Rookie boarders wanted for a ride

Jenny Jones in action at the Orange Brits last March

Amateur snowboarders are being given the chance to turn professional in a special development team which is being been launched.

Leading British female pro Jenny Jones will become the four-strong team's coach and mentor.

They will be selected from the Orange AIM Series which has events all summer at indoor and artifical slopes.

The team will head off to Switzerland for a training camp and compete at the British Championships in March.

They will also perform at the Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard Show in London in October.

Jones, the current British big air champion, said: "This is a huge opportunity for any amateur snowboarder.

"To be given the chance to make it as a pro through training and support is relatively unheard of and a dream come true for any aspiring snowboarder.

"This is also a great opportunity for me as it's a chance to share some of my experience with four riders that could be the future of snowboarding."

To qualify for selection to Orange Talk Now Team, snowboarders must be students, amateur riders and have no existing sponsors.

The AIM Series has already kicked off with events at Bracknell Ski Centre at Xscape at Milton Keynes.

But there are three more events to come at Xscape in Castleford on 3 September, Rossendale Ski Centre in Lancashire on 17 and 18 September and Dorset Snowsport Centre in Warmell on 1 and 2 October.

The winning team members will be announced following the last AIM Series even in October.