A freestyle skiing event will be held in the Covent Garden Piazza on Friday 27 September, and X Games medallists will be there throughout the day.
The event, which hopes to pay homage to Covent Garden’s Big Air event in 1995, will bring the freeride spirit back to the core of the West End.
Numerous freestyle athletes will be there to show off their tricks, including Olympian Anni Karava, two-time Freeride World Champion Kristofer Turdell and X-Games Real Ski medallist Alex Heckel.
Heckel said: “The UK has some of the most passionate skiers, it’s awesome to do an event here as I feel that they often are overlooked by the skiing world.”
Peak Performance, the mountain jacket company behind it all, is launching the rail jam – what freeskiers call a tricks competition – alongside the opening of their first store in the UK.
To host the event, Peak Performance have invited BBC action sports presenter Tim Warwood fresh off his trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Warwood will be sitting down with some of the athletes throughout the day in two Ask Me Anything sessions during the afternoon.
Talking about how he felt about freestyle skiing returning to London, he said: “I was never there at the main event back in the day, but seeing the pictures of the pros doing their thing in Covent Garden on the big air jump was amazing as a young kid.
“[Freeride and snowsports] move so fast, and just when you think it’s plateaued it goes up again.
“The level is ridiculous, the girls are really pushing themselves and what’s possible, the men are always cranking an extra rotation or an extra cork.
“What happens on rails now is insane too – tricks on and off are commonplace, and that’s where we’re seeing contests won and lost.”
If the demonstrations pique your interest, there are three ‘give-it-a-go’ workshops scheduled throughout the day with free coaching and tips on how to navigate the grind rail, which are open for signups now on Peak Performance’s website.
But for those who just want to see some incredible athletes, there will be a competition at the end of the day, where the athletes will battle it out in the P.O.W.D.E.R Rider Showdown (like when you played H.O.R.S.E in basketball) for the Rail Jam Crown.
That looks to be the event to watch, and Heckel commented: “I am super excited to meet, ride with, and inspire the next generation of UK skiers.”
Warwood also said: ”There will be some very good skiers showcasing some tech rail wizardry.
“It’ll be great for everyone to come have a watch and get super close to the action!”
The Freeski Rail Jam will start at the Covent Garden Piazza at 1pm with the ‘Tricktionary’ jam, and end with the hour-long P.O.W.D.E.R. competition at 4:30pm. There are three ‘give-it-a-go’ sessions at 12pm, 2:45pm, and 4pm.
It promises to be a big day ahead, and it will be a good day to see freeride ski return to the heart of London.
Featured image credit: Peak Performance
