Three-time Team GB Olympic snowboarder and Leeds Beckett University researcher Lesley McKenna says the Park and Pipe events at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are shaping up to be ‘electric’, with a fiercely competitive field expected.
Her comments come as Team GB athletes step up preparations at the Olympic venues in Italy ahead of the Games. “We often see things at the Olympic Games that have never been tried before in competition. That’s when it gets exciting.”
Lesley McKenna, a former Halfpipe Olympian, has been talking to athletes and coaches currently training in Livigno, which will host the Park and Pipe disciplines – the Big Air, Slopestyle and Halfpipe events. She said:
“The atmosphere is really electric already. They’ve had some training on the Slopestyle and Big Air courses, and the athletes and coaches are getting more and more excited as practice goes on and people get comfortable with the jumps, rails and features.”
She added: “Everyone is excited to put on a good show, to support each other and hopefully bring out the best for everyone in the free ski and snowboard communities. It’s going to be an exciting and tight competition.”
Lesley highlighted strong recent performances at the Aspen X Games and the LAAX FIS World Cup (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) which she said underlined the depth of talent heading into the Olympic competition – particularly for Team GB:
“For us in the UK, we’ve got really exciting prospects in Park and Pipe. Kirsty Muir has just won gold in X Games Free Ski Slopestyle, Mia Brookes is an X Games gold medallist in Snowboard Slopestyle, and Zoe Atkin has also taken X Games gold in Free Ski Halfpipe. All three are absolutely at the top of their game.”
She also pointed to other British athletes to watch across the snow sports programme, including snowboard cross rider Charlotte Bankes, who she said is currently in exceptional form.
In her role as a researcher at Leeds Beckett University, Lesley examines what makes high-performance sport worthwhile beyond winning and how action sports preserve meaning, creativity and community even within highly competitive environments. Lesley’s research sheds light on an element of the sport many spectators find surprising: the genuine excitement athletes show for one another when a competitor lands a difficult move — especially if it’s delivered with standout style, creativity or innovation.
This ‘stoke’ is created by the blend of high risk, creativity and sense of aesthetics that makes up the sport. It leads to a deep shared connection and appreciation between the athletes, alongside a sense of personal accomplishment. She says they “are stoked for one another, as well as for themselves” and will “hug each other and high five” at the finish. Her research sits broadly under Ethics in High Performance Sports.
Lesley explained that Park and Pipe events are judged action sports, “they’re a mix of risk, aesthetics, and performance. People love a good show, and we often see things at the Olympic Games that have never been tried before in competition. That’s when it gets exciting.”
She added to those who may be inspired to try it, “you can try it locally at dry slopes or indoor ski centres. Snow Sport England, Snow Sport Wales and Snow Sport Scotland all have information on how to get involved. It’s a strong, fun community and great sports to be part of.”
Leeds Beckett students can also join the snow society www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk, where students who share a passion for skiing and/or snowboarding can come together with a look towards taking part in seasonal trips.
Lesley’s work is part of a growing profile of research at Leeds Beckett around high-performance culture and ethics, involving partners such as UK Sport, British Gymnastics, Sport Scotland, England Hockey.
