Bearsden 2011
The Westbeach Snowflex Freestyle Series 2011 final went off with a bang…
Check out the footage here
WESTBEACH SNOWFLEX FREESTYLE SERIES 2011 – BEARSDEN – SNOWBOARD
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No but it actually did… Bonfire night and the stars definitely shone bright with the standard of riding being the best we have seen so far (how cheesy?)
Bearsden was the final stop for the Series in 2011 and whilst the riding throughout the series has been off the wall we all knew that Bearsden was going to be something special… we weren’t disappointed.
The day started frosty with an ethereal glow as the sun came up and shone on one of the best snowflex slopes the UK has ever seen and slowly but surely competitors started to arrive along with a strong contingent of spectators coming from far and wide. Bearsden is one of few dryslopes in the UK still managing to hold an incredible yet friendly freestyle scene with some the the best of the UK’s up and coming riders regularly meeting to hone their skills. Luckily they all turned up on that sunny day with a few new names thrown in to shake things up.
Westbeach Snowflex Series Bearsden 2011 - Group
There are always a million extra prizes at the series for the judges to find winners for and this one was no exception, this meant for the snowboarders we saw a very deserving Matt McCormick take the Treeline Chalets Shredder of the Series award winning a holiday to Treeline Chalets in Morzine, an Endeavor snowboard and a pair of SP bindings. The stepchild ‘Child Support’ rail jam was taken by Connor Carey and the Whitelines/TSA best unsponsored fell to Jo Gardner.
The comp itself kicked off with the usual jam session seeing all the competitors shredding up the snowflex and showing the judges their skills in order to be taken through to the 8 person semi finals. Once the first jam sessions were over the semi finals began. The semi finals for the under 16 boys snowboard and men’s anowboard were a tricky one for the judges and saw Tomski Robinson just missing out on going through but taking the Northwave boots most improved throughout the day for relentlessly trying his 5’s and finally nailing it. Again the riding in the mens was also a tough one as the standard was so high but saw Danny McCormick, Jesse Smith and Pete Meadows go through to the super final.
Tomski Robinson
Stuart Gairns
There were only 3 ladies at Bearsden this year (come on ladies where are you!) and this meant Vaila Chapman could try her 7’s confidently as she had taken 1st place in her category, though she chose to ride all the way through to the super final! Anna Beswick and Liz Osborn placed 2nd and 1st respectively with 3’s being the order of the day.
Liz Osborn
Once the Stepchild ‘Child Support’ Rail Jam was done we headed into the super final. The under 16’s boys snowboard saw Fin Bremner, a regular to the series take 3rd place just sliding out on his Back 7 and 9, Matt Correy came in 2nd, throwing a clean Back side 7 stale fish leaving Matt McCormick in 1st with his Back side 9 and a cool switch back 7.
Fin Bremner
The men’s final had to have some double front flips in there with Jesse Smith stomping one to take 3rd, Danny McCormick took 2nd with his late cork Back side 7 and Pete Meadows finishing off the series to come first with a HUGE backside 9.
Danny McCormick
Pete Meadows
Jesse Smith
The skiing was at another level with regular to the comps and Halifax local, Tyler J Harding managed to take away the sickest trick prize for his switch 1080 along with the Treeline Chalets shredder of the series, winning a holiday with Treeline in Morzine and a pair of Apo Skis. Other stand out riders were Alex Cameron taking the Fall-Line Best unsponsored prize and Chris McCormick showing off this skills in the quarter pipe.
Tyler J Harding
The comp itself kicked off with the usual jam session seeing all the competitors shredding up the snowflex and showing the judges their skills in order to be taken through to the 8 person semi finals. Once the first jam sessions were over the semi finals began. Harris Booths Rodeo 7 impressed the judges but its wasn’t enough to put him through to the super final where we saw Cal Sandieson go through for his massive switch 9, Chris McCormick again with an impressive 9 and Tyler Harding with his Switch 10.
Rory Deasy
The mens category saw Fraser McIsaac, Grand Donald and David Bilsland go through with insane double front flips from Grant, double back flips from David and some super style switch 5 and 9’s from Fraser and the super final hadn’t even started yet. The girls were also throwing down with Anna Vincenti and Rowan Cheshire and local, Cory McVicar showing us a combination of switch 5’s, 540 grabs and some steezy 3’s, along with some 1’s and 3’s from Dionne Curran and Eve Mackenzie.
David Bilsland
As soon as the rail jam and quarter pipe sessions were over we headed straight into the super finals, a 2 run final where your best run counts.
The ladies were up first and we saw some pretty stylish riding from the 3 finalists. Anna Vincenti took first place with her 360 mute grab, Rowan Cheshire stormed into 2nd with a laid back 540 and Dionne Curran, female ripper of the day took 3rd with her 360 no grab.
Rowan Cheshire
The under 16’s boys ski saw a plethora of 9’s leaving Chris McCormick to take 1st with his corked 9 tail grab, Cal Sandieson 2nd with his inverted 9 mute grab and Tyler Harding to place 3rd with his switch 9’s not quite landing them clean. The mens ski lost a contender as David Bilsland was suffering from a back injury and had to sit the final out leaving Fraser in 2nd place with a 9 and Grant Donald in 1st with a 9 mute grab.
Bearsden 2011
Spectators and riders alike mucked in to help us clear the slope of banners and tents so we could announce the final results. The prize giving was the usual affair yet interrupted by some local fireworks going off scarily close, this was however a very fitting end to this years series. Thanks to everyone who came to ride, came to lend a hand and came to watch.
Words Sue Garlick Photo: Mark Cheshire http://www.photoboxgallery.com/gromcamps
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