Nike Chosen Series
The UK’s Andy Nudds was crowned Most Valuable Player at the opening tour stop of the Nike Chosen Series on Friday the 16th December at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead.
The Nike Chosen Series is a nine stop European kicker tour for AM riders. The winner at each will go on to ride with Jamie Nicholls and the Nike Pro team in the Nike Chosen Sessions final to be held at an undisclosed location at the end of the 2012 season.
The purpose-built Kicker in Hemel Hempstead, created by local shaper Norm, his crew and the Nike shaping team, was The Snow Centre's biggest feature to date. The huge kicker had 13m to the sweet spot and it's being classed by attending riders as the best indoor UK kicker ever designed for a comp.
36 riders made up of faithful locals and shredders from as far as Scotland and France set upon the jump in a bid to grab the judge's attention. Standing up against the men, young female rider Becky Menday consistently cleared the kicker with some stylish nose grabs and FS180s on her way to secure the 'Best Girl' title.
With established UK faces Scott Penman and Sam Cullum throwing BS Rodeos against the new breed of Marc McClement and Jesse Smith's stylishly stalled out 5s and double front flips, alongside a 13-year-old Rowan Coultas showing what an Austrian Alp schooling can do for your riding; the judges had a tough time choosing the 10 man cut.
Finals took off where Qualis left, as Scott Penman attempted a sick one-footer that might have won him 'Most Creative' had he stuck it. That accolade instead went to best friend and trouble maker Angus Leith, who ignoring all conventional rules of Kicker riding, skipped the landing altogether and boosted a huge FS3 transfer to flat off the side.
Local rider Sam Cullum, instrumental in helping the shaping team build the kicker, deservedly took 'Best Style' on the night as he worked his way round the jump with a variety of tweaked 3s & 5s.
With time running out in the final well regarded UK rider Andy Nudds finally laid his contest jinx to rest as he powered through his spins, eventually stomping the UK's first indoor 1080 and claiming the 'Most Valuable Player' award.
The next Nike Chosen Series tour stop takes place in Tryvann, Norway on the 7th January 2012.
Results
Most Valuable Player: Andy Nudds
Most Creative: Angus Leith
Best Style: Sam Cullum
Best Female: Becky Menday
Posted by Online Editor - Fri, 23/12/2011 - 11:00am
The UK’s Andy Nudds was crowned Most Valuable Player at the opening tour stop of the Nike Chosen Series on Friday the 16th December at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead.
The Nike Chosen Series is a nine stop European kicker tour for AM riders. The winner at each will go on to ride with Jamie Nicholls and the Nike Pro team in the Nike Chosen Sessions final to be held at an undisclosed location at the end of the 2012 season.
The purpose-built Kicker in Hemel Hempstead, created by local shaper Norm, his crew and the Nike shaping team, was The Snow Centre's biggest feature to date. The huge kicker had 13m to the sweet spot and it's being classed by attending riders as the best indoor UK kicker ever designed for a comp.
36 riders made up of faithful locals and shredders from as far as Scotland and France set upon the jump in a bid to grab the judge's attention. Standing up against the men, young female rider Becky Menday consistently cleared the kicker with some stylish nose grabs and FS180s on her way to secure the 'Best Girl' title.
With established UK faces Scott Penman and Sam Cullum throwing BS Rodeos against the new breed of Marc McClement and Jesse Smith's stylishly stalled out 5s and double front flips, alongside a 13-year-old Rowan Coultas showing what an Austrian Alp schooling can do for your riding; the judges had a tough time choosing the 10 man cut.
Finals took off where Qualis left, as Scott Penman attempted a sick one-footer that might have won him 'Most Creative' had he stuck it. That accolade instead went to best friend and trouble maker Angus Leith, who ignoring all conventional rules of Kicker riding, skipped the landing altogether and boosted a huge FS3 transfer to flat off the side.
Local rider Sam Cullum, instrumental in helping the shaping team build the kicker, deservedly took 'Best Style' on the night as he worked his way round the jump with a variety of tweaked 3s & 5s.
With time running out in the final well regarded UK rider Andy Nudds finally laid his contest jinx to rest as he powered through his spins, eventually stomping the UK's first indoor 1080 and claiming the 'Most Valuable Player' award.
The next Nike Chosen Series tour stop takes place in Tryvann, Norway on the 7th January 2012.
Results
Most Valuable Player: Andy Nudds
Most Creative: Angus Leith
Best Style: Sam Cullum
Best Female: Becky Menday