British Snowboard Teams Gear up for Winter X Games and World Cup Events

Friday 25^th January 2008: Members of the British World Cup Halfpipe and Snowboardcross Teams gear up to compete in the Winter X Games, Aspen, Colorado and the World Cup, Bardonecchia, Italy this weekend. Lesley McKenna, Dan Wakeham, Ben Kilner, Sam Cullum, Kate Foster, Zoe Gillings, and Freeskier Emma Lonsdale will don their helmets and competition bibs when they compete against the worlds best at these extremely high-profile events.

British World Cup Snowboardcross Team

Aspen, Colorado is home to the 2008 Winter X Games and was the first ever winter action sports event, with invited snowboarders and freeskiers travelling across the globe to compete. Zoe Gillings, who finished in 7^th place at last year's competition, is feeling confident that she can make the finals this year. Gillings has already had three consecutive top ten placings so far this season and assures us she is just getting warmed up British Freeskier Emma Lonsdale will also be competing at the X Games in the freeski halfpipe competition. Emma, who is the current British Freeski Halfpipe Champion, will be competing for the first time at this prestigious event against the likes of World Cup leader and X Games Champion, Sarah Burke and US Open Champion, Jen Hudak. Emma is super excited to be one of only 12 female skiers invited to compete: "There are so many good riders here but I guess that is to be expected! The pipe is really long but perrrfect." said Emma.

British World Cup Halfpipe Team

Over in Italy the Nokia World Cup is proud to be back in Bardonecchia, from the 25^th - 27^th January where they have now hosted six editions of the competition. Dan Wakeham, Ben Kilner, Sam Cullum, Kate Foster and Lesley McKenna will be dropping in and looking to impress in the huge and perfectly shaped Olympic Halfpipe in Melezet. Fingers crossed for good conditions and top form and watch this space for results on Monday

The British Snowboard Team would like to thank the following for their invaluable support: Sponsors: Zoom Airlines - www.flyzoom.com, Halliwells

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There are currently five British Snowboard Teams with 31 team members including:

BRITISH WORLD CUP SNOWBOARDCROSS TEAM

BRITISH WORLD CUP HALFPIPE TEAM

BRITISH FREESTYLE TEAM

BRITISH SNOWBOARDCROSS TEAM

BRITISH JUNIOR SNOWBOARD SQUAD