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Freeze in Association with Metro, the UK’s biggest winter sports festival returns, but to a brand new home and with a fresh new look for 2013!
Freeze in Association with Metro, the UK’s Winter Sports Festival and Après Ski Party is returning to London for the sixth year, with over 30,000 people expected to enjoy a trip to the mountains in the heart of London. Saturday at Freeze (30th Nov) hails world class winter sports competitions at “Hail The Rail” during the day and a chance for visitors to lose themselves in electric performances by AlunaGeorge, Madeon, DJ Fresh, The Cuban Brothers and many more to come. Throughout Freeze, from Wednesday to Sunday, visitors can also enjoy parties in après ski bars, authentic alpine food stalls, an alpine shopping village and ski & snowboard film screenings.
Brit ski sensation and Team GB Olympic hopeful Monty Wright has been announced as another top athlete to take on the Hail the Rail challenge, to scoop a share of the £12,000 prize purse. Additional confirmed athletes include Brit stars Tom Coe and Julian Ball (ski), Katie Blundell, Becky Menday and Jamie Nicholls (snowboard).
Fellow skiers taking part in the Battle of Britain include; Tom Saunders, who won the Gap Nation jam 2013, and Cal Sandieson who came first in the Overall British Freeski Championships last season. Additional ski competitors include: British athletes Joe Hides, Josh Birch, James Webb, Kyle Wood, Mike Rowlands, Andy Collin, Jake Lloyd, Edward Salisbury, Josh Fawcett, Haydyn Fiori, Harris Booth, Jamie Lawson, Ollie Powell, Harry Lovell, Sam Brenna and Luke Rogers.
International skiers heading to London include Kim Boberg who won Best Style at Balestrand Open 2013, Øystein Bråten, winner of this year’s Norwegian Championship, along with Bendik Øye, Andri Ambühl, Sig Tveit, Samuel Ortlieb, John Strenio, Daniel Moder, Nina Rusten and Juho Kikki.
Snowboarders competing in the Battle of Britain include; Winner of Slope Style at The British Championships in Tignes 2013 Katie Blundell, Whitelines Rail Jam 2013 winner Andy Nudds and Rowan Coultas, current Glemmbang Slopestyle champion. Also competing are Brits Cody Hierons, Matt Corry, Will Radula-Scott, Jason Rickwood, Matt Higson, Ross Needham, Will Smith, Ollie Dutton, Si Foster, Jonathan Russell, Sean Tumelty, Chris Chatt, Nathan Onions, Rowan Biddiscombe, Matt McCormick, Neil Campbell, Gareth Andrews and newly confirmed Becky Menday, the youngest rider to compete this year.
International snowboarders include: Len Roald Jørgensen, who scooped first place at 2013’s Rock A Rail, Kas Lemmens winner of Burton Jibfest 2013 along with Ludwig Lejkner, Toni Kerkelä, Antti Jussila, Marc Swoboda, Yale Cousino, Wojek Pawlusiak and Jesse Augustinus.
The top four competitors from the Battle of Britain will compete in the Hail the Rail challenge with a chance of taking home a share of the £12,000 prize purse.
AlunaGeorge, the duo who have been making waves in the music industry with their debut single ‘Attracting Flies’ and collaboration with chart topping DJ act Disclosure, have been announced as the event’s main stage special guest with 19 year old super producer, Madeon on the Saturday night. His production prowess has been sought after for remixes and engineering from Deadmau5, Pendulum and Lady Gaga to name but a few and his title track ‘Pop Culture’ has amassed an incredible 20 million views on YouTube. It will be a rare UK performance for the French phenomenon following in the steps of the incomparable and late great DJ Mehdi and Daft Punk, his live show will be one to watch on the title edition of the 5 day event.
Additional acts as part of the line-up for Saturday night includes one of the UK’s hottest, music supremo DJ Fresh. 2013 saw the release of his fourth studio album, with the single “Earthquake” peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart. He’s worked with some of the hottest music talent of this century including Rita Ora, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green and The Fray, and is guaranteed to put on one hell of a show! The third music act announced is The Cuban Brothers, the unique trio who’s fresh approach to live entertainment guarantees to whip up a frenzy at every gig. Their legendary performance combines music, riotous comedy, and sensational dancing – most of all they have fun, and the crowd are sure to go crazy for the soulful sounds of Havana’s finest exports!
Revealed for the hotly anticipated Ibiza Rocks the Snow bar are this year’s summer festival scene hit Clean Bandit, who’ll bring their culture clash of bass, beats and soaring string creations to the bar. Hip Hop sensation Knytro will be hitting the stage with his unique fusion of hip hop and electronica fresh from the coveted MTA stables, headed up by Chase & Status. Underground mystery man and house producer sensation Route 94 who’s recent track features on Annie Mac’s latest compilation and Radio 1’s resident bashment bassman DJ and producer Toddla T, will also be bringing the heat of the Balearics to Freeze and will no doubt deliver a set where revelers can lose themselves in electronic beats on the penultimate day of the festival.
Themed alpine bars including: Bavarian Haus – everything Austrian under one roof where even the staff wear lederhosen, Krazy Kangaroo and Metro Lodge with a warm and inviting vibe will be home to an all-star line-up including MJ Cole, Maribou State, Eton Messy, Josh Butler, Just Kiddin, Panda, Boean and Adam Wyatt.
The alpine shopping village will have everything for a trip to the mountains; from the latest technology, snow equipment and a full range of next season’s fashion items and streetwear to advice from the people that live and breathe mountain life and winter getaway plans tailored by resorts and chalet companies. Whether freshly bitten by the snow-bug or a seasoned shredder, there’s something for everyone...
Film premieres will be taking place showing the must see ski and snowboarding films of 2013 including UK exclusive screenings of ‘Booblicious’, ‘Partly Cloudy’, ‘Distorted Reality’, and ‘A Way We Go’. ‘Into the Mind’ and ‘Never Not’ from Nike Snowboarding will also be aired.
Talks will take place from athletes featuring in the films, top explorers who have been to untouched lands and well known mountaineers sharing their knowledge on avalanche safety so the public can fire any burning questions at them.
All the very best mouth-watering traditional alpine cuisine will be on offer, think bratwurst, crepes, fondue, tartiflette, roasted chestnuts, raclette, mulled wine, cider and more! If that isn’t enough to entice you, Freeze will also feature a fun fair complete with white knuckle rides, carousels and swinging chairs.
Published on 19 November 2013 by Ben Robinson
