Chattin’ with Jamie Nicholls - Page 2
May 27, 2008 @ 8:00 AM
Backside 7 at the Brits 2008. Photo: Jools Smith.
OB: Good stuff. So how did this winter go for you? How much time did you get to ride outside the UK?
JN: This winter has been great and I have had so much on snow. In between trips to the mountains I’m back for only a couple of weeks, or 3 at the most.
OB: Did you do many events or was it shooting?
JN: I did quite a few events and also a bit of shooting.
OB: Which ones, and how did you place?
JN: I did the O’Neill Evolution where I came 56th in the pipe and the Burton European Open but it was really bad weather so I don’t know… and the Brits where I came 1st in my category for pipe, big air and slopestyle, and 2nd overall in slopestyle. All the results are on my blog if you need to check.
OB: Do you ever get bored of coming first in all the British comps for your age category?
JN: Nah, it’s cool.
OB: But do you think about trying to compete against more Euro kids in the future to give yourself a bit more of a challenge?
JN: Yes definantly, but it’s getting to them [the contests] and if the weather is good. Like it would of been great at the BEO in the pipe if there wasn’t 4ft of snow in the bottom. It is the same for everyone but they are used to all that bad weather, and I’m not coz when I go away it’s usually bluebird.
OB: I hear you. Which riders of your age do you look to and think, ‘Well, that guy’s frickin’ killing it so bad. I’d better step my game up.’?
JN: I don’t really know. I never think who’s better than who and who’s worse.
OB: OK. What about style? Or is it mainly the older riders you look to? Or do you just do your thang?
JN: It is mainly the older ones but some of the young riders have style. Ståle Sandbech has a good style, and Ben Watts does too.
OB: Yes they do. I bet you’d own them in a game of conkers though. Do they still have conkers or does every kid just play video games and rob grannies these days?
JN: I don’t really know, but I’d probably top them in a game of S.K.A.T.E. snowboarding on rails, or kickers. Maybe not kickers but defiantly rails.
OB: Are you calling them out? Haha!
JN: Naaaaaaa, they are sound and I just like to have fun and not think of snowboarding as who’s better than who.
OB: A lot of people are talking about a bright future for you. Do you feel any pressure from the hype or do you not think about it so much and just concentrate on enjoying your riding and progressing?
JN: It does feel good when someone says that because you start to believe in what could happen in the future.
OB: And the fact that you’ve got a super cool family that support you too must help heaps.
JN: Yeah, it definantly helps a lot. My family are great support.
Photo: Alex Roberts.
