Four snowboarders make it to the Olympics for the first time
The introduction of Snowboard Slopestyle to the Olympics has seen Jenny Jones, Aimee Fuller, Jamie Nicholls and Billy Morgan qualify for the Olympics for the first time. In total seven snowboarders will go to Sochi and compete in a slopestyle, halfpipe and snowboard cross.
Mike Hay, the Team GB chef de mission, says, “What makes it even more exciting is the fact that we are going into Sochi with a number of athletes with medal potential in events new to the Olympic Programme. These new events should attract a varied audience and hopeful inspire many more young British people to take to up winter sport.”
Meet the Team
Name: Aimee Fuller
Age: 22
Event: Slopestyle
Born: Belfast
Aimee first started snowboarding when she moved to Washington DC in 2003. Whist living in the US, she would snowboard with her friends as often as she could. On a trip to a freestyle camp in Oregon, Aimee caught the eye of one of the coaches and this lead to her turning pro.
Aimee now lives in Belfast and loves to hang out with her friends, and goes running to Cave Hill. Check out our interview with Aimee
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Name: Dom Harington
Age:27
Event: Halfpipe
Born: London
Dom first tried snowboarding when he was 12 at Cairngorm Mountain, and then carried on at Sheffield Dry Slope. In 2008 he won the FIS European Halfpipe Cup and has been the British Halfpipe Champion four times over.
When he is not snowboarding, he likes to DJ, surf, skateboard and cycle. His favourite food is Yorkshire pudding and his favourite trick is double backflip 180.
Name: Zoe Gillings
Age: 29
Event: Snowboard Cross
Born: Isle of Man
Following six years of skiing, Zoe turned her attention to snowboarding and competed in the British Snowboarding Championships at ten years of age. Zoe’s major breakthrough came in 2004, at the age of 19, when she took her first World Cup podium, finishing in first place at the South American World Cup.
Zoe had an accident that was very nearly career-ending, but after intense physiotherapy she went on to compete in the Turin Winter Olympics. Zoe is not just a snowboarder – she is also a business woman and has developed two online businesses: Isleofdeals.com and experthealth.me.
Name: Billy Morgan
Age: 25
Event: Slopestyle
Born: Southampton
Billy has been snowboarding for nine years, after going on a school trip to the Alps. In 2011 Billy Morgan was the first to land a triple backside rodeo. Before he began snowboarding he was an acrobat, but he stopped when he was 13 years-old and then learnt to snowboard.
In 2013 he finished fourth at the 2013 World Championships and won Bronze at the World Cup meeting in Sierra Nevada, to end last season second in the world rankings.
Name: Jenny Jones
Age: 24
Event: Slopstyle
Born: Bristol
Jenny Jones is the only Brit to win three X Games Gold medals. After taking a half hour free lesson at her local dry slope, Jenny became hooked on the sport and a few years later, went on to do her first season in Tignes. After two seasons she went pro.
When the snow has gone, Jenny likes to travel around Devon and Cornwall in her van, catching some waves with family and friends. Check out our full profile of Jenny Jones.
Name: Jamie Nicholls
Age: 20
Event: Slopestyle
Born: Bradford
Jamie has been a pro snowboarder since 2009, travelling the world (with his own tea bags) competing in big air, slopestyle and rail contests. He began snowboarding at the age of eight, and by the time he was nine he could do front flips and backside 900s. When Jaime isn’t shedding it up he can be found climbing or skateboarding.
Name: Ben Kilner
Age: 25
Born: Aberdeen
Event: Halfpipe
A halfpipe and big air specialist, this will be the second time Ben has made it to the Olympics. In the 2010 Vancouver Olympics he came 18th overall. Ben began snowboarding at the age of nine after a snow day. His favourite resorts are Breckenridge and Mommoth Mountain in the US.
