Kilner’s run in the Olympics has to be worth another look.

While taking an 18th place does reflect the difference between the amplitude and technicality of Ben’s runs in comparison to say Gold medallist Shaun White…  let’s not forget how bloody good was that run.

I’ve not seen any other UK rider go that high or that technical in a pipe run, ever. It’s funny ‘cos obviously all the mainstream press in the UK is interested in is how many medals the British take home. (Which is exactly what’s a weird about having snowboarding in the Olympics, but that’s another story.)

But when they’re raving about the skeleton or whatever glory run is gonna sell a few more papers or generate a few more hits they are paying little respect the enormous amount of effort or skill it takes to get good in a halfpipe.

I don’t know if any of you found yourself bogged down in the skeleton runs last night in the vain hope of catching the Women’s halfpipe finals before shut-eye overwhelmed you, or was it too much wine. Either way, how many of the skeletal riders had recently transferred from sprinting, cycling, hockey, golf whatever other athletic pursuits they had previously been into.

I’d like to speculate that no Olympic halfpipe medallist ever took up snowboarding as a ‘career athlete’. You just plain wouldn’t have the time you need to get good enough to score well on a global stage.

Halfpipe riding is like a Jedi art of snowboarding; the amount of time and commitment it takes to even be half-good, let alone really damn good is ridiculous. It’s a discipline that many snowboarders will save for nought more than a mellow shred in the slush when they’re perfectly happy throwing 9s over 20m kickers in the park or sliding down 20-stair handrails, but put them in the pipe and half of them will look like beginners.

So let’s give a little bit of Brit love to Kilner’s incredible run.

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Olympic contender: Ben Kilner

Torah Bright wins women's halfpipe final at Winter Olympics

White takes Gold at Winter Olympic Halfpipe finals

Kilner takes third at World Cup halfpipe in Canada

Brits just miss out on BEO halfpipe finals

Gillings takes 8th in Olympic Snowboardcross