The Refrigerator Open - UK FREESKI EVENTS

2006 SPONSORS A-Z »

A big THANK YOU goes out to the 2005 sponsors who donated prizes - and to Xscape for donating the slope;

Giro

Dynastar

Lange

Spy

Nordica

Smith

Scott

Head

Salomon

Westbeach

Protest

Dakine

Mission 6

Fall-Line

Dark Summer

Oakley

Faction

& Xscape...

2004 sponsors

= = = THE REFRIGERATOR OPEN = = =

KSM VS. REFRIGERATOR 17TH NOVEMBER 2007 - entry form!!!

Ksm Vs Refrigerator Open 2007 [review]

Saturday November 17th saw Castleford Snozone play host to the 2007 KSM Vs Refrigerator Open, one of the most entertaining and eagerly awaited ski competitions on the UK calendar. As always the course set up was sick with a variety of hits to play on, including the intimidating 6ft barrel jib. The night started off with a quick warm up before it was time for the team selection. Half way through the warm up, the six captains were surprised and given ten minutes to go and hand-pick their teams from the skiers available. Chaos ensued, as the captains were fighting it out to get the skiers they wanted in their team. After a few handbag moments the dust settled, the teams were picked and a short team practice started. The judges were looking for creativity and team work, not individual talent and this attitude was first taken up by Tom Petrowski’s Green team. With a rush of adrenaline, or a death wish, Tom lay on his back behind the take off with the base of his skis in the air. His team mates then charged at the jump and took off, jibbing Tom’s skis on the way up. All of a sudden the teams came up with many crazy ideas to keep the crowd amused.
The team practice saw one of the highlights of the night as Pink captain Andy Bennett attempted a massive spread over the top of the barrel but ended up millimetres away from catching his tezzers on the top, causing Becky Hammond to breathe a sigh of relief. After this it was time for the team comp. Every team faced off against each other in a league format with the top two teams going through to the final. The teams had one run against one another with the judges giving an instant result using large coloured panels and parading like ring girls at a boxing match. Once all the teams had faced off the league was done, and in a typical movie moment there was a tie. The Pink’s had gone through but Joe Tyler’s Blues, James Roockley’s Blacks and Charlie Smith’s White’s were all tied for second leaving the Tom’s Greens and Andy Collin’s Red’s in third. The only option was to have a three way team off and each group pulled out their best teamwork like being tied together, Mexican waves and a team high jump over the kicker. The judges had a tough call to make, and had to draft in the help of beer smuggler Paddy Graham to come to a final decision. After much conflict and inter-judge brawling the White team made it through to the head to head final against the Pinks.
Then it was the final, each team had a run as individuals and one run as a team with all scores being added to give a total score and a winning team. Despite an unbelievable run from Charlie the Whites didn’t quite do enough and the Pinks were victorious. All through the night the standard was super high and every skier was throwing shapes all over the place. Best of all, over £700 was raised for the British disabled ski team and the British Junior freestyle squad with loads of prizes going to deserving entrants.
Results:
Best Unsponsored skier: Rob Hackney
Best Female: Katie Summerhayes
Best U18: James Machon
Best U14: Harry Hancock
Best Mega Grom: Jake Terry
Best Team and Winning Captain: Pink Team / Andy Bennett

Big thanks to Ellis Brigham, Snozone, Scott USA, K2, Head, Dynastar, Lange, Nordica, Forcefield, Pro-tec and Magic Potion also a thank-you to Fran and Damo @ Snozone, Slavemonkey for his mic control, Naomi Edmondson and Ted Foster for judging.
Cheers,
Rhys

The Archive.............................................

Click this a few times until it plays....

1ST SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSFLASH!

KSM vs REFRIGERATOR OPEN 2006

click logos for links - ksm 2006 poster

The Event:

The Refrigerator Open has been one of the finest events in the UK for nearly 3 seasons now and last year we teamed up with the boys from KSM (Kneesall Massive) and put on the most enjoyable event of the year. Last years event has been nominated in the ‘Snow life Awards’ and the ‘Freeski Awards’ for best UK event. Were back for 2006 and this time were going on the road, visiting three snow centres around the UK. Our event is unique as skiers compete in teams rather than on their own.

What is it?

This is one of the biggest freestyle ski competitions in the UK and is calling at all three Xscape centres this autumn. This is a unique event with all the proceeds going to ski charities, last year we raised well over £1000 for paralympic skier Sean Rose. One thing we try and do differently is to aid younger and unsponsored skiers by providing them with as many prizes as we can. Prizes can be given out for pushing yourself beyond your limits or for just downright craziness. This is very unusual as most competitions award the best skiers, which are always professionals who tend to get their kit for free anyway. This is a team event. When people turn up on the night they are put into random teams and awards are given for the best teams.

What’s the aim?

We want to try to bring the UK freestyle ski scene together and encourage the growth of younger athletes. If young skiers are skiing with some of the best talent the UK can offer this can only be beneficial to those skiers. We also want to raise as much money for charity as we can. All profits from entry fees, as well as the now famous ‘Speed Raffle’, will go straight back into the sport.

When is it?

Braehead/Glasgow Xscape centre 23rd September 2006
Castleford/Leeds Xscape centre 28th October 2006
Milton Keynes Xscape centre 11th November 2006

All competitions will be starting in the late evening and full times will be released closer to the event.

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR ENTRY FORM TO ski@therefrigeratoropen.org.uk

Sponsors; Ellis Brigham, Xscape, Fall-Line, Dark Summer, Salomon, Smith, Drop, Coal, Leedom, K2, Nordica, Scott USA and Natives.co.uk are already confirmed and we have many more on the way.

PREVIOUS EVENTS »

24th September 2005

Refrigerator Open Vs. KSM Showdown REVIEW

In recent years the Refrigerator Open and the KSM Showdown have been the most progressive ski competitions in the UK, so the good people at Ellis Brigham thought is was only fair to join the two together to create the most highly anticipated competition in years. All the top skiers in the UK freestyle scene battled it out with some of the best young and unsponsored riders from all over the country.

The competitors were spoilt with a grin inducing choice of features including a wall ride, 6 rails and 2 kickers, the largest of which was the 7-metre gap jump. It was this monster booter that produced some of the evenings highlights, including Ted Foster’s super sweet 540s and Jamie Cameron’s huge stylie flips. But it was a massive cork7 toxic from Mark Watson that was good enough to win the evening’s best trick award. As you moved down the course the variety of rails was incredible with simple boxes right through to a huge double kink rail. Shelly Jones showed her style with a sick switch 270 to rail, which was rewarded with the best female trick award. Well done Shelly!! However at the bottom of the slope we saw the daunting wall ride which had even the best riders taking a tumble, especially Andy Topping who could have used a speed check or two before he flew over the back. But this feature was no problem for Andy Colin who schooled the rest of the field with 180 disasters and switch hits. This combined with his rail steez and solid kicker riding earned him the Best Sponsored Skier prize.

But the Ellis Brigham Refrigerator Open has always been about discovering new talent and thanks to Scott USA we could offer a years sponsorship for the best undiscovered talent. Despite some top riding from Charlie Smith and Harry Hancock it was the hugely impressive Max Alden who was victorious. The judges felt his riding was so dialled he could easily be mistaken for a pro, so now he is. Amy Rudman also was outstanding and was awarded a full outerwear set up from Westbeach for being Best Unsponsored female.

After three hours of qualifying the judges had to narrow the 65 riders down to 12 riders, two in each category. These were then split in half to form the KSM team captained by Andy Bennett and Ted Fosters Refrigerator Open team as the two events went head to head. Despite taking a 2-0 lead and Ted’s breathtaking run, team Refrigerator were downed by Andy’s KSM boys with a winning score of 4-3. In one of the most impressive displays if skiing ever seen in the UK we witnessed not only a great night but a raise in the bar for what British competitions could achieve. Big thanks to XSCAPE for helping us with the slope and all their staff who helped with the course.

After a prize heavy speed raffle, in which over £1100 was raised to aid Sean Rose and the British Paralympic team, came the prize giving and awards were given for the Best stack and Best Youth/Junior. But it was Pikey and Andy Topping who left with the traditional Nick Southwell award for maximum event for the evening and for putting a smile on the judge’s faces.

This was the best Refrigerator ever and everyone left knowing they had just been part of something amazing. But it wouldn’t have been as sick as it was without the help of Ellis Brigham, Scott USA, Xscape, Nordica, Salomon, K2, Head, Line, Faction, Dynastar, Lange, Giro, Mission6, Smith, Oakley, DaKine, Spy Optic, Natives.co.uk, Fall Line, Dark Summer and Westbeach. Also big thanks everyone who helped me make this possible Adrian, Andy Bennett, Eddie Thelwell, Paddy Graham, Ted Foster, Mark Watson, Ali, Mark Woods, Guy Nicholson and Steve Wells. Big thanks and lets hope we can top this next time.

Cheers Rhys

Results

Best Unsponsored Male – Max Alden
Best Unsponsored Female – Amy Rudman
Best Male Trick – Mark Watson (Cork 7 toxic)
Best Female Trick – Shelly Jones (Switch270 to rail)
Best Youth – Charlie Smith
Best Junior – Harry Hancock
Best Sponsored Skier – Andy Colin
Best Stack – Tom Mothead
Nick Southwell Award – Andy Topping / Pikey

Team Award – KSM Showdown

The KSM Showdown and the Refrigerator open have joined forces and decided to run their annual competitions together to make a bigger, better event!

The money raised will be going to Sean Rose (who has qualified for the Paralympics) and the rest of the British Adaptive Ski Team as they have no current funding and want to get uniforms for the Paralympics.

The competition will feature a slope-style event and will be run on Saturday 24th of September from 6pm. The comp will comprise of two jam sessions and a final. The final will be done on a knock out basis (Orage Masters style!) Two teams will fight it out head to head for the prizes and the title!

A wide spread of amazing prizes are up for grabs including a very special prize from Scott USA for the best un-sponsored rider!

In the viewing gallery, music will be playing and the new KSM movie, “Dirty Laundry” will be premiered!

You must pre-register for the event as there are limited spaces by going to www.darksummer.co.uk/ksmvsrefrigerator, filling in the entry form and sending it to the email address on the form. It is a £15 entry fee on the day that you must pay in Ellis Brigham at Milton Keynes between 6-7 PM.

For more info ring Steve at Ellis Brigham on 01908 609122 or Andy Bennett on 07909924751.

A big thank you goes out to all the sponsors who donated prizes and to Xscape for donating the slope; Giro, Dynastar, Lange, Spy, Nordica, Smith, Scott, K2, Head, Salomon, Westbeach, Protest, Dakine, Mission 6, Fall-Line, Dark Summer, Oakley, Faction and Xscape.

ROUND 4 - SATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2004 - CASTLEFORD XSCAPE
who dat at the refrigerator open?

NOV 18TH, RESULTS JUST IN:
best overall = Mike Wakefield
best female = Emma Lonsdale
best under 16 = Ross Daniels
best unsponserd = Rich Martin - got the skis and goodies
best unsponserd = Jay Earl - gets a Fall Line photo shoot and Suunto watch
sickest style = Eddie Thelwell [aka slave monkey]
best trick = Andy Colin for 270 on and 270 off the 10 meter rail.
the nick southall award = Simon Jenks
best stack = Rob

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their help to make The Refrigerator Open be a great event. I was amazed at the standard of riding; British skiing has definitely gone to another level. With so many under 16's out there really pushing themselves and each other, the future is looking great for the sport. I think and hope that The Refrigerator Open brings together skiers of all abilities from all over Britain with no pressure of winning or loosing. The aim of the event is to raise the profile of the sport, and the skiers trying to get sponsorship. This was the 4th Refrigerator Open and I think the best yet and I am sure that it can only get bigger and better. I would like to say thank you to all the sponsors, I am sure that you all agree that the prizes were superb. A full list of the winners and photos will be posted as soon as I can sort them out. The next Refrigerator Open will be at Milton Keynes in June, keep an eye on this page to find out when and what’s new for the future for the event. We raised around £1000 for Back Up and had great fun doing it. Have a great season.

Thanks to all, Simon Lowson.

=== A FEW OTHER REVIEWS ===

"I thought The Refrigerator Open was an excellent event and was really well run. The standard of skiing was incredibly high and I was amazed how much everyone progressed during the session. It was fun to do it in a jam session format because there was less pressure on the riders and allowed them to build up their tricks slowly and progress better. I learnt loads of new tricks that night and I sure all of the other riders did. Everyone was pushing each other to step it up on the huge course which was built to perfection!"

Andy Bennett

===

Its Toppo and Shelly, hope everything is cool. The Refrigerator Open at Castleford Xscape, What do I say? What a fantastic night for freestyle skiing. The course was sick with the most tec rails to the most super-jib-tastic rails. The standard of the riders was insane. When the Refrigerator started there were 5 or 6 key skiers but now everybody out there has a chance of winning. I was shocked when all the riders didn’t want to stop skiing, from 7 till 10.30 that is a long time to keep performing to such a high standard. I would just like to say a big thank you to Si for setting the comp up, to the judges and to the course builders. And also a big thanks to all the sponsors.

Take it easy, Toppo and Shel.

===

On the 6th of November 2004 The Refrigerator Open will be held in Xscape Castleford for the first time. The event has grown over the past three years into the largest British Free-Ski event of the year. Its main emphasis is to encourage young Free-Skiers to the sport by helping them with publicity and sponsorship. Also being a charity event the interest within the industry is huge, with over twenty sponsors involved and more wanting to get in on it. In the past we have had slope style, big air and even the first indoor half pipe, the format for this one is going to be a slope style with a few little surprises in there. Xscape Castleford has kindly given us the whole slope for the event and the bar will hopefully be open until 2am. Having the whole slope means we can use many more rails and jumps, making it so much more fun and that’s the point of The Refrigerator Open. The event will take the form of a jam with all the riders out there having a blast and pushing each other to go bigger and better. On a rider prospective it is the event you want to be seen at and with the riders judging the jam it means more to the guys that win.

Proposed format; POSTER/FLYER

• Practice: 7pm to 7:45pm
• Bar for a quickie!!
• Start Jamming: 8pm to 9:45
• During the jam there will be selected rails and jumps for spot prizes
• Bar for another quickie!!
• Final: 10pm to 10:30
• Prizes giving in the bar
• Raffle in the bar
• After party...

Please note - everyone will be in the final!

We hope to have [in the way of rails]: up 2 flat 2 down, box rainbow, massive fun box, C- box, flat 2 down, mail box, 7m slide box and loads of others. We are also looking at having a jump or two - and hopefully a wall slide.

So, there are three ways you can enter The Refrigerator Open - in order of preference;

/1\ Call up the Milton Keynes store on 01908 609122 or Castleford on 01977 522040
/2\ Call me [Simon Lowson] direct on 07821 451 642
/3\ Email milton.keynes@ellis-brigham.com or/and silowson@aol.com

The cost, it is £10 to enter and all proceeds go to charity. There is also a raffle that will happen after the prize giving in the bar - it costs £1 a strip with some wicked stuff to give away - and again all the cash goes to the charity.

The Refigerator Open will start at 7pm on Saturday the 6th of November - entries need to be in no later than 4pm on the day and you must be there to sign in at the Castleford shop no later than 6pm on the day.

Many thanks, good luck and we will see you on the day!!

Si Lowson, MK EB