Local skiers take the glory at Coe Cup event
Local competitors took the top slots in both male and female ski competitions in the Coe Cup freeride meeting at Glencoe on Saturday, which attracted some of the best back-country skiers and snowboarders from the UK and Ireland.
Rob Kingsland, from Glencoe, saw off the challenge from 19 other skiers to take the men’s title, while Kinlochleven’s Katie Small was one of six women in her competition battling it out for the honours in what proved to be the only Scottish Freedom Series event held this year.
Both male and female snowboard competitions were won by competitors from south of the border in the shape of Steven Fletcher, and Emma Whitlow, both riding for Team Yorkshire A.
In freeriding, skiers and boarders can choose any line they want between a start gate at the top of a designated contest zone and a finish gate at the bottom with the idea being to ski or slide the terrain with style and skill to notch as many points as possible.
The series, which began in 2012, normally includes three events, with the Lawers of Gravity in Perthshire and the Corrie Challenge at Nevis Range being the first two.
Unfortunately, this winter’s lack of snow saw both of these cancelled and there were real concerns the same fate would befall Saturday’s Coe Cup.
Kingsland, who was skiing for the British Freeride Seniors team, notched 86 points ahead of nearest rival Jimmy Fitzpatrick on 84.
Ambulance technician Small, representing for Mighty Coe Girls, won with 64 points, well clear of second-placed Lyndsay Waterson on UHISSC on 61.
Snowsport Scotland national development manager Iain Ramsay-Clapham said it was a near perfect day on Saturday with fresh snow, sunshine and only a light breeze – all of which came as something of a surprise.
‘When you looked at the weather as late as Friday there were real doubts the event would go ahead,’ he told us.
‘And the lack of snow this season and the rubbish weather of the past few weeks is a major reason the field was not at its full capacity of 55.
‘But we’re very happy with the way it went, with no injuries and some great skill on display.
‘And while the entry field was down a bit in numbers, most of the leading figures in the sport took part, which made it an awesome event.’