But as we hit the well known bar and restaurant the ski-ing doo to meet the guys form the Cairngorm Snowboard Club who had been pulling 18 hour days on the hill, the whispers of the sheer size of the park began to circle, this was going to be one hell of a day and none of us could wait to get up there!
Sign up started at 8.30 am at the bottom of the mountain and by 9am the roster was looking pretty full! Over 50 riders signed up to compete as well as some big names from the UK scene including Jamie Nichols and our very own Scott McMorris and Amiee Fuller.
The sun was already shining as we headed up the mountain, as we stepped outside one thing hit us, the third kicker was huge, as the riders warmed up some were brave enough to hit it and the heights they reached were enormous!
The slopestyle course consisted of the following features: gap to down rail or the option of an up rail at the top going into an a frame box or the tyre gap, the flat down bar rail into the main kicker with its 3 take offs including the 22 meter booter (biggest yet in the uk) going into the big spine and down rail.
Due to the sheer size of the kicker the slopestyle judging had to be split into two sessions, Big Air then the rails as the jump was so big it wasn’t possible to hit all the rails and still get enough speed.

Angus and Jamie were the 2 standouts on the big kicker, Angus with his front 7 tail grabs and Jamie with his perfectly executed back 7 double grabs. As for the rail session in the afternoon there were so many good riders ripping it up, but it was Jamie again who really destroyed the rail course with his technical trickery followed by relaxed style and perfect execution. Amiee Fuller wowed the crown with her big backflips and secured her 1st with ease. The standard of riding was high but most of all everyone had fun just sessioning the park all day.
After an epic day on the hill everyone headed to the doo- below bar for the prize giving and a well earned Vans waffle and a pint. The place was buzzing with stories from the day and everyone looked like they were having a wicked time! The weather had been kind and the goggle tans were out in force to prove it. The judges Chris Chatt, Hamish McKnight and Craig Rothney then rounded everyone up to give out the massive amount prizes donated but all the sponsors, Vans, Dalikfodda, TSA, Bawbags, Ride and Slide Chalets and Monster.
After a massive product toss and a bit more drinking everyone was ready to hit the vault nightclub for the after party. Jet-black played to a packed club and everyone partied on into the early hours. Altogether a Rad day was had by all. Thanks to all the guys at the Cairngorm Mountain for all their hard work and to Johnny Barr who sadly couldn’t be there.
Bring on next year!
(Photography: Dan Medhurst)
1st Jamie Nichols
2nd Jesse smith
3rd Nick Mclutosh
1st Aimee Fuller
2nd Becca Cullum
3rd Kerry Dickson
1st Danny Mcurmick
2ns Craig Hastie
3rd Tom Hunt
1st Faye young
1st Jordan Gee
2nd Gregor Samuels
3rd Jamie Trinder
1st Katie Omerod
2nd Sophie Nichols
3rd Shannon Roy
Oakley Grom Games – Don’t miss out!