Where to Ski And Snowboard - Woodsy wins World Champs silver

Woodsy wins World Champs silver

10th March 2013, by Abi Butcher

James Woods wins Britain's first freestyle ski world chamionships medal in 20 years

Sheffield skier James “Woodsy” Woods continued his run of form yesterday to win silver in the Freestyle World Ski Championships in Norway — the first Brit to do so in 20 years.

Woodsy said this morning he was “stoked” to finish second to Thomas Wallisch from the US, in the penultimate event of the 2013 Voss/Oslo FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Myrkdalen, Norway.

“I’m very happy with myself. I’m really proud of everyone,” said the 21-year-old, whose trick list included a switch 270 on 20ft rail, rail transfer frontside switch-up pretzel 270 out, switch pole jam 900 mute, left-side double-corked 1080 safety to Japan, right-side double-corked 1260 mute and switch right-side double-corked 1080 octo.

James Woods added: “Everyone is skiing absolutely fantastically — not just here but everywhere. And, crikey, I even got some flowers for the effort!”

Wallisch finished on 94.8, Woodsy on 91.2 and Nicholas Goepper, also from the US, took bronze on 89.2.

In the women’s event, Britain’s Katie Summerhayes finished just outside medal position in a fourth place with 72.2, improving her qualifying position for Sochi. Canadian Kaya Turski took gold with a score of 89.6, with compatriot Dara Howell taking silver and American Grete Eliassen collecting bronze.

Woodsy won Britain’s first world skiing medal since Richard Cobbing’s aerials silver in Altenmarkt 20 years ago.