01.28.08

MC Brings the Mountain to Manhattan

Author: Shannon McSweeney

Aura360, in partnership with NYC Parks & Recreation, has announced the return of the first major pro snowboarding rail jam in Union Square, to be held on February 7, 2008; and Mountain Creek is again bringing the mountain to Manhattan for this world-class event.  

 

The Jeep® Union Square Street Sessions will showcase a narrowed field of 20 world class competitors who will compete for a $30,000 purse on custom urban features designed and built by Mountain Creek’s JibLab.  Plus spectators will enjoy the action sports block party at Union Square from 3-6 pm, which will include autograph sessions, giveaways and product demonstrations from event sponsors including Mountain Creek, Jeep, Burton, Red Bull, Oakley, and N’East Magazine.  Last year, a crowd of over 10,000 packed Union Square for this unique event.

 

JibLab, the in-house design and fabrication team behind Mountain Creek’s new South – the Largest Terrain Park in the East -- has turned their attention to creating an incredible urban rail yard to challenge the pros, and dazzle the fans and news cameras!  This is one event you’ll have to see to believe, with innovative features that will be right at home in the city, including the new custom Jeep® rail with a working traffic light built in; the Red Bull Wallride/Stairset, plus jibs created from jersey barriers and a reclaimed steam pipe. 

 

Confirmed athletes include Mountain Creek’s own Tom Weiss who secured one of the two amateur spots during the Union Square Street Sessions qualifier at the resort on December 17th, and Eddie Wall who will be defending the title, plus some of the world’s top pros including:

 

1..EDDIE WALL                           11. PAT MOORE
2. LUCAS MAGOON                     12. SKYE GALE
3. SCOTTY LAGO                        13. BRANDON REIS
4. MIKE CASANOVA                    14. EIKI HELGARSON
5. LOUIE VITO                            15. ANDREW KAHKONEN
6. CHRIS ROTAX                        16. CHARLES REID
7. YALE CUSINO             17 SAM HULBERT
8. JONAS MICHILOT                    18. BODE MERRILL
9. JED ANDERSON
10. AARON BITTNER

 

If you can’t make it to Manhattan you can catch all the action on NBC Sports on February 16th from 5-6pm.

 

The winter sports celebrations will continue in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 9 with NYC Parks & Recreation's Winter Jam, a pro/am rail jam and winter carnival with music, sledding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more held at the Central Park Bandshell, in coordination with Aura360 and the Olympic Regional Development Authority.  Introductory Terrain Park features will be incorporated into Mountain Creek’s tent, with Switch Academy instructors and Burton Demo boards on hand, to give participants a taste of what the mountain’s South Terrain Park has to offer. 

 

The full event schedule for the Union Square Street Sessions on Thursday, February 7th is as follows:

 

5:00-9:00am  Media Showcase: Pro Rail Jam Live TV Coverage

• Athlete Demo

• Local New York City & National Morning Shows

• NYC News & Weather outlets

• Cable Sports Networks

 

3:00-9:00pm  Pro Rail Jam

• Festival area opens with music and demos – 3:00 PM

• Rail Competition 1st Round – 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

• Rail Competition Semi-finals – 6:30 to 7:30 PM

• Rail Competition Finals – 8:00 to 8:45 PM

• Awards 8:45 – 9:00 PM

 

For more info visit /todo/events/2008_February/020708_USSS.htm or to request media credentials please email smcsweeney@mountaincreek.com.