Following the conclusion of The BRITS 2017, eight young skiers and snowboarders walked away with ‘Ritblat Endeavour Awards’ from the first ever CSS at the Brits sponsored by Delancey competition. All riders under 18 were in with the chance of claiming the prize, which was awarded to the young gun performing the best trick of the day in the Picture Ski and Snowboard Big Air competitions, whether in warm-up, qualification or finals.
In the Picture Ski Big Air, overall winner, 16-year-old Justin Taylor-Tipton from Stoke, landed the top prize and £500, and in second was 15-year-old Tom Greenway from Tamworth, who landed a dub 10 safety to claim the £250 cheque from Delancey. For the girls, sisters Kirsty (12) and Fiona Muir (10) both from Aberdeen couldn’t be beaten as their tricks sealed them the two CSS at the Brits prizes, with Kirsty winning £500 and Fiona £250. The ski edit from CSS at the Brits is now available on the CSS Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/cssle
Kirsty Muir commented after the prizegiving: “It feels so good to have won the CSS prize. I was really pleased with my tricks today on the big jump and it was amazing to be on the podium again. I had the prize in the back of my mind, but I just wanted to do my best and have fun today. I will definitely use the money for my skiing, it is so great to have won it. It has just been the best week at the BRITS.”
Justin Tipton Taylor said: “It was in the back of my mind that I could have been in with a chance of winning the CSS prize, but I was just enjoying myself. The money will be massively helpful to me, especially to pay for flights to competitions and training, which can be expensive. I train a lot at Stoke and also Hemel, but being able to come overseas to train is also hugely important.”
In the Snowboard Big Air, 17-year-old Ciaran Tucker from Bearsden came out on top to claim first prize in the men’s competition and the £500 cheque, with 13 year old Leon Drynan, from Braehead taking £250 for second place. For the girls, 16 year old Cerys Allen from Hemel impressed the judges to be awarded first place and claim the £500 cheque, and just behind her was the ever-impressive 10 year old Mia Brookes from Chill Factore, Manchester. The snowboard edit from CSS at the Brits is now available on the CSS Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/cssle
Cerys Allen couldn’t hide her delight at taking the top prize: “I am so happy, honestly I am so stoked. I was really pleased I landed the 720 in finals. It is really cool to have something else to focus on when you are riding as well, and a real incentive with the prize money, which we don’t always get.”
Ciaran Tucker said: “It’s amazing to have won this prize. I thought I might have been in with a chance, but I was just trying to do my best. We don’t often get to compete for prize money in the younger age categories, so it was definitely a good incentive. At Bearsden we are just like a big group of friends, and we are always pushing each other, no matter on our ages. It is great to come to The BRITS and do it on snow.”
‘CSS at the BRITS’ is sponsored by real estate investment and advisory company Delancey and is an extension of the thriving Championship Ski and Snowboard (CSS) league, which was launched last year at slopes across the UK. The nationwide competition, which aims to grow and nurture young British freestyle ski and snowboard talent saw 64 snowboarders and 70 skiers from 12 teams take part in the competition, with each team uploading their videos of tricks after each match, aiming to come out top of the CSS snowboard or ski league.
The launch of CSS at the BRITS was made possible by sponsor Delancey, who wanted to bring the CSS concept out to the Alps and give young riders another chance to show their progression, and be rewarded for their development. The winners of the four prizes were judged by a panel of high profile judges, including the Head GB Park and Pipe coaches. The top two tricks in ski and snowboard based on difficulty, execution, amplitude and landing for males and females were selected.
Hamish McKnight, Head Snowboard Coach of GB Park and Pipe and the brain behind CSS said: “CSS at the Brits was a real success. It gave the young skiers and snowboarders competing in the Big Air events another focus and even more of an appetite to push the boundaries of freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The level of competition was high, with all of the winners impressing the judges and the crowds, including the other athletes watching. A huge thanks to Delancey for making this competition possible and we know that the money these young athletes have won will help them continue to progress.”
Jamie Ritblat, Founder and CEO of Delancey, said following the prize givings: “Delancey is proud to sponsor the first Championship Ski and Snowboard (CSS) league, which supports young British Ski & Snowboard athletes who have real potential to excel.
We were delighted to introduce the Ritblat Endeavour Awards to CSS at the BRITS in Laax and hope that by running a competition that allows young athletes to showcase their skills and push their limits, will also inspire more young athletes to achieve their snowsport ambition.
“As we enter our seventh year as Principal Sponsor of British Ski & Snowboard, we are not only focused on our top performance athletes, but also invested in nurturing grassroots talent throughout the UK.
For more information about the BRITS visit www.the-brits.com, for more information on Championship Ski and Snowboard (CSS) visit www.cssleague.co.uk and for more information on Delancey visit www.delancey.com
