 is still going strong now its 4th year. Having based its grounds in the iconic backdrop of Battersea Power Station transforming the industrial land into an Alpine ski resort. […] "'Pin It")
REVIEW: RELENTLESS FREEZE FESTIVAL 2011
Naming itself London’s biggest Après Ski Party and being the only official Snow & Ski festival currently run in the U.K. the Relentless Freeze Festival (2011) is still going strong now its 4th year. Having based its grounds in the iconic backdrop of Battersea Power Station transforming the industrial land into an Alpine ski resort. Extreme sports fanatics and music lovers alike unite as they present themselves for the two-day event. Although this year it has been shortened by a day, the organisers unsure that this way whichever day you attend it is sure to be bursting with action. With an 32 meter ramp providing an epic 17 meter drop and covered by 500 tons of snow the slope for which the action took place acted as a landmark protruded into the sky being seen for miles around.
Day One started off quit quite, but with perfect festival weather and plenty to watch on the big ramp excitement was still in the air. With the UK’s top 16 ski and snowboarders going head to head with each other in the Battle of Britain and the International Freeski Big Air Comp bringing to London the top talent of freestyle skiers this is the prefect line up for the UK snow sports community. Throughout the day amongst the talent on the slopes the tents are graced with music from up and coming Hip Hop Duo Rizzle Kicks and well as Dub Pistols Live, Beardyman and a Zane Lowe DJ set. Not forgetting the Energy Sessions stage which I can only describe as an inflatable igloo which saw the likes of the Xcerts, Pulled Apart By Horses and rounded up by Daniel P Carter. Closing the night on the main stage Groove Armada, the London duo who were hard to spot amongst the near retna burning visual display that lay down as their backdrop. When the lasers dropped you could just about make them out behind the glowing apple emblems of the macbooks that lay around them, cueing up tracks. Despite this G.A are not an act you go to watch. With their crowd-pleasing spinning it is the atmosphere and excitement of the crowd when they drop their hits like ‘Superstylin’ and ‘I See You Baby’ that really matters.
Day Two definitely brought around more of the atmosphere I was expecting. Whether this was to do with it now being the weekend and people not being stuck at work or whether the nights headline act from the shortly disbanding Streets. The day consisted of the LG London Big Air competition where the world’s best snowboarders gathered as part of the ongoing quest to become the FIS LG Big Air World Champion where by a whopping 25,000 (Swiss franc) prize money is up for grabs. Find out the full results from the comp at: www.relentlessfreeze.com Pulling into the evening with the Relentless Energy Drink Europe vs. The World clash where 3 skiers and 3 snowboarders make up two teams going head to head for 4 rounds. With the rounds consisting of Trick Selector, Crowd Pleaser, Combos and the astounding finale of Gang Bang, in which one of the most spectacular moments of the event occurred as the teams jump either in quick succession or side by side to complete the contest. This was met with fireworks to top the completion of the snow events for 2011.
The final wrapping up of the event was done with a tearful performance from The Streets. After 17 years, and numerous hits, Mike Skinner and band set out to play their last ever show in London. The mood was matched when the arm-swaying, sing-a-long ‘Dry Your Eyes’ played out. This did not stop Skinner from going out with a bang though as with the tent rammed an energetic encore played out which included hits ‘Going Through Hell’ and undoubtedly the trademark of their back catalogue ‘Fit But You Know It’ A booming climax was extended by Cassell The Beatmaker on drums and with a clash, their long career is lay to rest, I don’t believe this is the last we will see of Mike Skinner though.
Words and photo: Laura Palmer
