Words: Abi Yates
Photos: Kate Faragher
I'm on a busy train, joining my fellow commuters whiling away the journey voyeuristically by flicking through my friends' lives. As I frown at the photographic evidence supporting the smug excitable status updates from the early birds already settling into the Tignes winter, it feels slightly odd that I am heading to a field in South London to watch a snowboard competition.
Despite running since 2008, it's my first visit to the urban snow festival Freeze, so I'm rather intrigued to find out what all the fuss is about. This year is also pretty exciting as Tignes Spirit rider Katie Blundell is taking part in the Whitelines Battle of Britain competition. Well, at least she was supposed to be. Meeting my compatriots at the gates, the news comes in that she isn't going to make it due to a skateboarding injury. Clearly the transition to concrete boarding had its challenges!
Still, there were going to be some good riders strutting their stuff, so we battled through the shops in the alpine village, past the neon retro party goers and headed straight to the fake mountain to check out the set up. A massive 8m down rail separated from a more challenging down flat down by a set of steps (that we would later see punish a number of the riders) formed the staple for the rail jibbers. For the more creative, a close out rail to the riders right formed a drop onto a mega sized can of Sure deodorant (Sure, why not?).
The Whitelines competition was a fun rail jam as the Brits fought it out, pulling some fine artillery from their trick bags. It reminded me of TC’s rail jam that takes place periodically over the winter in Tignes outside our Tignes Spirit shop. Well... apart from maybe the size of the obstacles and the slightly more professional attitude of the contestants!
There was no holding back these guys (and gals), as getting into the top four meant they’d join the big boys in the International Invitational. The determination however resulted in some full on slams that sadly claimed the super steezy Ross Needham, with a shoulder injury which took him to hospital. Andy Nudds took a well-deserved first place but it was Sparrow Knox, sneaking into the invitational in fourth place that won the hearts of crowds and commentators alike. I was particular intrigued to learn that the bouncy Shoreditch Showdown winner’s mum runs a roller disco!
The Invitational, as you might expect, stepped up the game a good few notches. Particularly impressive manoeuvres were Batman masked Len Jorgensen taking the kinked rail one footed and Denis Leontyev claiming his second place with a front flip over the close out onto the Sure can. However, keeping the glory on home turf, Britain’s own Jamie Nicholls, whose baby face is well known back at the ranch from competing in the Tignes XGames, was top of the podium. Good work lad!
So now with our appetite fully whetted for the piste, it was off to warm up and sample the après with a beer and some questionable dance moves at one of the stages. It was a shame we’d missed Tignes favourite DJ Le SoSo, who’d played the previous day. Oh well, we’ll just have to wait to see him back at the ranch!
Check out the Tignes Spirit blog for more pics from the day!
