The Farmers Jam

Words by Rob Embling
Photos by Rick Hutchings, Ollie Powell, Sissy Herant & Maria Herant

In the UK summer is the season of festivals, we have Glastonbury, Leeds & V to name just a few. There are of course hundreds of other smaller festivals around the country and The Farmers Jam is certainly the skiers choice. It includes all the basics of a good festival, music, camping and beer, with a little added skiing to keep everyone entertained.

This was my first time at The Farmers Jam and I had been asked to judge some of the events but had no idea what to expect. There was to be a slopestyle competition on Saturday and a big air on Sunday which would both be combined to crown an overall rider of the weekend. As the event got underway and i was handed my judging sheets i was once again astounded by the strength of the British ski community. There were almost double the amount of skiers than boarders with most of them in the under 17's category and the level of skiing as high as ever.

Both qualifications and the 10 man final were run as jam sessions and after all was said and done it was almost impossible to pick a top 3. Local boy Tom Coe grabbed third place after a super stylish and consistent display including 2's and cab 2's on to the rails as well as finding time to kill the jump. Joel Melia took second after landing a super tech rail run right at the end, including k-feds both ways and 2 on, switch-up, 2 out of the down rail. But it was Tyler Harding who eventually came out on top after landing a whole load of different tricks including some huge disasters on the flat down rail and a hardway 4 on to the down rail.

As the skiing finished, tents were erected in the nearby field, barbecue's started smoking and beer flowing and partying could be heard well into the early hours. The next morning after a lot of brews, bacon butties, and red bull riders started appearing back on the slope for the big air contest. Once again there was a massive field of skiers and a really high level making it nearly impossible to judge. But we managed to narrow it down and held a two run final for the top eight.

After all season training out in Morzine, Jack Nicholson landed third place with some super stylie flat 5 japan's and cab 7 high mute's. Tyler harding took second with some cork 7's and cork 9's, But once again it was local Tom Coe who proved he can ride this jump better than anyone going massive on every hit and stomping a cork 7 nose and a cab 7 high mute.

After adding up the positions from both days it was Jack Niocholson in third, Tom Coe in second and Tyler Harding who took the crown of rider of the weekend.

Mens Slopestyle Results
1st - Tyler Harding
2nd - Joel Melia
3rd - Tom Coe

Womens Slopestyle Results
1st - Katie Summerhayes
2nd - Sissy Herant
3rd - Kelly O'Donnell

Mens Big Air Results
1st - Tom Coe
2nd - Tyler Harding
3rd - Jack Nicholson

Womens Big Air Results
1st - Katie Summerhayes
2nd - Molly Summerhayes
3rd - Beth Britain

Mens Overall Results
1st - Tyler Harding
2nd - Tom Coe
3rd - Jack Nicholson

Womens Overall Results
1st - Katie Summerhayes
2nd - Molly Summerhayes
3rd - Kelly O'Donnell

The Last Day of the Season

In April when the sun started shining and the season was winding down we took our last trip of the winter, a few days in Morzine before setting off for the long Journey back to Manchester for the grom Games.

We won ourself a trip to stay at the Eazy Riderz chalet after winning the Summer Media Challenge last year with our UK Tour Edit, Filth. Unfortunately most of the guys ended up being able to not come so it was just me and Woodsy. But we ended up doing some good days filming and here are the shots from the last day of the season.

We are just about to set off for this years tour and you can see that and more shots fom the winter in this years movie, The Daily Grind.

The Daily Grind

Our highly anticipated second movie, The Daily Grind is almost here...

This years movie follows the top tier of British freeskiers and some special guests as they finish a long summer season of working and skiing in the UK before heading abroad to hit the cities and resorts of Europe determined to push british freeskiing to previously unseen heights.

Shot on location throughout the UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Poland. Featuring James Woods, Joe Tomlinson, Andy Matthew, Jamie Matthew, Ally Watson, Andy Bennett, Gavin MacKay, Jamie Cameron, Jack Peppiette, Jamie Lawson, Szczepan Karpiel & many more.

The movie is due to be launched at this years Ride Film Festival in London's Leicester Squareon 18th October and will then be released online as a free download right here, until then the teaser is guaranteed to get you in the mood.

And remember to head to newschoolers to rate it up!!

Black Label Goes Platinum

Its been a blazing summer so far i the UK, and we have been spending more time on the golf course than on our skis. But on the few days when the sun was not shining we were getting busy filming for the latest edit in the Black Label Project.



A series of edits put together by Black Label rider Jamie Lawson to promote the first Black Label collection which will be available in shops this season. The Platinum edition is out now and features all Jamie Lawson, Joe Tomlinson, Rob Embling, Jack Peppiette & James Woods at various locations around the UK.



Thats it for this year but Jamie will be back this season with a brand new series of Black Label edits and until then why not check out our Black Label competition to make your own edit, full details can be found in the forum....

Black Label Summer of Love

Summer Heat Edit

Well we all now know what happened at this years first Armada Summer Heat Railbattle but for those of you who weren't able to make it you can now check out all the best bits of action from the days events. Massive thanks to Slavemonkey for all his hard work filming and editing...

Remeber there is a second Armada Summer Heat Railbattle at the end of September at SNO!zone, Milton Keynes which is destined to be even bigger and better so be sure not to miss it.

British Freeskiing Reaches New Heights

Last week, with grey skies overhead and blustery conditions Britain’s top freeskiers headed to North Yorkshire to kick start the summer, luckily it was not the sun they were after but the snow. The Armada Summer Heat Railbattle still in only its second year is now the biggest core freeski competition in the UK and is just the start of the UK’s summer ski season.

50 riders from London to Inverness turned out at SNO!zone, Castleford, to hit one of the toughest courses ever seen in a UK comp. The setup was action packed with big technical features that would be at home in any of Europe’s top parks. With the jam format and big features the riders were forced to raise their game and once again British freesking was pushed to new heights.

In the end it came down to a 30‐minute jam session with hot laps from the days top 20 riders. In the top section of the course technical tricks reigned supreme with a combination of 270’s and 450’s on to the down rails but it was the raised rainbow box that seemed destined to be the feature of the day. Notable tricks include Andy Bennett’s 450 transfers, Jamie Lawson’s surface switch up’s and George Walton’s cork 3 hand drag which eventually won him the prize for the days best trick.

In the kids category it was all about the jump and it was 13 year old Tyler Harding who came out on top with some super smooth cork 7's. In the women’s category Katie Summerhayes showed why she is now one of the worlds best with 450’s on and off the rails. In the men’s category Joe Tomlinson came home in third with some super smooth cab 2’s and front 4’s on to the down rail, James Machon took second with 4’s on and off all over the course but once again it was James Woods who was crowned champion. Woodsy put on a master class in rail skiing all day long stomping every trick he could think of, some of the best moments included his 2 on pretzel 2 out of the down flat rail and both frontside and blindside 360 switch up’s on the rainbow.

The Armada Summer Heat Railbattle is back in September for it’s second installment at SNO!zone, Milton Keynes and is another event that is not to be missed, so see you there.

Words by Rob Embling
Photos by Joe Webster, Kerry Daines & Liam Beardsmore

Armada Summer Heat Railbattle

SNO!zone, Castleford - 5th June
SNO!zone, Milton Keynes - Late September (official date tbc)

The Armada Summer Heat Railbattle is back, and while the mountain rivers swell with meltwater and Marmots go about their favourite business of dodging golf balls, riders from across the UK, and maybe even further afield, will be getting together to pitch metal against metal. After the success of last year’s event, where more than 50 men and women hit the slopes of the SNO!zone, Castleford, the organisers have decided to add a second leg this year at Milton Keynes on what is looking like the beginnings of a tour.

The format is simple. Entrants get a three hour window in which to impress the judges. After which finalists will be pulled from the field and sent out for a 30 minute jib off in the hope of being crowned the Summer Heat Railbattle King or Queen.

The course itself will consist of the best rail lines in the UK, with features of varying difficulty, from small beginner rails to the money features like the step-up gap box of last year. With cold hard cash and a whole bunch of prizes to be given away, this is one event that is not to be missed, so don’t put those skis away quite yet because anybody who is anybody needs to be there.

SNO!zone, Castleford - 5th June
SNO!zone, Milton Keynes - Late September (official date tbc)

The Armada Summer Heat Railbattle is back, and while the mountain rivers swell with meltwater and Marmots go about their favourite business of dodging golf balls, riders from across the UK, and maybe even further afield, will be getting together to pitch metal against metal. After the success of last year’s event, where more than 50 men and women hit the slopes of the SNO!zone, Castleford, the organisers have decided to add a second leg this year at Milton Keynes on what is looking like the beginnings of a tour.

The format is simple. Entrants get a three hour window in which to impress the judges. After which finalists will be pulled from the field and sent out for a 30 minute jib off in the hope of being crowned the Summer Heat Railbattle King or Queen.

The course itself will consist of the best rail lines in the UK, with features of varying difficulty, from small beginner rails to the money features like the step-up gap box of last year. With cold hard cash and a whole bunch of prizes to be given away, this is one event that is not to be missed, so don’t put those skis away quite yet because anybody who is anybody needs to be there.

Visions of a mtn souljah

Earlier in the season I spent a few days in Gressoney filming with Unity rider Ally Watson, we headed over there for a freeride comp he was doing and ended up staying a few extra days to shred a little pillow zone we found nearby. Check out his edit from the trip which shows what it really feels like as you drop into backcountry lines. Remember you can check out more footage from our trip in our upcoming movie due to be released in October.

Black Label

Almost a year in the making Black Label is finally here! The first couple of pieces from our very own clothing range have finally arrived and we couldn't be more stoked. Due to the severe lack of snow in the UK right now our first fashion had to take place on the golf course, and after few beers and far too many shots we did eventually made it round. We even have a few shots of the new gear for you...

Crews and beanies are both available right now at Unity-Proshop.co.uk, and we will have more Black Label stuff dropping very soon so keep your eyes Peeled...

Livigno

As this year has been such a low snowfall year and most of the traditional park resorts around Europe have simply not had enough snow to keep the same high standards you would usually expect we have found ourselves searching for good jumps all season. After hearing lots of good things about little known Italian resort Livigno we decided to go check it out for a few days. I went over with Woodsy and photographer Pally Learmond and was joined the next day by Jamie Matthew for a little after hours session. Unfortunately the boys were limited to hits because of the lack of a skidoo and ended up having to hike the jump, but both were stoked to finally be hitting sick park jumps again and made it count with the few hits they got. Check out a couple of photos below, just a little teaser...

Davos

So its been a long time since the last update, and i have gotten really behind with what we have been up to but i will try and catch up over the net week or so. Anyway after the last real snowfall of the season we headed over to Davos to meet up with photographer Pally Learmond, with the aim of building a backcountry booter. After a disastrous first day which included a stolen camera, broken flashes and a haunted house we managed to locate a new camera and have an awesome second day making the whole trip worthwhile. We found an awesome spot to build a jump got some nice shots and and some of the guys even learnt a few new tricks.