Welcome to the latest edition of Across the Board from Snowsport GB which will keep you updated on all the latest from the British Snowboard team. Along with results, we'll be featuring profiles of the athletes and teams, will hear from the coaches and sponsors and will keep you informed about the main news and events throughout the season.

Time to Chill: A Ben Kilner Interview

Snowsport GB: Across the Board caught up with Ben Kilner, the 19 year-old pro snowboarder from Aberdeen, in Austria....

1. What are your top 3 albums on your iPod?

Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

2. What's the best gig you have ever been to?

Probably when I went to watch the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Murrayfield in Edinburgh. They were awesome!

3. Where are you ranked in the world at the moment?

I am currently in the Top 50.

4. American Dad or Family Guy?

Family Guy. It's hilarious! I think American Dad is a bit more political, still funny though.

5. What is your favourite make of clothing?

Probably Billabong, which is my sponsorship brand - I really love their kit!

6. Have you ever been in an ambulance?

(Laughs) Yes! Plenty of times. I have dislocated my knee, concussed myself several times, cracked my ribs, dislocated my wrist and I fractured my patella and had to have surgery!

7. Do you speak any other languages?

I speak fluent French, German and Spanish......I wish!

8. In your opinion what is the best competition you have ever won?

Probably the British Championships. It's always good to win that because the atmosphere is unique.

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Working her way up the snowboarding league with the ultimate aim of competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ivy Taylor juggles a variety of different commitments.

The 22 year old snowboard pro is currently studying for a music degree at Newcastle University, specialising in studio-based composition. She is the only established female Hip-Hop DJ in the North East of England. Ivy has played DJ sets for snowboard and break dancing championships, radio stations and hip-hop showcases. She also has a signature clothing line with Syndicate Clothing; her range includes t-shirts for girls and boys, and a range of hoodies.

If this doesn’t keep her busy enough, Ivy is also a qualified snowboard instructor and freestyle coach. In January 2007, during the World University Games in Switzerland and World Snowboard Championships in Turin, Ivy was placed 10th and 36th respectively. She is currently concentrating on her own riding as she is one of only two females on the World Cup Snowboardcross team. Despite recovering from injury, Ivy is currently focused on her training and development for up-coming events and competitions.

For further information, Ivy's Myspace address can be found on the Snowsport GB website (www.snowsportgb.com)

Lesley McKenna featured in her second World Cup this season held in Saas Fee, Switzerland, on Thursday 2nd November 2007 as the only female British representative.

The Saas Fee World Cup, now in its 7th Championship, showcased 100 riders from 19 nations. The 2007 competition is also the fourth time the FIS tour visited the Swiss Glacier Village and Freestyle Park in Allalin, situated 3300m above sea level.

Competing against riders as young as 16, McKenna held her own as one of the competition's senior riders, finishing in 11th place, superseding her 12th place performance at last year's competition. Lesley was pipped to the top 10 position this year by 16 year old French national Mirabelle Thovox, who racked up 260 FIS points in the competition.

Lesley is looking forward to the season ahead showing that she has what it takes to shine for Britain.

Watch out for (24.11.07).....

World Cup Snowboarding will begin on Channel 4 from Friday 30 November and will be shown every Friday until the end of the season.

Next issue of Across the Board, 5th December.