Master & Legends on the Snow
9th April 2025 | Jane Peel, Mayrhofen, Austria
Last modified on April 11th, 2025
What do you get when you bring together servicemen and women from the Army, Navy and RAF and let them loose on the snow? The answer: fierce competition and a whole stash of medals.
The British Armed Forces always make their mark at the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships – and this year was no different.
They’ve been sending a team to The BRITS for well over a decade.
They were back for the 2025 Championships in Mayrhofen in Austria – the first time the event has been held in the Alps since 2019.
Twelve men and women were selected for the team, though only 11 could compete after an injury to one of them, three days before the competition began.
All are snowboarders.
For some reason, the skiers in the Armed Forces are into alpine, and not freestyle.
And most qualified for the Masters (Over 30) or Legends (Over 40) age categories.
Their biggest success was in Snowboard Cross.
Victory for the Armed Forces in Snowboard Cross. Image © Craig Robinson
No fewer than eight medals in Snowboard Cross went to the Armed Forces team, including a handful of National titles.
All three services were represented on the podium.
Armed Forces medallists in Snowboard Cross at The BRITS. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI spoke to two of the team.
HAYLEY PHILLIPS, RAF (Legends)
Hayley Phillips. Image © PlanetSKI
Hayley is a reservist and physical training instructor, based at 504 Squadron, RAF Wittering in Northampton.
She’s an ex-regular who left the RAF in 2015 and rejoined 18 months ago.
She’s been snowboarding for two decades and worked seasons in the mountains before joining the RAF.
This was her first BRITS.
“One of the big reasons I rejoined is, after having my three children and ten years of being at home with the children, I wanted to get my life back a little bit, and this supplemented my personal training business really well.
“It means I can get a bit of me again and take advantage of the unbelievable sport that we’ve got in snowboarding.”
Hayley Phillips, Snowboard Big Air at The BRITS. Image © Craig Robinson
“It’s brilliant at The BRITS,” Hayley added.
“The way everyone’s so friendly, all competitors. The great thing about this sport is, no matter how big the trick, or if someone is learning something new, everyone is super happy for each other.
“Being out here for the first time wearing the British Armed Forces badge is a proud time.”
DAVID GRANT, Army (Masters)
Davd Grant. Image © PlanetSKI
David Grant is in the REME, the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, but is currently attached to MAB 7 (I’m not allowed to say more about that, but if you know, you know).
The 37-year-old is The BRITS team manager and this is his third time at the National Championships.
He started snowboarding about 10 years ago at the REME Championships and, every year since, has managed to get at least four weeks on snow.
He’s now the REME’s Chief Instructor.
“We concentrate massively on our grassroots so we can get as many new snowboarders on snow as possible.
“It makes a massive difference to people’s lives. You see some people who come, who have never done a snowsport before and, by the time they’ve done two or three weeks on snow, they’re a changed person for the better, because they are challenged and pushed so much.”
David Grant competes in Snowboard Big Air at The BRITS 2025. Image © Craig Robinson
“We don’t necessarily select the best athletes for The BRITS. We select people who have given something back to the sport and the armed forces,” David says.
“It’s a reward to be here.”
We’re sure they’ll all be desperate to make the team again in 2026.
British Armed Forces at The BRITS 2025. Image c/o James Mitchell
See our earlier coverage from The BRITS 2025 on the return of the competition to the Alps and the youngsters tipped to become the freestyle stars of the future.
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