Tipped for the Top
5th April 2025 | Jane Peel, Mayrhofen, Austria
Last modified on April 8th, 2025
A 10-year-old British boy is creating a buzz in the snowsports world after consistently beating older athletes in competitions. PlanetSKI was at the National Championships, The BRITS, to meet freestyle snowboarder Riley Sharpe and two young skiers who are also tipped for success.
Great Britain has an impressive pedigree when it comes to freestyle talent.
There are so many success stories – at World Championships, Olympics, World Cups and X Games.
To name a few:
- Olympic medallists Jenny Jones, Billy Morgan and Izzy Atkin.
- Zoe Atkin (Izzy’s sister), the 2025 Ski Halfpipe World Champion
- Kirsty Muir, who took her maiden World Cup win in Ski Slopestyle in March.
- Mia Brookes, the 18-year-old who won the 2024-25 Snowboard Overall Park & Pipe Crystal Globe, finishing this season at the top of the world rankings.
Riley Sharpe could be joining that list in the future.
He is already drawing comparisons to Mia Brookes.
Could he be on the same trajectory to the top?
RILEY SHARPE
Riley Sharpe. Image © PlanetSKI
The similarities with Mia are clear to see.
When Mia was Riley’s age, she too was beating much older competitors.
She was the last Under-12 to win not just her age category at The BRITS – the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships – but the Overall (Open) title in her events.
This last week, in the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen, Riley did the same, triumphing Overall in Slopestyle and Big Air, laying down the best runs of the Championships.
Overall winner, Snowboard Slopestyle at The BRITS 2025. Image © Craig Robinson
Overall winner, Snowboard Big Air at The BRITS 2025. Image © Craig Robinson
Riley also won the Under-16s Rail Jam and Under-12s Snowboard Cross.
Under-12s winner, Snowboard Cross at The BRITS 2025. Image © Craig Robinson
But his victories are not just against British opposition.
When he was 8 he won every competition on The Swiss Tour in the Under-11s.
He’s currently leading this season’s Ziller Valley Rally in Austria with one stop to come on 4th May.
The week before The BRITS, he competed in the World Rookie Tour finals in Kaprun where he took the Super Groms (U12) title.
Riley’s UK home is near Nantwich in Cheshire, coincidentally just down the road from Mia Brookes.
In the summer he trains in the UK’s snowdomes, but he spends all winter in the mountains, honing his skills.
His mum and dad, James and Jennifer, are with him every step of the way to watch and support him.
James & Jennifer Sharpe. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI caught up with them and Riley just after his Slopestyle runs at The BRITS.
We also spoke to Riley’s main coach, Barry Parker, of Real Snowboarding in Morzine.
We asked him just how good Riley is.
So, watch this space.
In the meantime, we hope Riley has plenty of space in his luggage.
Riley Sharpe with his full set of medals & trophies from The BRITS 2025. Image © James Sharpe
ELLA HALL & MAX BAXTER-FOX
Ella Hall & Max Baxter-Fox with coaches Bobby Taylor & Tyler Harding. Image © PlanetSKI
Ella (16) and Max (12) are two of the young skiers who impressed at The BRITS, both making several podiums.
Ella was first Under 18 and first Overall in both Ski Cross and Slopestyle.
Ella Hall (centre) winner of Overall Ski Slopestyle. Image © Craig Robinson
Max and Ella also both won their categories at the Rail Jam.
They’re an example of what can be achieved on dry slopes in the UK.
They have both trained at Warmwell Snowsports Centre near Weymouth and Snowtrax near Christchurch.
They still spend most of their time in the UK but went into The BRITS straight from an on-snow training camp in Mayrhofen with Snowsport England coaches, Bobby Taylor and Tyler Harding.
Ella and Max are both in the Snowsport England B Squad but, according to Tyler, who was in the GB Snowsport World Cup squad until retiring last year, they are on the cusp of making the A squad.
On the rails in Ski Slopestyle. Image © Craig Robinson
“Ella is an exceptional rail skier,” Tyler told us.
“That’s where her serious talent is.
“Rails came into the Europa Cup this season and she came third in Poland, fourth in The Hague and was second in the Europa Series overall.
“With her results, she should be eligible when Rail Jams are included in the World Cup soon – hopefully next season.
“She’s not too bad at Slopestyle either!”
Here she is on an inspection run for the Slopestyle at The BRITS.
Tyler says Max is the least like a 12-year-old of anyone he knows.
Max Baxter-Fox. Image © PlanetSKI
“He is a very mature skier. He retains information extremely well,” he says.
“He has a lot of talent now and an exceptional work ethic.
“He’s good on jumps and rails so is good for Slopestyle, Rail Jams and Big Air.
“I’m expecting him to do very good things in the future.”
Ski Big Air at The BRITS 2025. Image © Craig Robinson
Riley, Ella and Max were not the only young freestylers to stand out at The BRITS 2025.
We look forward to following the progress of more rising stars next year and beyond.
Skier Hatti Wilson, age 9, at The BRITS 2025. Image © PlanetSKI
Check out britssnow on Instagram for more videos and photos from The BRITS 2025.
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The BRITS 2025. Image © PlanetSKI
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