After chasing GBR points, this weekend came down to who could deliver when it mattered most. 177 of the UK's best dry slope racers descended on Stoke Ski Centre for the Team Evolution British Outdoor Championships.
No second chances. Just two runs to decide the biggest title of the outdoor season. Blink or hesitate and your championship hopes disappeared quicker than Will Manns out of the start gate.
Paul Telling's opening run flowed beautifully, featuring a banana into a reverse flush, while Sally Bartlett's technical second run tightened the screws with an offset corridor to start and a diagonal Verti into a testing hairpin. Stoke rewarded committed skiing, but the DNF tally proved that attacking every gate flat out isn't always the quickest route to the finish.
In the women's race the British Championships once again showcased the depth of talent in the field, with a closely contested battle for the British title. Daisy Putman found an extra gear, producing the fastest two runs to claim the championship ahead of Amy Wilson, with Abigail Putman completing the podium in third, just 0.02 ahead of Amelia Whitehead, whose second-run charge fell agonisingly short of an overall podium.
The men's championship was wide open. Could Current British Champion Lewis McKey successfully defend his title? Or would it be claimed by one of the talented new generation of racers? In the end, it was Masters racer Will Manns who led after the opening run and produced a skiing masterclass in the second to secure the British title ahead of Lewis McKey, while Remy Van Breugel and Geno Hounsham tied for third place.
Among the youngest racers, Georgina Crane and Walter Harwood claimed the Under-12 British titles, earning the bragging rights as the fastest Minis on the hill.
With the British titles decided, attention turned to Sunday's Inter Regional Duals, where regional pride replaced individual glory. This year's format, group stages followed by knockout rounds, brought a completely different atmosphere. The noise and excitement grew with every heat as supporters roared their teams on, while team captains frantically recalculated the standings, deciding who still needed to keep their boots on and who could finally relax.
SRS A emerged victorious after progressing through the morning's group stages before raising the bar again in the knockout rounds. Two straight victories in the final secured a successful title defence, once again showcasing the depth of talent across the squad. There was further success for defending champions, with CESA A retaining the Mini Inter Regional crown after another outstanding team display.
Championship weekends have a habit of creating stories long after the trophies have been handed out. Some left with medals, others with unfinished business, but most left looking forward to having another go next year.
Thanks to the volunteers and officials who allowed racers to focus on the only thing that mattered – getting from start to finish faster than everyone else.
Until next time.....
Words and pictures courtesy of Sam Whitehead