(Pic: Olivia Burke, Kirsty Muir and Layla King from left to right who ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the female ski category).
Scotland’s leading indoor championships for ski and snowboarders has been hailed a massive success by organiser, Snowsport Scotland, with a record number of entrants since the event started in 2010.
The event – held at Renfrew’s Snow Factor near Glasgow – not only witnessed a record number of competitors and a new format from previous years, but also saw a significant increase in the number of under 12 competitors together with the emergence of new, raw talent.
Speaking about the event, Jane Campbell Morrison, CEO of Snowsport Scotland said: “This event is great every year, but a new format allowing for younger athletes to showcase their talent really did mean that we saw some of the very best skiing and snowboarding by some of those I’m convinced will become the country’s top athletes.”
Just one of these was under 12 entrant Kirsty Muir, who, although not new to competitions, took her talent to the next level with an outstanding performance across both runs.
“I love coming to these events because they are fun, skiing makes me happy and I think that is the most important thing. My next event is the Indoor Brits and I am pretty excited about that,” she commented.
And it would seem the record increase in the number of under 12 entrants was certainly borne out in the end of day results with, in particular, the female ski category dominated by a top three listing of under 12s in Muir, Burke and King.
The event judges competitors over two officially scored runs down a purpose built slopestyle course with top male and female competitors battling it out in a final round.
Record numbers of under 12 entrants meant that – for the first time – a separate under 12s final took place for the top performing ski and snowboarders.
Other highlights of the event included one of Snowsport Scotland’s top athletes, Jamie Trinder, who made an outstanding comeback after being forced to take four months out due to injury. Jamie gained an impressive third place along with an newcomer, twenty year old Nicole McClement, who also gained third place in the female snowboarder category.
Speaking about the competition, event director Bob Gentle said: “My thanks go to the Snowsport Scotland team for their excellent planning and preparation as well as to all the volunteers for their logistical support on the day, This year’s event was a great success and our thanks go- most importantly – to the competitors and those who support them. We simply couldn’t do this without them.”
Snowsport Scotland is the national Governing Body for all snowsports in Scotland. As the country’s leading partner for snowsports the organisation builds and supports a world class, national coaching structure, develops and nurtures top athletic talent and provides the competitive arena for athletes of all levels from beginners to the podium placed.
Up and coming events – amongst many- include the Scottish Alpine Dryslope Championships on the 26th and 27th September and the Scottish Dryslope Slopestyle Championships on the 7th November.
