The KPS hits Glasgow.

Published on: 7th July, 2010

For the last few summers, SNO!zone Glasgow has been pushing the boundaries and winning awards for their efforts up in Scotland, especially at one event – The Kelvingrove Session.

Take a few hundred tonnes of snow, some hardworking shapers and selection of Scotlands finest rippers, and you end up with arguably the best, if not the only, summer session in Great Britain.

Three years ago, the Kelvingrove Session started as a blob of snow and few rails, smeared out over the green grass of Kelvingrove park, slap in the middle of Glasgow City.

As a promotional event, it always gathers much attention from the public, but also a bit of a reputation from the riders. So much so that this years shindig was a far cry from the original jib line set up.

Using the park’s natural topography, Glasgow witnessed the first big air in the park and we’re guessing from the action, that this will be a regular occurrence…hopefully.

Despite the hot Scottish sun (yes Scottish sun!) the riders came, got stoked and threw down, dodging the grass patches that eventually started to creep through the melting snow as the day expired.

This years awesome 5 m kicker wasn’t alone. Stomp your landing and down into to three more hits on the flatter section: a battleship, a flat box and a massive stall feature, full of pipes to stomp all over.

This year too, there was an added incentive for the riders to charge, with prizes at the ready for those that amped it up a level.

Local brothers Brandon and Greg Bow were enjoying the limelight and the fresh air, taking a break from their local haunt at Braehead, to get tech over the features. Jamie Trinder threw a few sick front flips off the flat box and Angus Malloch, another Braehead regular, was in form through the air to the applause of sizable crowd that had gathered round.

A tricky decision for the judges to select the final few.

Sam McGrath ran Matthew Corry in a close race for the grooms, with some sweet tweaks off the melting kicker. They threw down their final 3 runs with steeze, but with the wee men suffering from a lack of speed on the drop in, the tricks and amplitude started to suffer.

Danny McCormick was in typical form – sick back 5 melon on lock – as Angus Leith boosted huge from the slush puppy takeoff with a smooth selection of underflips and shifty 3’s.

Jesse Smith, Will Smith and Stu Horsham all followed suit with some fine stunt moves for the crowds down below as GB pipe ace Dom Harrington popped  a few rodeos for the onlooking hordes.

Considering the conditions and the ever decreasing snow cover – the efforts on display at this years Kelvingrove were of the hook!

Not forgetting the female representation either! The Girls were out in force also,  Claire Frost and Helen Fox killing it over the kickers and jibs, Claire even giving the lads a run for their money with some lazy styled back 3s, showing off that experience gathered over an awesome winter.

It was another hugely successful Saturday afternoon for SNO!zone and the riders that conquered the summer snow, and a big shout out for Scottish snowboarding and the efforts that were involved on all sides.

How about we get one of these rad event down in Englandshire?

<h3>Kelvingrove session 2010 – Results</h3>

Marc McClement -  Best Bail  (Wheelbarrow Head Butt), Sam McGrath – Best Grom, Claire Frost – Best Female, Angus Malloch – Chargers Award, Helen Fox – Unsponsored Female, Danny McCormick  – Best Trick, Angus Lieth – Best Male.

Huge thanks to Barry Cairns for the knowledge and photography skills on the day.

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