Snowboarder Katie Ormerod’s upward trajectory in the sport shows no sign of slowing down after she was handed the Evie Pinching award for the best up and coming snowsports athlete.
Since starting out on the dry slopes and indoor slopes of Halifax aged five, Ormerod has been carving out quite a name for herself on Britain’s snowsports scene.
Third in the Junior World Championships in April, Ormerod, then aged just 16, hit new heights in June when she became the first female snowboarder ever to land a backside double cork 1080 – a trick that involves leading a spin with your back, rotating three times and doing two flips.
Such efforts have seen her tipped to follow in the footsteps of Jenny Jones – winner of Britain’s first medal on snow with bronze in the snowboard slopestyle in Sochi – and Aimee Fuller come the next Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in four years time.
And she was given another boost as she was honoured when the Ski Club of Great Britain held its snowsports industry party, with Chemmy Alcott, Britain’s retired number one female alpine skier and Ski Club ambassador, handing Ormerod her award.
“I am really happy to receive the Evie Pinching award for the most upcoming snowsports athlete,” said Ormerod, who is currently recovering from surgery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in August.
“It was such an honour and it really means a great deal.
“I hope that the successes of British Ski and Snowboard, in particular the GB Park and Pipe Team continues to inspire others to progress and it is great that the award will continue to recognise and support athletes, encouraging a bright future for British snowsports.”
© Sportsbeat 2014