At 8 PM on December 7, Beijing’s Sanlitun 16Club was buzzing with energy as it hosted a celebration exclusively for snowboard enthusiasts — the “Freestyle Night Party.” This year marked the second time the snowboard zone website, boardzone.cn, organized the event. Over 500 snowboarders gathered to jointly celebrate the return of the Air & Style Beijing World Snowboard Championships (2012 Oakley Shaun White Air & Style) to Beijing.
       Snowboarding is still a relatively new sport in China, but it has seen rapid development in recent years. Many brands have entered the Chinese market, and even top-tier global snowboarding competitions have set their sights on Beijing. In 2012, Beijing welcomed the highest-level (6-star) event of the World Snowboard Tour for the third time — the Air & Style Beijing World Snowboard Championships. To help snowboarders better understand the competition, the Snowboard Zone and the event organizers collaborated for the first time, specially inviting veteran Chinese rider Wang Zhi to serve as the event host, who introduced the basics and key details of the event. They also played videos produced in Beijing that explained the rules and course setups, while introducing the basic profiles and recent achievements of four athletes, giving attendees deeper insight into the prowess of world-class riders and a greater appreciation of the Air & Style competition.
       The Freestyle Night Party also received attention and support from the Beijing Municipal Sports Competition Management Center and major snowboarding brands. That evening, relevant officials were present to show their support, while well-known DC (snowboarding brand) team riders Devun Walsh and Eric Beauchemin also attended, interacting enthusiastically with fans and bringing the event to a thrilling climax.
       The event also featured live draws, a “Freestyle Champion Online Guessing Game,” and screenings of snowboarding films. Attendees left satisfied, and the party served as excellent promotion for the main Air & Style competition the following day.
       About Air & Style
       Air & Style (沸雪), which debuted in Europe in 1994, has grown into one of the most popular top-tier snowboarding competitions in Europe and around the globe. As a competition focused on the Big Air discipline in snowboarding, Air & Style blends competitive sports, musical performances, and celebratory parties, and is hailed as a leader in extreme sports and fashion.
       In 2010, Beijing introduced the Air & Style competition at the Olympic Sports Center, making it the city’s first world-class winter outdoor sports event and aligning with the growing trend of winter sports in China. In 2011, the event moved to the Olympic venue — the Bird’s Nest — further boosting its influence. This year, the Air & Style Beijing event was co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and the National Stadium, and organized by the Beijing Municipal Sports Competition Management Center. The 2012–2013 season marked the 20th anniversary of Air & Style, with two-time Olympic champion and snowboarding icon Shaun White serving as the ambassador. Singer Sun Nan also performed live, delivering an extreme sports spectacle to winter Beijing.
       About the Snowboard Zone
       The Snowboard Zone website, with seven years of history, is currently the most popular domestic snowboarding site in China. Ahead of this snow season, the website underwent a complete redesign to accelerate the rapid development of the snowboarding industry and culture in China.