Preparations for Snowboard Big Air World Cup at Commonwealth nearly complete

For the second year in a row, the Snowboard Big Air World Cup is being hosted in Edmonton, and preparations are almost complete.

“There was snow on the ground last year. Not much snow on the ground this year. We’ve had to make all the snow at Rabbit Hill,” explained Richard Hagerty, Major Event Director with Canada Snowboard.

Who would have thought that a snowboarding event in the northernmost major city in North America would face challenges during the winter for snow? But that’s exactly what is happening leading up to the Big Air Snowboarding World Cup. Organizers say there shouldn’t be an issue for next weekend when the event kicks off.

“I don’t know how many truckloads that have come in but it’s been a vast amount of snow that we’ve brought in,” said Hagerty.

The snow is lifted and spread across the newly designed ramp which runs into the centre of Commonwealth Stadium, a bit of a different look than last year. The jump is also two stories taller and around four feet wider than last year. The builders say there’s a way to make the jump bigger.

“Anything can be built bigger and better. Moving it with the curvature of the stadium to an open spot gives us that freedom,” explained Matthew Thunderchild, Site Super-Intendent with Clark Builders.

The Winter Olympics is the biggest winter sporting event in the world. Organizers hinted Friday that since Edmonton has proven it can host this big of a snowboarding event, the Winter Olympics shouldn’t be out of the question.

“Look from my perspective, this is the perfect location for an Olympic games,” said Hagerty. “You know this is the largest temporary snowboard structure built on earth. If you can do that in Edmonton, you can do anything.”