Jake placed third in MBUK Slopestyle Competition

Jake, a current member of the fifth form has recently returned from competing in the Mountain Biking UK / Kona Slopestyle Challenge.   It was held at the 7 Stanes trails at Glentress in the Scottish Borders, around 30 minutes from Edinburgh on a specially built course. There were 2 professional riders at the event to judge and generally ride the course and a professional photographer who covered the event for mountain biking UK magazine.

Jake’s main discipline is downhill mountain biking which involves getting down a course in the quickest time possible.  However, Jake decided to enter the Slopestyle competition.  This event is ridden on a large free course with a variety of different lines that can be ridden.  The judges adjudicate the rider on both style and the use of obstacles on the course.

The MBUK competition consisted of four days of heats, with the two best competitors from each day going through to the final.  As it was the first time Slopestyle has been competed in the UK, the organisers invited the 30 best British prospects.  Jake was the youngest competitor by three years and came a very respectable third in his heat, placing him in the top 12 overall. 

Intrepid fourth form students have set up a Mountain Biking society.  This club is in its first year and is already growing in popularity.  Boys are making good use of the school's proximity to the Forest of Dean and enjoying  "getting air off jumps"together with the thrills of downhill mountain biking.