Just returned from Laax where I was last week for the Brits slopestyle competition. This year the course was in a different location and they changed up the layout quite a bit from usual. I really liked the layout after a few days practice, even though the speed for the bigger jumps was really hard to find.

The top 12 men went into the final round and in the end I took 6th place which im super happy with as I just missed out on finals last year!

Unfortunately fellow Liberty and Planks team rider Julian Ball took a unfortunate fall on the big air jump and was air lifted with a ruptured spleen. He’s stable and heading in the right direction so we are all wishing him a speedy recovery!

Here are a few shots from the event…

Here’s my Britains Got Skiers edit. Thanks to Charles Arran Busk for all his hard work and patience filming and editing this season. It’s missing a lot of shots and footage from other resorts including all GoPro footage from the entire season and the monster booter in Val d’Isere at the end of the season. Noneless a great season and stoked to get on snow in a few weeks!!

Julian Ball 2011 Season edit from Cabnine on Vimeo.

Here is my Britain’s Got Skiers edit from all the footage I’ve gathered this season, all filmed on the Go-Pro.

Hope you like it.

Josh

Josh Birch Britains Got Skiers Edit from Josh Birch on Vimeo.

A few days in Laax with Josh Birch from Josh Birch on Vimeo.

Every Competition needs a Cosack

Initally the field were nervous about the intimidating kicker, but with a few practice runs under their belt; the riders realised the kicker looked a lot more daunting than it was and started to throw down.

The kicker was big but smooth

The format of the competition was an open practice followed by 2 qualifying runs; with 8 male skiers and 4 female skiers qualifying for a 2-run final, with the best run counting as their final score. Qualifications saw some solid tricks landed, from big straight airs to switch 7s; with the girls really stepping it up attempting spins off the big kicker. A shout out has to go to Siona Paxton, riding in the Rome Snowboard competition, taking place at the same time, she missed practice and misjudged her speed coming in for the first qualification run. Siona overshot the knuckle by about 40-50ft, coming down hard; breaking her pelvis and back in the process.

About 1/10th of the Way to her landing spot

After the qualification scores were calculated, the finalists headed up to the top for their final runs; and the competition really showed the standard of the University riders. Cam Nicol impressed with his technical switch 7s, while Omar Baktary’s rodeo 7 was certainly a crowd favourite.

Omar Baktary Rodeo 7

In the end, the Sarah Hoefflin from Cardiff took the female podium with a clean 360 on the larger kicker; the men’s podium had Omar Baktary from Edinburgh in 3rd with his Rodeo 7 Japan; Viv Witts from Nottingham in 2nd with a smooth Cork 9; but taking the Gold medal position and a pair of 2012 Liberty LTE to add to hios collection was Liberty Skis team member Humphrey Atkinson representing Edinburgh University with a picture perfect high mute switch 9.

Humphrey taking gold with a Sw9 Mute

Congratulations to Humphrey and all the riders, check out some footage from the Big Air and the rest of the BUSC Main Event below:

First Drop rider Murray started off the great results with 2nd in Halfpipe, landing the British Champs’ first ever 1260 during his run. “Murray lost a lot of speed on his other tricks, otherwise he might of had a chance of taking gold,” commented judge Jamie Cameron.

Photo Courtesy of The Brits

In Slopestyle, Liberty Skis and First Drop team member Jules Ball gained bronze with a super smooth run including a K-Fed on the first rail and stomped switch 9s and Cork 7 double grabs on the kickers.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Cheshire

In Big Air, Jules was forced to pull out due to a groin injury, but Murray added to his halfpipe win, with a stomped switch 9 tail and switch 10.

Photo Courtesy The Brits

Congratulations also go to Liberty Skis rider Rowan Cheshire for placing 5th overall in Woman’s halfpipe (and 2nd in her age category); and First Drop team member Josh Birch for placing 8th in Big Air.

Photo by Mark Cheshire

Photo by Mark Cheshire

Check out videos of all the action below:

Halfpipe:

Slopestyle:

More Ski Videos

Big Air:

More Ski Videos

Thank you for your business, we hope you enjoy the outerwear! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on orders@urbanventura.com.

Ninelives episode 1