2009 Seoul Snow Jam and FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air

hello, just trying to get caught up on 2009. This post and the next should rap it up :)

Well, from Dec. 11-14 the pro snowboarders were in Seoul showing off their skills. It was very cool to see a huge snowboarding structure built in the middle of the city. It was kinda amazing to say the least...they say over the weekend 150,000 spectators checked it out.

Thanks to my friend Jean Lee, whose a journalist for AP, set me up with a press pass, which allowed me to hang out up close VIP style. :)

Now it's time for you to check it out....

taken of the jumbo screen slope side....

a co-worker and I headed up Sat. evening to check out the event. we got off the bus and found our way to Gwanghamun Square, the event area. On the way the holiday lights were pretty impressive outside of Lotte Department Store.

big air event Sat. night....

during the event, some B-Boys showed off their talents....

sly announcer...

friends Nicolle and Jean Lee, nice B&W, they are glowing as usual

another B-Boy, showing off his style...

Eero Ettala, FIN wins the 2009 Snow Jam BIG AIR Comp

the event definitely helped out the push for the 2018 Winter Olympic bid...

yet, another b-boy jammin' at the mic...

korean b~boy

Mark (new co-worker, fresh to korea) came along to check it out. At first, I thought we would have to split up after I picked up my press pass. But then, I think the Korean girls that I talked with felt bad and ended up giving Mark a pass as we were walking away. Sometimes being a westerner can be an advantage....

the winners of the night...

YES...that is $24,000 USD for the winner....all in a nights work, damn....maybe I should have a different job!

the nights crew in front of King Sejong (the inventor of Hangul, Korean language)

L to R...Mark, Nicolle, Jean Lee, Esther

We decided to get some BBQ and then went to a Japanese Sake bar, then back to Bundang on one of the last buses.

curiosity is priceless...

I decided to come back the next day, sunday afternoon....looking up at the ramp and landing zone.

practices runs....that's some big air.

this is an interesting site, actually had to walk through this to get to the press area

I hope it's not too toxic

Another view....Sunday is the FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air day...

the jump measures 34 meters in height and 100 meters in length, just to give you some perspective.

The competition has been held so far in some of the major cities in Europe, including London, Stockholm, and Barcelona. S.Korea is excited for this opportunity to raise the nation's profile, not to mention the city's brand power. Also to help in the bid to host the 2018 Winter Games as I've mentioned above.

Matevz Pristavec from SLOvenia

winners....

As the event came to an end, I went back to AP with Esther to meet up with Jean Lee, as they had to do a write up to send off to the world....

After that, we were a bit hungry, so we met up with Nicolle and headed to Kraze Burger

I decided to go with the "Nude Burger", have to say, it was pretty tasty...

my heineken even came with a do-rag!

OK...stay tuned for the final posting of 2009.....should be soon, since I have already had a good start to 2010, I think it's going to be another amazing year "2010"

Ciao for now!