Seoul Snow Jam and FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air - 11 / 13 December 2009

Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul has been transformed into a venue for winter festivities, accommodating Seoul Snow Jam, the fourth in the "Seoul Dream Series" which is designed to celebrate the dedication of the city's new landmark square.

A temporary jump slope has been built at the square to serve as the main site for the event which takes place from December 11 to 13. Seoul Snow Jam will feature a freestyle snowboarding show and Big Air match, together with diverse festivities for the citizens and visitors. The FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air Competition will be held on the last day of the event. This is the first time for an Asian city to host the Big Air World Cup.

Measuring 34 meters in height and 100 meters in length, the slope, built to conform to the applicable FIS technical data, stands at the northern end of the square to accommodate the competition. Two ice rinks, measuring 20 meters by 20 meters and 20 meters by 30 meters each, will also be added to the square for Seoul citizens.

An opening ceremony of Seoul Snow Jam will be held today, December 11. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will be joined by world top snowboard riders to kick off the three-day winter event. Cho Yang-ho, Chairman of Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games Bidding Committee, and Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the FIS, will join Mayor Oh in the ceremony to light up a digital torch, symbolizing the official opening of Seoul Snow Jam and the FIS Snowboard World Cup.

One of the highlights in the Seoul Big Air will be the competition between Stefan Gimpl, who ranked first in three World Cup competitions in a row, and Gian-Luca Cavigelli, who ranked second in the 2009 Barcelona Snow Show Big Air.

"To stage Seoul Snow Jam at Gwanghwamun Square will raise the nation's profile, not to mention the city's brand power. By promoting a Snowboard World Cup competition in urban surroundings, we can attract more international visitors and hope to help Pyeongchang of Korea to win in the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games," said Kang Cheol-won, Director General of Public Relations Planning of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

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