We caught up with Ethan and asked how his season had been. We have seen updates throughout the season as he travelled around from his training base in Austria to various resorts and competitions around Europe.
I have just finished my most exciting season to date. I travelled to Austria at end of September and I used both the Never Summer Proto and Bantam boards over the next two months training with the GB Boardercross Team. Before returning home at the end of November to finish the Autumn Term at school, I was selected to the British SBX Squad.
Just before Christmas I flew back to Austria to compete in the second leg of the Valley-Ralley Competitions hosted at Kaltenbach. Home again, and immediately after Christmas lunch I was on my way back to Austria again for four months slopestyle training with Why Ain’t You Jibbin’.
Lots of competitons including the World Rookie Fest in Livigno, Italy. I was stoked to gain third place and qualification to the World Rookie Final at the second leg in Trentino, Italy.
The Europa Cup at Goetschen in Germany was my first Big Air competition and I was placed 4th in the under 16 age group and gained my first FIS points. March found me packing up my trusty Snokart Bag and my Never Summer Proto and Bantam boards for an 8 hour journey to Czech Rep. Wow! I found myself competing in The Junior World Championships in both Big Air and Slopestyle AND it was streamed live on facebook so my family were able to watch me in the UK. I was one of the youngest competitors and gained more FIS points.
April and, we were travelling again, but only within Austria to the World Rookies Tour Finals in Kaprun. I seemed to be favouring my Proto board so used it for the first ever WRT Half Pipe competition. I was one of the 34 boys to go big and I did a front 3 to cab 3 and a bunch of grabs and was placed 9th in the under 16s. I was really pleased with my result as there are so few half pipes to practice on. After several days of challenging weather the slopestyle qualifications took place. 87 riders performed their best tricks. I did a 50/50 front 180 out, to cab 5 tail to a front 7 stalefish, followed by a stall to 180 to front board. Finishing 12th in the under 16s.
I would like to thank Never Summer UK for their support again this season and, of course, all my other sponsors.
Ethan Smith
