Meet Jaime Castro – Spanish Snowboarding Freestyle Champion

Woah, this guys is nuts – which some think is a slight understatement! Watching the Spanish Champion in Snowboarding Slopestyle, Jaime Castro, train and prepare for his next championship was insane. He is a FIS (International Ski Federation), as well as FADI (Andalusian Federation of Winter Sports), and so we hooked up with him in Livigno/ Italy, where one Europe’s best SB training parks is situated: Mottolino Fun Mountain!

The park was open to athletes and their coaches during this winter season, who came from all over the world, including countries like the UK, Germany, Argentina, Chile, Czech Republic and many more, other than native athletes from Italy and Spain. It was important for training to resume, as European championships and tournaments (carried out in their respective bubbles) were still taking place. The jumps at Mottolino are of Olympic standard, which is why we are not surprised that this sleepy, pretty little village will be hosting some of the ski and snowboard disciplines at the Winter Olympics in 2026! Exciting stuff…

Jaime’s home turf is actually the Sierra Nevada. He’s from Granada, the fabulous Spanish city steeped in history, situated in Andalusia and home to the world-famous Alhambra. So, popping up the hill to the Sulayr Snowpark is easy pickings for him. Watch him fly, twist and turn there, as there’s nothing safe from getting the ‘Jaime treatment’. Hence, when the heaviest snowfall in 40 years hit Madrid, Jaime hit the road. Board in the boot, he made his way to the Spanish capital, and delivered snowboarding performances the city has never seen before. You have to see it to believe it…you may peel your chin off the floor after!

Back at the Mottolino Fun Park, the new generation wasn’t sleeping though: junior athletes (also FADI members) were hard at work, training for the Campeonato de España Snowboarding Slopestyle, which was scheduled for the end of March. Bad weather moved to to the 10-11 April, and we can only congratulate Teiva Hamaini, Aida Castro & Kai Hamaini to have made it onto the podium in their respective categories – very well done, guys! But, it’s time to hit that start button now and see them perform…have fun 🙂