British Champions Get Chance to Grab Star Status on World Stage
Orange AIM Series brings UK's freestyle elite to the Metro Ski & Snowboard Show
UK's snowboard and freeski elite will all be under one roof, throwing down some tight freestyle action to a crowd of thousands, as the Orange AIM Series presents the British Quarterpipe Championships at this year's Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, London, on the 20th October, with the two most talented snowboarders provided entry into one of the highest ranking events on the World Snowboard Tour, The O'Neill Evolution.
The invitational contest at the London show will see 12 of Britain's top snowboarders and eight skiers, among them, British Champions and Olympians, pull out all the stops to go higher, bigger and better in the race for the new, hotly contested British Quarterpipe Championship title and the opportunity to go on and compete on the World snowboard stage. Three snowboarders and three skiers competing in the event will be selected from a pre qualification Quarterpipe contest held at the Orange AIM Series competition in Warmwell on 30th September & 1st October.
Upgraded to one of only six 6-star TTR World Snowboard Tour events, the O'Neill Evolution will set the stage for UK talent to impress, giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of thousands of people along with the World's top riders and the chance to win part of the US$100,000 Prize purse. The top two winners from the British Quarterpipe Championships, the best senior and under 18 male snowboarders, will each receive; an open qualification spot, accommodation, hospitality and competition entry into the O'Neill Evolution in Davos, Switzerland on 2nd-7th January 2007.
Confirmed snowboarders are:
- Dan Wakeham - Olympic Halfpipe 2006 placed 26th
- Sam Cullum - Orange Brightest Talent British Championships 2006
- James Mcelvaney - Zermatt Half Pipe Jam Champion 2006
- Ben Kilner - World Cup Halfpipe 2006 placed 19th
- Jamie Nicholls - U14's British Big Air & Slopestyle Champion 2006
- Dom Harington - British Halfpipe Champion 2005 & 2006
Confirmed skiers are:
- Paddy Graham - British Halfpipe Champion 2006
- Andy Bennet - World Cup Halfpipe 2006 placed 15th
- Mike Wakefield - British Halfpipe Champion 2005
- Richard Martin - World Cup Halfpipe 2006 placed 21st
The British Quarterpipe Championships at the Metro Ski and Snowboard show will begin with an afternoon qualifying event at 4pm on the 3m high snowflex quarter pipe, with the top half highest scores going through to the evening final at 7pm, concluding with an ultimate one run Super Final for the top two skiers and snowboarders.
The Orange Aim Series would not be possible without its highly supportive sponsors: Orange, Trespass, Animal, ThirtyTwo, Etnies, Snowlife.org.uk, SNO!zone, Salomon, Ride, K2, Zeal Optics and Nixon. Official retail partners TSA and Ellis Brigham. Media partners Snowboardclub.co.uk, Natives.co.uk, Dark Summer and Whitelines.
Advanced tickets for the Metro Ski & Snowboard Show are available for £9 through www.metroskishow.co.uk and Show & Party tickets for £15, which includes the Snowboard Club UK 2nd Birthday Party, which will take place after the finals of the Quarterpipe event.