On snow, Team GB have really shown what talent we have as a nation. Unfortunately it’s only produced one medal so far but it’s going to be such a boost to the sports of Skiing and Snowboarding. I’ve seen a fair few people comment on how they’d like to give snowboarding a go after watching the two slopestyle events at the weekend. It’s great that our teams presence at the Olympics seems to be having such a positive affect. If you’ve watched some of the events and fancy giving it a go, then do it. There are so many slopes up and down the country where you can learn and you don’t even have to buy any gear to start with as most places (if not all) will rent the gear out. We have 6 indoor real snow “Domes” in the country and countless dry slopes. If you’ve been inspired just head on down and give it a go. The more backing and interest the sports get, the more we can progress and produce more stars of the world stage.

Anyway, Team GB on snow. You’ll have seen briefly that I posted a couple of results on Saturday. In the mens Snowboard Slopestyle, Jamie Nicholls and Billy Morgan both took to the slope to represent GB. Jamie made it straight through to the finals, while Billy fought his way through the Semi’s to join the final line up. The final, on Saturday morning was such a tense watch. Jamie managed to get into a medal position with his first run while many of the other riders failed to put down a decent run. Unfortunately Billy was one of those, who, while trying to push the limits ended up wiping out on both his first and second run. Jamie didn’t fair too better in his second run either after having a slight moment on the first rail he realised it wasn’t going to be the perfect run needed for a medal so cruised the course to end up in 5th. With the judging being so strict it was hard on all riders, one tiny mistake could see your whole run ruined and no big trick could bring it back. Still a fifth place and tenth place in the Winter Olympics is nothing to be downhearted about. Both lads are still young and both still have a chance for the next Olympics in four years time!

On Sunday morning it was time for the women and representing Team GB were Aimee Fuller and Jenny Jones. It was a tough fight through the qualifications and unfortunately Aimee didn’t make the cut but the experience of Jenny Jones took her through. After the tough judging of the mens slopestyle everyone knew there runs HAD to be clean. Through the first set of runs we saw riders from every nation trying to go big but tiny little mistakes were costing big points. There was one terrifying moment when Šárka Pančochová took a violent fall after catching her heel edge, hitting her head off the slope before rag-dolling to the flat. It took a moment or two but she managed to get up and ride to the bottom where we saw that the helmet she had been wearing was now split in two. If anyone needs proof as to why you should always wear a lid, that was it. On the other hand, Jenny had played it safe with her final run and it had put her in gold medal spot. It was a nervous, nail biting wait as the rest of the field had their runs but our girl Jenny managed to stick in the medals and come away with a Bronze. That medal is Britains first one snow in the Olympics. Such a proud moment for British snowsports.

Today was the turn of the womens Ski Slopestyle. Our only competitor, Katie Summerhayes made a cracking start. After the first run of qualifying she was in second place and after the second she had only dropped to third. It was looking extremely promising! As with the other slopestyle events though, big tricks and more importantly, a clean execution was needed and with the slope deteriorating rapidly a lot of the field were failing to lay down a solid run. In her first run in the final, Katie laid down possibly the best rail line of all the competitors but at the kicker line she went big but failed to land the trick. (Don’t quote me on this but I think it was a 1260 with a Japan grab???) That really put the pressure on and when her second run came around I could barely watch. Again the rail line was perfection and then came the kicker line. First kicker cleared with the (1260??), second kicker, third kicker cleared. It seemed like it was job done, Gold medal in the bag. A few smalls mistakes had cost her a medal though. Going big in the kickers had resulted in a couple of hand drags and the judges had really marked her down for those, placing her final run in 6th. With only a couple of competitors left she ended up in 7th. Of course, supporting Team GB I thought the judging was a bit harsh, especially as the Bronze medal winning run had a switch straight air as a trick but nevermind. We’re proud of Katie for making it to the Olympics stage and we know she has a lot more to give for the next Olympics.

Around lunchtime today the Men’s Halfpipe qualification got under way. I’d read before the organisers were thinking of postponing the event due to the poor condition of the pipe but it seems it all went ahead anyway. Unfortunately our two riders Dom Harrington and Ben Kilner didn’t make it into the final. Both were caught out by the slushy pipe and couldn’t quite get the score needed to progress.

Regardless of the results, I personally couldn’t be more proud of the performance our guys and girls have put in. Knowing how hard they’ve all worked to get to the level they are and the determination they showed throughout their careers, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the future. We’re not done yet though, there’s still a good few more events to come where GB has some medals hopes on Snow.

Good luck Team GB!