GRASSCROFT’S LEWIS Hopkinson was a medallist in the Tresspass British Freestyle Snowboard Championships which were held in Tignes, France.
The eight-year-old claimed a bronze in the 12 years and under slopestyle event in which he was competing against boys up to five years his senior.
Elder brother Nate, who is aged 11, also competed in the snowboard championships and was involved in an accident which resulted in him being detained in hospital
Mother Helen explained: “During practice on Sunday when Nate was jumping the red (15m) kicker he overshot the landing area.
“On impact he caught an edge, fell backwards and banged his head resulting in him blacking out for a few seconds and losing his memory for the rest of the day. The doctors insisted on an overnight stay in hospital for observation.
“Nate then went on to successfully compete in the half pipe and slopestyle events later in the week.”
The boys, pupils at St Anne’s Primary, Lydgate, always wear helmets when they snowboard and obviously without them the injuries sustained would have been far worse.
The brothers train between two and three times every week at the indoor snow slope Chillfactore, Manchester, where Lewis is the youngest ever sponsored team rider.
The Chillfactore Freestyle Snod Development team coach John Weatherley also travelled out to Tignes to give the boys support and advice as they were competing
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