Snowboard style at the Roxy Chicken Jam

The snowboarding at the winter Olympics in Vancouver has been inspiring not just because of the incredible action, but also for the cool gear worn by many of the riders. This is one sport that really stands out in the style stakes and this season the hottest looks are bolder than ever with bright shades of red, purple, yellow and green dominating the slopes.

All the gear trends from the Roxy Chicken Jam snowboarding event in Saalbach Hinterglem, Austria – the biggest all-girls snowboarding event in Europe.

The Roxy Chicken Jam competition is a 6-star TTR event, meaning big points for professional riders. The level was high from the word go and heavy-hitters from the world of women’s snowboarding didn’t disappoint with some immense jumps, boxes and rails.

Then winner of the event after some very impressive heats, was stylish Fin Enni Rukajarvi. Second was Dutch rider Cheryl Maas, and third was Kjersti Ostgaard Buaas from Norway.

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Amy Williams wins magnificent gold medal

Britain’s Amy Williams has won Team GB’s first gold medal of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in impressive style.

JRuskin-AmyWilliams-21Williams lead from the first run and set two new course records in the process performing consistently throughout the competition. She wins Britain’s first individual gold medal at a winter games since Robin Cousins in 1980, and an historic first gold medal in skeleton.

Shelly Rudman, who took silver in Turin in 2006 finished in a very creditable sixth position.

During the competition there had been some controversy over Williams’s headgear, with protests from the United States and five other nations. They have claimed that ridges in her helmet gave the Brit an illegal aerodynamic advantage.

However the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation officially ruled that the ridges are integral to the design of the helmet and because it passed the pre-race check it is legal for racing.

Results:
Gold – Amy Williams, GB
Silver – Kerstin Szymkowiak, Ger
Bronze – Anja Huber, Ger

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Winter Olympics: UK Sport announces medal targets

UK Sport has announced their medal ambitions for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver three weeks before the competition starts.

Officials have invested £6.5 million of National Lottery and Exchequer funds across seven sports and want a return of three medals from the athletes.

If this achievement is reached it will be the best return for a British team since 1936 when the games were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The biggest single investment was for £2.1 million which went towards the bob skeleton. Shelly Rudman´s silver was the only medal collected at the last games and she is tipped to win gold this time around.

The remaining sports received, £1.1 million for curling, £964,000 to short-track speed skating, £496,000 for bobsleighing £496,000 for figure skating , £372,000for skiing and £248,000 towards snowboarding.

John Steele, UK Sport’s Chief Executive, said: “The Games in Vancouver are going to be hugely competitive, and our overall medal target is without doubt challenging. However, the investments made over the past four years put the sports and athletes in an excellent position to deliver.”

Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport, added: “Our Winter Olympic team will head to Vancouver with high hopes and I am confident that, on the back of investment from the Government and National Lottery, they will be in the best possible shape to succeed when they get to the start line.

“We may not yet have the strength in winter sports that we displayed in Athens and Beijing at the Summer Olympics, but I am confident Vancouver can be an important step forward, delivering Britain’s most successful performance for many decades.”

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What Does 2010 Have In Store- The Sporting New Year

A quick guide to some of the top sporting events, both home and abroad for 2010.

2010 Winter Olympics                                              

Hopes are high for a strong showing from Team GB at the Winter Olympics.
Look out for boardercross snowboarder Zoe Gillings, downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, Shelley Rudman and Amy Williams in the skeleton and Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke in the bobsleigh.

At: Vancouver, Canada

On: February 12-28

Info: http://www.vancouver2010.com

Tennis Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

British women’s tennis enjoyed a ground-breaking 2009 with three Brits (Anne Keothavong, Elena Baltacha and Katie O’Brien) inside the top 100 for the first time in nearly twenty years, Laura Robson as world junior number one and Heather Watson winning the US Open girls tournament. Hopes are high for the AEGON GB Fed Cup team in action. in February.

At: Cruz Quebrada, Portugal                               

On: February 1-5

Info: www.fedcup.com

England women’s cricket tour to India

England have never won a series playing in India but as the current world champions they will be looking to set this right. They will then head to the West Indies to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title.

At: Various locations across India

On: February 15 – March 9

Info: www.ecb.co.uk

World Indoor Championships

Watch the world’s top athletes compete indoors at the impressive Aspire Dome venue in Doha. Jessica Ennis will be hoping to add the world indoor title to the world championship crown she won in Berlin.

At: Doha, Qatar

On: March 12-14

Info: www.doha2010wic.com

 

Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy

 
Nottingham will play host to the 18th edition of this annual tournament that sees six of the best hockey teams in the world compete. It’s the first time it has been held in England and as hosts England automatically qualifies. They will be joined by New Zealand, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany and China.

At: Highfields Sports Club, Nottingham

On: July 10-18

Info: www.wct2010.com

 

2010 UCI BMX World Championships

 
Look out for Shanaze Reade who, after missing last season through injury, will be looking to recapture the world title she won in 2007 and 2008.

At: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

On: July 29 – August 1

Info: http://www.bmxworldchampspmb.co.za

Women’s Rugby World Cup
For the first time in the tournament’s 19 year history it is being held on English soil. England captain Catherine Spencer and her team will be looking to knock current world champions New Zealand off the top spot, after losing in the final to them in 2006. They are no strangers to success having won four successive Six Nations titles.

At: Surrey Sports Park, Guildford and Harlequins Stoop, London

On: August 20 – September 5

Info: www.rwcwomens.com

 

Commonwealth Games
Several of the British stars of 2009 will be notable by their absence at the games, including Jessica Ennis who is choosing to concentrate on the world indoors and european championships. Look out for England’s netball team who are currently ranked third in the world and picked up a bronze four years ago in Melbourne.

At: Delhi, India

On: October 3-14

Info: www.cwgdelhi2010.org

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