From December 4 to 5, the 2015 "Air & Style" Beijing World Snowboard Tour and live concert will be held at the Bird’s Nest. Hai Zhenwen, director of the Beijing Municipal Sports Competition Management Center, introduced that this year's "Air & Style" will introduce advanced snow-making technology to provide athletes with higher-level facilities. Next year, the city will also host several winter sports events to encourage more people to get involved in snow and ice activities.
What is "Air & Style"?
Popular in Europe, "Air & Style" is part of the World Snowboard Tour and is one of the highest-tier six-star snowboarding competitions, with the champion receiving 1,000 points and a $100,000 prize. In addition, "Air & Style" promotes the perfect combination of sport, music, and fashion, featuring live music performances after each event, which are especially popular among young people. Moreover, the Big Air jump used in "Air & Style" is currently under consideration for inclusion in the Winter Olympics. Compared to existing snowboarding events in the Olympics, the Big Air jump features higher jumps and longer distances, giving athletes ample time in the air to perform twists and maneuvers.
Since 2010, "Air & Style" has been held in Beijing for five consecutive years, becoming a highlight in Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s bid for the Winter Olympics. Last year, with the signing of a new hosting agreement, "Air & Style" will continue to be held in Beijing until 2019. This year’s competition is organized by the Municipal Sports Bureau, with 24 top snowboarders from around the world participating.
Where does the snow come from?
The competition course will be completed by November 25, with snow-making taking place from November 30 to December 2.
Unlike previous years when snow was transported from places like Miyun and Yanqing to build the course, this year the organizing committee has partnered with a foreign company to use liquid nitrogen snow-making technology to produce 3,000 cubic meters of snow on-site. "In the past, transporting snow from the suburbs incurred high transportation costs and the quality of the snow would deteriorate during transit, failing to meet international top standards. This new technology not only eliminates temperature limitations but also ensures stable snow quality, with costs comparable to before," said a relevant official. This snow-making technology not only meets the needs of the competition but also serves as a valuable experiment for the development of winter sports in Beijing and across the country, as well as for the preparation of the 2022 Winter Olympics. "If this technology can be promoted in more cities, it will greatly contribute to the goal of getting 300 million people involved in winter sports."
More winter sports events in the capital
The production and promotion of this year’s "Air & Style" have been comprehensively upgraded, including activities such as the "Air & Style Angels" selection, promoting the event through the official WeChat platform, and implementing affordable ticket policies. A relevant official expressed hope that these efforts will engage more people in "Air & Style" and in winter sports overall.
It is revealed that, riding on the success of the Winter Olympics bid, Beijing plans to introduce and create a series of winter sports events next year. "On one hand, we will bring in high-level international competitions, such as inviting professional ice hockey teams from Europe and America to hold exhibition matches in Beijing, and introducing indoor snowboard halfpipe shows, enriching the viewing experience for citizens. On the other hand, following ice hockey, championships in figure skating, short track speed skating, and other events will also be launched in the city, providing competitive platforms for youths and professionals, and encouraging more people to participate in and learn about winter sports through these competitions."
By our reporter Wang Xiaoxiao