By Anna Thompson BBC Sport in Les Deux Alpes

Cullum is combining school with snowboarding

When snowboarder Sam Cullum tumbled like a rag-doll after catching an edge landing in the big air competition, his mother Sharon knew not to panic.

She has been there numerous times before.

"You get a bit blas� about them injuring themselves," she told the BBC Sport website.

"It is an occupational hazard. You cannot wrap them up in cotton wool if they want to live their dream."

Thankfully after being examined in hospital in Grenoble, Cullum had suffered only muscle damage.

It did put an end to his participation in the Orange British Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Championships in Les Deux Alpes but the 16-year-old will be back competing when his injury has healed.

Matthew buys all the boarding magazines so for him to see some of his heroes here in person, and be able to chat to them, has been amazing for him Julie Neilson

He said: "At first they thought I had broken my back but luckily it wasn't that serious. "I'm quite used to being in and out of hospital with snowboarding injuries.

"It doesn't put me off. In fact it makes me more determined to land the trick next time."

Cullum was at the Orange Brits with his parents and 13-year-old sister Rebecca, who decided to compete herself this year after watching her big brother enjoying himself last time.

Sponsors have already noticed his potential and he is hoping to become a professional boarder in the not too distant future.

But the Berkshire schoolboy realises his education is important too and he is currently studying for his GCSEs and wants to stay on for his A Levels.

The mums: Sharon Cullum, Julie Neilson and Clare Gott

He is taking GCSE PE and luckily for him one of the practical aspects is snowboarding.

Cullum trains mainly on the artificial piste at Bracknell and occasionally at the Xscape indoor real snow slope in Milton Keynes.

Two Buckinghamshire youngsters who are seen regularly learning tricks at Xscape are Matthew Neilson and Sam Gott.

The 12-year-olds have only recently taken up snowboarding and it was their first time at the Brits.

Neilson's mum Julie said: "Matthew has never been on a ski or boarding holiday before and has loved every minute of it here.

"He buys all the boarding magazines so for him to see some of his heroes here in person, and be able to chat to them, has been amazing for him."

Gott's mum Clare was armed with a video camera to capture her son's performances.

She said: "Sam has been skiing since he was five but only took up boarding a few months ago after trying it at summer school.

The kids: Sam Gott, Rebecca Cullum, Matthew Neilson

"He won't go back to skiing now and loves taking part in the competitions."

The Orange Brits are the culmination of the AIM Series, the Artificial, Indoor and Mountain competition circuit for British skiers and boarders.

Gott's first taste of AIM was at the Castleford event in west Yorkshire in the autumn.

At the Brits, he finished sixth in the junior boardercross and competed in big air and his favourite event the slopestyle.

Clare added: "The AIM Series is an absolutely fantastic concept and Sam is really enjoying himself.

"This week has really opened his eyes so it comes as no surprise he has told me he wants to become a pro snowboarder. We'll just have to wait and see how his talent develops."