Words and Photos by Chris O’Connell
London is just like every other city in the world, just way cooler. When I heard there was a big air comp in London, I booked my ticket the next day and said “Bloody hell, let’s get on with this rubbish, you wanker!†I was excited, because in London, everyone I see I could say “throw another shrimp on the Barbie†then have them explain to me that’s not what they say here, that’s Australia. Then when I go to Australia and say that, they tell me they call them prawns not shrimp. So who the hell says “shrimp on the barbie†anyway? I guess just Mad Yankees that use that phrase. Anyway, I got some fish and chips as soon as I landed. I jumped on the Tube and went to Battersea Power Station to check out the massive Freeze Big Air Comp.
Mind the gap, you tosser.
The Battersea Power Station is one of the largest brick buildings in the world and it’s one of the most famous places in all of London. It’s really quite surreal, because the structure is so massive and a bit ominous looking. The Battersea Power Station is also the only building to be featured with a flying pig on it [https://www.amazon.com/Animals-Pink-Floyd/dp/B00000258P/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1225744358&sr=8-2on the cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ which I used to listen to a lot when I was 14. If you haven’t listened to that album lately, I recommend a purchase.] Pigs on the Wing, Sheep, wow, that brings back some memories. If you are out buying British stuff you may as well buy the book 1984 by George Orwell as well, they go hand in hand.
Battersea Power Station + Jump
Big air comps in cities are dope: you get to do all the usual things associated with contests, but it’s just way more fun cause you are right in the middle of a city instead of some small ski town. London has history, insane music, awesome Indian Food and they drive on the left hand side of the road. They love to drink beer which helps in making friends too, so everyone is pretty nice for the most part. The only thing that’s difficult is that the pound is worth like 50 dollars US, so everything is really expensive.
You mess with me and you have to answer to this guy.
The Freeze Comp brought a really good turnout of high profile skiers from the world over. I mean, let’s face it, who doesn’t want to go to London? Big names like Simon Dumont, Jacob Wester, PK Hunder and Colby West all made the voyage over to the UK to battle it out on fake snow in October. Tanner Hall showed up as well, he was injured, so he took to the judging booth. According to the head judge, “Tanner took it really serious and did a great job, we were all impressed.†Jon Olsson was also injured and made the trek from Sweden to show his support for the event as well. So it was like a who’s who of skiing and good lead in to the upcoming comps.
Jon and Tanner, all up in the judging booth.
PK Hunder dominated the scene stomping his trick so consistently he couldn’t lose. In the head to head format, Jacob went for broke against Richard Permin and threw his double flip on the jump that was not quite big enough and he couldn’t get the landing gear down. Simon then took 2nd place over Richard with a super clean 1080. All those guys went home with cash and oversize paychecks, which you can’t really cash at a bank.
PK, dominating.
For a first year comp that was just thrown together a couple months ago, it went off. The atmosphere, the music, the scene, the city, it was all good. Next year the boys at London Freeze say they are going to blow it up even bigger!
Gigantic checks that you can’t cash anywhere.
