Saturday 10th September 2011

This is my first post for a while, as I have spent most of the summer in Cornwall staying with my Nan. But after a Summer filled with sea, sand and sometimes sun, it is back to the UK snowboarding competition season.

This kicked off on Saturday morning with a 6:00a.m. start, way too early for my liking. I was off on my travels again with my Dad at the wheel, taking us up to Halifax for the Westbeach Snowflex series 2011 at Halifax dryslope. We were first going to stop in Leicester to pick up Lucy Prior one of my fellow competitors and friend. So as I was very tired I had a good power nap until we picked Lucy up.

Once back on the road Lucy and I had a chance to catch up as we had not seen each other for a while. Dad made very good time on the journey and we arrived at Halifax in what seemed like no time at all. In fact we were so early that the place had not even opened up. Another of my fellow competitors and friend Cerys Allen had also arrived early so we just chilled out and waited. Once the doors opened Lucy and I rushed in to get to the comfy sofas!

Soon it was time to register for the competition and then to go out and practice! Even though I had not ridden on the artificial snowflex surface for a few weeks; I quickly got used to the speed for the kicker. Soon I was able to do my grabs and front 180s grabbed. We then had a riders meeting to explain how the day would go and we went into the jam session and it all kicked off.

Almost as soon as the jam session started the wind picked up loads and kept gusting across the kicker. I had to wait around for a bit until the boys had done their qualifications and then it was the girls turn. I was really pleased to still stick most of my tricks off the kicker, but unfortunately I could not get my take off right for my front 360s. Despite feeling a bit fed up at not sticking my 3′s, I still had fun and on my last run I decided to drop in and pull out a 180 melon and tried to get it really stylish, it felt really good and I was glad when I stomped the landing!

I was quite shocked however at how few girls showed up to compete. With only 6 girls in total; but it was good to see Katie Omerod and Cerys Allen also a big up to Vaila Chapman all the way down from Edinburgh!

After a slight mix up where the under 16 girls were forgotten to be called for the final, I heard my name and was overjoyed to have made the final!

The final would consist of a three run, best run counts format. My three runs consisted of a massive method a front 180 melon and a failed front 360 but I really tried!  I think I just need more practice with my spins on dry slope as it feels so different to real snow. I really enjoyed myself and was happy with what I had achieved. Katie Omerod had certainly stolen the show on her home slope and would definitely take first place. I thought it could be close between Cerys Allen and myself, but Cerys despite riding well had failed to ride two of her runs cleanly away. So I was very pleased to hear my name called for second place.  Well done to Katie Omerode for a well deserved first and to Cerys Allen for getting third.

On the way home with Lucy and my Dad we stopped to have a very greasy KFC which was very yummy! And once we dropped Lucy off I slept the rest of the way home because it had been a very busy day!

Official news link here: http://snowflexseries.westbeach.com/halifax-2010/