Budding Snowsport Stars Shine at The BRITS
Imagine this.
You’ve learned to ski or snowboard at one of the UK’s dry or indoor slopes.
You’ve got just good enough to do one or two novice competitions there.
If you’re lucky, you’ve had a week or two on holiday in the mountains.
But you’ve never seen a freestyle park like the world-famous PenkenPark in Mayrhofen.
And now, you’re about to compete there, at The BRITS.
Enter the Thompson siblings, snowboarders from Derbyshire.
Sienna & Ezra Thompson. Image © PlanetSKI
Sienna is 11 and Ezra just 7.
Their usual playground is on the artificial snow at Manchester’s indoor Snow Centre.
They competed at The BRITS two years ago when it was held in the UK at the Tamworth Snowdome.
And just the day before the 2026 Futures Championship is held, they arrive for a week’s family holiday, staying down the road from Mayrhofen in the Zillertal valley.
Their first sight of the competition venue is on the morning of the event.
It’s fair to say, it comes as a bit of a shock to Ezra.
“I was kind of scared,” he says of the moment he saw the big air jumps, “because they were massive.”
“I did the little one but it was hard because I wasn’t used to landing on the steep.”
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Sienna took the whole thing in her stride, telling PlanetSKI she was “not really scared” because she’s done a few competitions before, although she’s never done one in the mountains.
Mum Holly says she thought entering The BRITS would be great experience for them.
“This morning it was a bit daunting compared with riding and doing a competition in the dome,” she says.
But having a distinct contest for the under 12s, where they compete in big air, streetstyle (over rails and boxes) and banked slalom, away from the older competitors, was a big selling point.
Sienna Thompson in the snowboard banked slalom event. Image © Craig Robinson/The BRITS
“I think it’s brilliant, especially for the younger ones.
“It gives them the chance to have a go and not be overwhelmed. It takes the pressure off,” Holly says.
It can also save money.
All the under 12 events are held on a single day, so families don’t need to rack up a big bill on accommodation and food if they don’t want to hang around.
Sienna & Ezra Thompson with mum & dad Holly & Matthew. Image © PlanetSKI
Introducing a Futures Championship was a joint decision taken by The BRITS organiser, Stu Brass, and the two national bodies, Snowsports England and Scotland.
Euan Baxter, the Snowsport Scotland Park & Pipe coach told us more:
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Almost 30 children – the youngest aged 6 – took part in the inaugural Futures Championship.
There were varying levels of experience on show.
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Futures Championship. Image © Craig Robinson/The BRITS
Organiser Stu Brass says that as well as wanting a competition that offered a less intimidating environment for youngsters, there was another reason for running this new style of contest.
“When we had The BRITS at the Tamworth Snowdome we were surprised how many under 12s entered but last year they didn’t come to Mayrhofen,” Stu tells us.
“Some didn’t want to come for the whole week – it’s a lot for some families to invest in.
“So we decided to hold the under 12s on a single day and also offer a full day of coaching the day before the competition and support them with coaching during the competition for £80.”
Coach Euan Baxter at the start line with 8-year-old Coralie. Image © PlanetSKI
Futures Championships competitors. Image © PlanetSKI
So will the Futures Championship be back at The BRITS in 2027?
“There was a really good buzz with the kids – good camaraderie, cheering each other on – I would like to see it again,” Stu says.
“I’ve asked for feedback from all the parents to see if we should do anything differently.”
Futures Championship competitors Image © Craig Robinson/The BRITS
You can find more about the 2026 Futures Championship, and check out all the results here on The BRITS website.
HEADLINE PHOTO: Ethel Lynch (8) © Craig Robinson/The BRITS
See here for our earlier story about The BRITS 2026.
Look out for our related articles coming to PlanetSKI soon.
We’ll be catching up with a Winter Olympic Champion who came to The BRITS to support potential stars of the future.
Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal. Image © PlanetSKI
And we’ll give you the lowdown on our experience at the Altitude Comedy Festival, which was affiliated with The BRITS for the first time.
Altitude Comedy Festival 2026. Image © PlanetSKI
The BRITS 2026 was supported by Ellis Brigham and The Snowboard Asylum.
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