On a surprisingly warm winter afternoon, Mpora sits in the reception of a typically featureless Travel Lodge waiting for Scott Stevens to emerge at the end of a weeklong tour of the UK with Capita Snowboards.

Two of Stevens’ team mates, Brandon Cocard and Phil Jacques – men with exquisite beards – mill around looking weary, as if they’ve just rolled out of bed. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon.

Suddenly, a contrastingly chipper Scott Stevens buzzes through the door. “Has anybody got Will [Gilmour’s] Instagram?” asks Stevens. “I don’t want to miss anybody out.” The British grom has impressed while riding with the Capita team during the week. The fact that Stevens is at pains to include a 10-year-old in his circle of social media friends marries up with his reputation as the nicest man in snowboarding.

Hell, he’s even got a good word for the Travel Lodge. “They’re good! They’re not bad. Some of the guys don’t like the hard bed, but I have a soft bed at home and I hate it.” he says.