Friday 5th April saw the first ever Red Bull Home Run tear up Laax, Switzerland at the British Freeski & Snowboard Champs. 201 skiers and snowboarders lined up for a Le Mans start at the top of the mountain, each determined to win the ridiculous en masse Chinese downhill race, one of the most anticipated events at the Brits!
On the starter’s pistol the carnage began, with racers fighting to get their gear on, and away down the hill. It was the skiers who got away quickly, leaving the snowboarders close behind. Just 2200m, 5km of graded black/red slope, 1200m of vertical descent and a few minutes later, the winners in four categories emerged victorious.
Freeskier Nick Southwell was the first to fly over the finish line at the foot of the mountain, with Clare Hughes taking the female skier title. Ben Kilner took male snowboard and Red Bull’s own Laura Berry bagged the female snowboarder title.
Incredibly, Laura raced and won with a floating collarbone break! The injury was sustained a number of weeks ago during training with the British team and despite being on the waiting list for an operation, Laura couldn’t resist competing! The Home Run win rounded off a great day for the 19-year-old, who also took 3rd place in the Slopestyle discipline at the Brits.
