A podium at the Air & Style Rookie Challenge contest in Innsbruck at the weekend put 17-year-old British snowboarder Jamie Nicholls firmly on the map. We spoke to Jamie after his third-placed finish in the Rookie Challenge.
Congratulations on making the podium in Innsbruck! Tell us about the contests and what makes it such a special one to win?
“It was my first time at Air & Style and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It’s crazy, everyone says it really is the best place to have an Air & Style contest and it is. The crowd is so close to you and it’s a pretty cool stadium. You’ve got 11,000 people cheering for you when you drop and they are just at the side of the drop-in. It’s definitely a good atmosphere.”
You were third in the Rookie Challenge behind Torgeir Bergrem (NOR) and Patrick Burgener (SUI). Did you feel the results were fair or was it a surprise podium line-up?
“There were no surprises really as I thought Torgeir would do it. He was doing well in the practice so he definitely deserved to win. I did a Backside 10 Double Cork, which is a pretty usual trick for me. On the second run I tried to push the boat out and tried a Cab 12. I didn’t quite land it and came up short on the rotation so I’ve got to work on that trick!”
You’re only 17 but already making a name for yourself at 6Star TTR events. How did you get to this level and how was it possible with no mountains back home in England?
“I had to practice on dry slopes when I was younger and then indoor slopes, then at 16 years old I did my first season. This is my second now.”
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Aside from shredding powder what else do you want to get out of life?
“I finished school when I was 16 after my GCSEs but I still want to study – maybe some kind of distance learning. That way I can still learn while I’m travelling and snowboarding. I like doing all sorts of things really – skateboarding, football and surfing when I get the chance. I like doing art as well – drawing, mainly – and it’s something to do when I’m chilled.
Where would you like your snowboarding career to take you?
“Wherever it takes me really and hopefully I can get on the podium a few more times, I guess, in other big contests and maybe do some films.”
Who inspires you in your sport?
“I look up to some of the older riders like Nicolas Müller and actually there’s this guy that’s pretty cool, he’s a really good rider called Thomas Eberharter. You can learn a lot from him, especially about backcountry.”
What is the best thing about your life as a rider?
“Travelling the world, meeting new people. It’s good socialising, for sure! I like going back home to England but getting away and travelling is great too. I’ve been to New Zealand, all over Europe, America, Norway… not been to Alaska yet though! It’s all good fun. All my friends in the UK are snowboarders but I lost touch with my friends from school, which was a bit silly and I do regret that. But the snowboarding community is definitely like one big family, for sure. Everyone is cool and we all get on and talk about the same things so it’s easy to get along.”
Read more about Jamie Nicholls here or check out our winter sports page here
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