This Winter Olympic season has started well for the GB Park and Pipe team with James ‘Woodsy’ Woods winning the first Ski Slopestyle World Cup at the Winter Games NZ in Cardrona, New Zealand.
After qualifying in second place, Woodsy overcame windy conditions to take the title against a strong field. It’s a great start for Woodsy and for the GB Park and Pipe team which was confirmed recently.
The Snowboarders
The team is made up of two women and six men, all looking to build on a hugely successful season in 2016/17.
For the women, Katie Ormerod has a great chance of a medal in Pyeongchang in February after some stellar performances last year. She will be aiming to take the form that won her three World Cup podiums and an X Games bronze medal last season all the way to the Winter Olympics.
Katie revealed last year at the London Ski & Snowboard Show that her favourite ski resort is Breckenridge:
Katie is joined by Aimee Fuller, who is hoping to build on two 4th place finishes last season as she targets her second Winter Olympics.
For the men, snowboarders Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls are also hoping to reach their second Winter Olympics, with Rowan Coultas and Matt McCormick hoping they can join them.
Billy Morgan revealed his favourite resort as Mayrhofen.
They are joined in the GB Park and Pipe Snowboard Team by two of the country’s rising snowboard stars Henry Shackleton and Fin Bremner.
The World Cup season kicks off for the snowboarders on the 03 September in Cardrona, NZ with the first Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup. The Snowboard Big Air World Cup circuit kicks off on 04 November in Copenhagen.
Katie Ormerod
The Skiers
Watch out for Katie Summerhayes, Izzy Atkin, Madi Rowlands and Anna Vincenti in the women’s Slopestyle and Big Air events.
For the men, James Woods has a good chance of a medal in the Olympics, after showing his ability at the highest level with an X Games gold in Big Air last season. He will be joined by Tyler Harding, Cal Sandieson and Mike Rowlands.
James Woodsy Woods at the X Games
In Ski Halfpipe, Murray Buchan, Pete Speight and Alexander Glavatsky-Yeadon will all be hoping for selection and for the women, Rowan Cheshire is a other medal contender. She is joined by Madi Rowlands (who also competes in Slopestyle) and Molly Summerhayes.
The first Ski Halfpipe World Cup takes place in Cardrona on 31 August/ 01 September, with the first Ski Big Air World Cup on 03 November in Copenhagen, Ski Slopestyle World Cup in Stubai on 25-26 November and first Halfpipe World Cup in Copper Mountain on 08 December.
Katie Summerhayes
GB Park and Pipe Team 2017/18
Snowboard Slopestyle/Big Air
- Jamie Nichols*
- Billy Morgan*
- Rowan Coultas*
- Matt McCormick
- Henry Shackleton
- Fin Bremner
- Katie Ormerod*
- Aimee Fuller*
Ski Slopestyle/ Big Air (N.B. Ski Big Air is not an Olympic discipline)
- James Woods*
- Tyler Harding*
- Cal Sandieson
- Mike Rowlands
- Izzy Atkin*
- Katie Summerhayes*
- Madi Rowlands*
- Anna Vincenti*
Ski Halfpipe
- Murray Buchan*
- Peter Speight*
- Alexander Glavatsky-Yeadon
- Rowan Cheshire*
- Madi Rowlands*
- Molly Summerhayes
* UK Sport/ National Lottery funded athletes
GB Park and Pipe Team 2017-18