What a night! With over 100 people joining us at the Tamworth Snowdome for the first Gnar Chicken Ski and Snowboard competition in 3 years, we can say with great confidence... THIS WAS THE BEST GNAR EVENT EVER!!!
Woman’s Results:
Overall Gnarliest Chicken: Sarah Morgan
Run her Up Chicken: Katie Ormarod (aged
10!)
Vans Rock and Roll Award: Faye Mailing
Oakley, this girl’s got vision: Becca
Richardson
Nikita, This girl loves to ride: Helen
Fox
Blue Skin, Most colourful rider: Amber
Conners
Avalaan, best style and creativity: Sophie
Nicholls (aged 13!)
Inch by Inch progression: Anna Barlett
Les Ettes, look great,smell great: Lucy
Butler
Ruroc Best Slam: Helen Fox
A special mention must go to Lindsey Ashdown who
cleaned up so many spot prizes that I couldn’t award her a category prize
too!
Men’s Results:
Overall Gnarliest Hen: George
Wooley
Run him up Chicken: Matt Higson
Vans Rock and Roll Award: Tom Hawkes
Avalaan, best style and creativity: Joe
Sandy
Oakley, this guy’s got vision: Ross
Needham
REVIEW:
One thousand and nine days is a long time. 2 years, nine months and five days exactly- but nonetheless, a damn long time! So finally, I returned with my Gnar Chicken female-focused project. I wanted to see where us woman were with our riding here in the UK. I write this review astounded, delighted and still in shock at the show you ladies put on this past weekend. Officially the sickest riding seen by women in the UK… no doubt!
I knew the buzz surrounding the event reached a pinnacle when my German, non-snowboard,
non-sport, sexy-shoe-wearing colleague, suggested I go to a female snowboard
event going on in Birmingham this weekend. Que? … that’s nutts!
With the biggest attendance the Snowdome has seen in a long time, the 100 plus girls and guys didn’t disappoint the crowd of supporters gathered on the balcony. After premièring Euan Southcott’s movie ‘Freezing Level’ to a room full of appreciative and newly educated snow-worshippers, everyone took to the slope ready to rumble. Hungry and motivated, we bonded over the great love we all share when sliding sideways (or forwards!). As the boxes got a beating in the warm-up, all eyes were on two very tiny rippers that led the way for the standard of the evening. Katie Ormerod aged 10 and Sophie Nickolls aged 13 put-down boardslides, nose-presses and spins on to the Vermin box with such style and consistency that guys twice their age quivered like dribbling babies! Jade Walshy was the youngster rider at 6 years of age. Having obviously inherited the jibbing skills of her father (MK local Walshy!), it was great to see her make it confidently to the end of the box – I hope you like your Blue Skin goodies little lady!
Invited to high-five MC Southcott at the top of the quarter-pipe, the first
challenge of the night sparked the imagination of the riders (and some less-dressed
party people!). Although the temperature of the snow prevented an excess of
gnarly airs, it was good to see fine efforts rewarded. Harriet Skinner we salute
your bum grab! With everyone now getting the feel for the slope, the A-frame
and the big gas-pipe seemed like the run of choice. Sarah Morgan led the way
with the nicest frontside-boardslides seen in a long while (sick enough to eventually
win her the over-all title of Gnarliest Chicken!). A special mention must go
out to a girl named Niki who was doing back and front-flips off the Grad Prix
kicker. After landing several to a big cheer from the crowd, she landed on her
back and was taken to hospital with a suspected breakage. We wish you all the
best Niki, swift recovery. Helen Fox also sustained a massive black-eye when
‘bonjour-ing’ the big gas-pipe. When the stars cleared and she regained
knowledge of her whereabouts, it wasn’t long before she was getting her
sweet revenge, schooling that gas pipe with some super smooth backside-boards.
With riders like Jules Chapell and Lindsay Ashdown leading the way for the less
experienced chickens to attempt the challenging obstacles, we can safely say
the progression, inspiration and fun-enticing missions of the Gnar event were
now in full swing.
Followed by a whift of Les Ettes perfume, the ladies descended onto the newly
groomed slope for the final hour and a half of GnaR Shred Action. Faces dropped
when the riders saw the boxes of prizes we had to give away. Laden with product,
we began dishing out the challenges. First up, the girls must rugby tackle Euan
for all the kit in his hands …worryingly the guys were more attracted
to the prospect of lying on top Euan! Harriet Skinner left with the glory, Euan
evidently, with the bruises! Emily Park then picked up a nice Nikita hoodie
for her nose-slide across the A-frame. Skier Amber Conners proceeded to hit
that rail with such speed she made boys amongst us whimper-that chick’s
got style. Lindsay Ashdown rose to the next challenge of boardsliding the A-frame,
winning herself a pair of Oakley goggles while Anna Barlett rocked the rail
so hard she was awarded a nice Vans wallet for her efforts. Moving down to the
gas pipe, Martin Hennesy launched off the kicker with a front-flip worthy of
some Oakley kit, whilst Helen Fox was awarded a Ruroc helmet to protect her
new shining black eye from another gas pipe encounter. George Wolly won himself
a pair of Vans snow-boots for his consistent styleee spins across the gas pipe
whilst Joe Sandy was awarded the Avalaan style award for setting the benchmark
for what great style is all about. Vicky Pullen and Becca Richardson dug deep
in their bag of tricks throwing down consistent moves all night and Kirsty Smith
left with a Nikita top for her mad jibbing skills. With all the progression
going on around me, a slight touch of jealousy plucked my heart-strings…
I was especially inspired by Lindsay Ashdown’s 270 off the gas pipe…
that is my kind of riding!
Moving on to the kicker, the longest air comp began followed by the best method
pulling-contest. Happy to not be giving my knees a beating I watched as the
girls and guys jumped a good 5 metres (to flat!). For everyone that says us
Brits can’t hit kickers, it was great to see 3s from the ladies and 5s
from the guys. The future is definitely bright for the pool of talent that attended
this Gnar Event. Overall, judging this event was really hard. Our objective
was not to award the best tricks but more the girls having the most fun and
showing constant progression. With massive smiles on everyone’s faces,
it appeared that a fun time was had all round. Having such great sponsors allowed
us to give away category prizes to the girls and guys that stood out the most.
They were by no means the only stars on the night.
You can read this same review (with some more pictures) online at: