Woodsy's Winning Run Last night, Picture Credit: Morgan McFie
21-year-old British freeskier James 'Woodsy' Woods from Sheffield, current slopestyle World Cup champion ( you don't get to write that very often for a British snow sports athlete), got his 2013-14 Olympic season off to a good start last night with victory in the rail jam competition held as part of the Audi Quattro Winter Games in New Zealand.
Some of the world's top freestyle skiers and riders pulled out their best 'tricks' in front of thousands of spectators at the Parklife Invitational rail jam in downtown Queenstown last night (Saturday August 17). Woodsy took the best male skier title from two-time winner Gus Kenworthy of the USA.
Competitors dropped down a specially-built 36m-long snow ramp, going head to head on a purpose-built stair feature set up by terrain park crew from local resort The Remarkables, and covered by snow trucked down from the ski area.
Entertaining the 4,000-strong crowd in between heats were freestyle motocross champions who drew gasps from the crowd with thrills-packed FMX demos.
"It was an absolutely awesome show and the standard of competition was intense," said The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence, "It's great to be able to bring a 'taste' of the Remarks to town and awesome to see such a great turnout. The crowd loved every minute of it and the atmosphere was electric."