run. Snow Park Technologies, an industry leader in terrain park development, is also adding its expertise to the design and construction of The Stash.

“We’re super stoked to bring The Stash to Austria, Burton’s home base in Europe,” says Burton Global Resort Director Jeff Boliba. “The Stash at Flachauwinkl will include new style features that play off the resorts’ natural terrain and allow riders to get really creative.”

Flachauwinkl’s Park Manager Seppi Harml says, “As Park Manager, I’m more than stoked to have a Stash run in Flachauwinkl - it is the perfect addition to our Absolut Park. As a rider, I can’t wait to finally ride the Stash run – just building the obstacles has already been so much fun.”

The Stash can also be found at Northstar-at-Tahoe, USA; Avoriaz, France; The Remarkables, New Zealand and Killington Resort, USA.

For more info check out www.thestash.com and www.absolutpark.com/thestash.

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Battersea Powder Station

The Snowboard World Cup is coming to London this Autumn and takes place inside the transformed Battersea power station 23rd-26th October. Converted into a full-on ski resort, Battersea will host the London Freeze, with the UK’s biggest-ever real snow jump (100m long and 30m wide), ski and snowboard big air competitions and a live music snow festival.  The Enemy, The Automatic and Iglu&Hartly are among those bands confirmed, with more to be announced.

The world’s best snowboarders and skiers will descend on the banks of the River Thames to take part in the LG Big Air Snowboard World Cup and an International Big Air Ski competition, with prize-money of US$25,000 for each discipline.

Snowboarders Stefan Gimpl and David Benedek will be riding the Thames to regain their World Champion title, and skiers Tanner Hall, multiple X Games Gold Medal winner, and Jon Olsson mean we will also witness skiing’s finest. And, because London is the host, the top performers in the dedicated British Championship will gain extra points to compete in the main events.

 Awesome après will keep the action going in the 10,000 strong festival tent. As well as the live music, resident DJs from the Morris bar in Val d’Isere and the Ice Bar in Mayrhofen will be injecting some Alpine spirit into proceedings.

Channel 4 will be running an hour-long action show highlighting the best snowboarding and skiing, plus a further show to broadcast the best of the music.

There is also a ski village where you’ll be able to pick up last year’s bargains and check out the latest pre-season kit. Day tickets priced from £14.99, and event and festival tickets at £29.99, are on sale now from ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.co.uk). For more info check out www.londonfreeze.com

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2008 Quiksilver British Big Air Championships and Schools Programme

The British Snow Tour hit Milton Keynes over the weekend, Saturday 27th September, to host the Quiksilver British Big Air Championships. The huge 10m kicker set the stage as over 120 of the UK’s top Snowboarders and Freeskiers threw down an impressive bag of tricks including stylish 7’s, frontfilps and textbook 9’s. The Schools Tour Team also proved to be a big hit with over 100 enthusiastic kids taking part in the FREE beginner lessons, courtesy of the Quiksilver Lesson Academies.

Quiksilver Snowboard Big Air Championships
The 2-STAR TTR Quiksilver Snowboard Big Air Championships kicked off the day’s competition with over 70 riders taking to the slope each receiving two qualifying jumps to impress the judges and make it through to the top eight men and five women finals. Youngsters, Tom Hunt, Ollie Jackson and Mel Kern were pushing up through the ranks, securing places into the final, keeping the older competitors on their toes.

In the women’s final, Mel Kern continued to be on top form and landed a smooth 360 over the medium kicker to take home third place overall. Second place went to Lynsey Ashdown who stomped a stylish Indy over the big 10m kicker and Samantha Rogers, much to the delight of the crowd and judges, pulled out a huge and gutsy frontflip over the big kicker to take the 2008 Women’s Quiksilver Big Air Title. During the men’s final, riders were opting for a slingshot drop in for optimum speed and amplitude resulting in some of the biggest indoor airs ever witnessed. 2007 British Slopestyle Champion, Ryan Davis, threw down some of the most stylish tricks of the day, tweaking out a frontside 720 which oozed style, to take third place. Ben Knox finished in second place after he stomped a massive backside 720, almost reaching the rafters, and with a perfectly landed textbook 900, Jamie Nicholls walked away with first place and the 2008 Quiksilver Big Air Title, continuing to secure his spot as one of the UK’s top riders.

Quiksilver Snowboard Big Air Results
Women
1st – Samantha Rogers - Reading
2nd – Lynsey Ashdown – Manchester
3rd – Melinda Kern – East Grinstead

Men
1st – Jamie Nicholls – Bradford
2nd – Ben Knox – Crouch End
3rd – Ryan Davis - High Wycombe


Quiksilver Freeski Big Air Championships
The afternoon made way for over 50 of the UK’s finest freeskiers who charged the kickers with style and amplitude in the hope of making it through to the finals. The younger competitors including the three Josh’s, Josh Birch, Josh Ingram and Josh Fawcett, all made it through to the top eight men’s final after laying down some impressive switch 540’s and 720’s. In the Women’s final, 11 year old Molly Summerhayes and local ripper, Amber Connors made it through to the final and just missed out on a podium finish. Kelly O’Donnell landed a clean 540 to take third place whilst Teri Spencer’s lofty 360 over the big kicker secured her second place. First place and the 2008 Quiksilver Big Air Title went to Katie Summerhayes, who was killing it all day and landed a huge 720 over the 10m kicker.

In the men’s competition, with three James’s and three Josh’s making it through to the finals the judges job was made even tougher with only points separating the top five skiers. Local MK big hitter, Ted Foster finished in third place after he threw down a technical switch corked 720 double truenose. James Webb landed a switch 900 to take second place, whilst first place and the 2008 Quiksilver Big Air Title went to a well deserved James Woods, who’d been skiing hard and going big all day, landing a massive switch 720.

Quiksilver Freeski Big Air Results
Women
1st – Katie Summerhayes - Sheffield
2nd – Teri Spencer - Weymouth
3rd – Kelly O’Donnell - Stoke-on-Trent

Men
1st – James Woods - Sheffield
2nd – James Webb - Bracknell
3rd – Ted Foster – Milton Keynes

To check out the pictures and video footage from the Quiksilver Big Air Championships, where you’ll also be able to get timings for the next event on the British Snow Tour calendar, the Trespass British Snowboard / Skiercross Championships and Slopestyle Jam, Saturday 4th October at Braehead, SNO!zone go to: www.britishsnowtour.com

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WIN A PAIR OF FREE TICKETS TO AN EXCLUSIVE FREE PREVIEW SCREENING OF THE AWESOME NEW EXTREME SKIING FILM STEEP AT THE INCREDIBLE BFI IMAX SCREEN!!!

Experience the most breathtaking, exhilarating and inspirational ride of your life at the awesome BFI IMAX. The world’s best skiers go beyond their dreams to conquer the steepest runs ever faced. Devastating avalanches and fatal spills only serve to push them harder. Metrodome Distribution are releasing the fantastic extreme skiing film STEEP at BFI IMAX London on 26 September. To celebrate the release, they are offering 30 pairs of free tickets to an exclusive preview screening to Snowzone TV members!!!
The special preview screening takes please on Saturday 20 September, at 9:30am at The BFI IMAX, Waterloo, London. What better way to start the day!!!

Featuring Seth Morrison, Shane McConkey, Doug Coombs, Glen Plake and Ingrid Backstrom, STEEP is a breathtaking film about bold adventure, exquisite athleticism and the pursuit of a perfect moment on skis. It is the story of big mountain skiing, a sport that barely existed 35 years ago.

“If you’re a fan of extreme skiing, this film is your Holy Grail!”   Empire

“Gripping…you’d be hard pressed to believe it wasn’t CGI!”   Huck Magazine

“Awesome…breath-taking.”   The Cooler

“Breathtaking images, every skier needs to watch this movie, whether they be world champion or an aspiring beginner.”  Fall-Line

To apply, e-mail steep@metrodomegroup.com with ‘Snow TV Screening Comp’ in the subject field and your name in the body of the email.

Watch the trailer on www.snowzone.tv or www.nevertoosteep.com

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Summer is dead, long live the winter! And to help kick things off, the autumn snow shows are fast approaching. So, being the helpful people we are, here’s all the info you need to get you through the next couple of months, complete with ticket offers and of course the super-cool party details…

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Tuesday 9 September 2008 – Ben Kilner of the British Snowboard Team started his season in amazing form, taking 15th place in the half pipe World Cup in Cardrona, New Zealand on Sunday 7th September.

The competition was the first LG Snowboard FIS World Cup of the 2008/09 season and attracted a world class field with 53 men from 20 nations competing in the newly designed 150m long half-pipe.

During the qualification rounds, under the winter New Zealand sun, Ben produced his highest scoring run to date of 38.9, out of a possible 50, landing a perfect front side 900 on his first run, and beating that in his second run with a flawlessly executed front side 1080.

Unfortunately the weather for the finals was not so perfect and took place on an overcast and windy day. Ben scored a 28.3 after fractionally over-rotating on his front side 900, and ultimately took 15th position. This result means that Ben has successfully completed the first of the qualifying criteria for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and shows the potential promise of more successes for Ben in the coming season.

This round of the World Cup was ultimately won by Japanese rider Kohhei Kudoh, followed by his compatriot Ryoh Aono with Canadian Crispin Liscomb taking third, all three of whom are aiming for the World Cup title this season.

Ben’s coach, Leo Addington, stated how proud he was of Ben’s performance, adding that this was ‘a wonderful way to kick off the world cup tour of 2008 – 09’. Mark Simmers, CEO of Snowsport GB said ‘This is one of the best performances by a British Snowboarder in a World Cup that we’ve ever seen. It really proves that Ben Kilner truly has world class potential. ‘
Results

1 Kohhei Kudoh (Japan)
2 Ryoh Aono (Japan)
3 Crispin Liscomb (Canada)

Three other members of the British Snowboard Team were in action at the New Zealand World Cup this weekend, Dom Harrington finishing in 36th with Sam Cullum close behind in 39th. In the Women’s World Cup Lesley McKenna took 26th.

Next week sees another member of British Snowboard Team in action as Zoё Gillings take part in the first LG Snowboard Cross World Cup in Chapelco, Argentina in the Patagonian Andes on 12 & 13 September 2008. Zoё will be aiming for a strong result after taking 5th place in the South American Cup competition held at the same resort last week.

For regular team news updates subscribe for FREE to the “Across the Board” newsletter at www.snowsportgb.com

The British Snowboard Team would like to thank the following for their invaluable support: Sponsors: Land Rover www.landrover.com, Halliwells - www.halliwells.co.uk, FOGG - www.fogginsure.co.uk, BASI www.basi.org.uk Chill Factore – www.chillfactore.com , Funding organisations: UK Sport – www.uksport.gov.uk, TASS – www.tass.gov.uk, Sport Scotland – www.sportscotland.org.uk, BOA - www.boa.org.uk Sports Aid – www.sportsaid.org.uk

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Winter comes early this year with the introduction of a brand new snow sports and music event, FSO4 FREEZE sponsored by LG. From the 23-26th October, 2008 Battersea Power Station in London will be transformed into a real life ski resort featuring the biggest real snow jump ever made in the UK with a live music line up to match. The World’s best snowboarders and skiers will descend on the banks of the River Thames to take part in the highest profile snow and music festival ever seen in the UK. The focal point of the event is the 17m table top real snow jump created for the LG London Big Air Event, part of the LG FIS (Federation of International Snowboarding) World Cup, which will kick off the Northern Hemisphere Winter season in serious style. The LG London Big Air is a leg of the LG FIS World Cup for snowboarders and as such attracts the biggest names in the World of snowboarding. Past competitors include Air and Style winner Stefan Gimpl, Iikka Baeckstroem and David Benedek, one of the most innovative riders in the World. The LG London Big Air is the only chance to see snowboarders of this quality in the UK. The International Freestyle Ski Event will once again feature the World’s best skiers on your doorstep in London. The likes of Armada team riders Tanner Hall, multiple Winter X Games Gold Medal winner and TJ Schiller will blow minds. For tickets, the event line-up and further information go to: www.londonfreeze.com

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Two dates left to go…
The next round of the British Ski Cross series goes to SNO!zone Scotland, in Braehead, so if you want to see your name in lights you’ve still got a chance:

Book your place in advance at Hype Events

The British Skier X
These events are hosted by SNO!zone venues at Xscape and they are the only British Ski Cross Series, supported by Snowsport GB, who will be at all five events with their beady eyes on the scout for winners, who will be offered the opportunity to join the British Ski Cross Team. There are plenty of prizes up for grabs for male and female competitors, as well as all three age categories (Youth, Junior and Senior) and with cash prizes for the overall series winners it’s not a competition to be missed!

Great weekend line up
All five of the events are jam packed, with a pre-event warm up party on the Saturday night, free practice from 6pm to the tune of the guest DJs, and the opportunity for equipment testing. The real competition begins early doors, at 10am on the Sunday, with time trials and head to heads, along with the beat of yet more guest DJs, MCs, equipment tests and sponsor promos from Atomic, Head, Salomon, SNO!zone, Futur-3, Oakley, Uvex, Leki & Holmenkol.

Sounds like your kind of thing?
If you’re in it to win it or just want to come along and enjoy the buzz of these awesome events - then get down to SNO!zone.

The British Ski Cross Series would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: SNO!zone, Atomic Skis, d3o, futur-3, Head Skis & Oakley
Media partners: Natives, Ski Club Great Britain & Metro Snow

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