We’ve heard rumours for a few months, but can now officially announce that Freeze is back and better than ever with an FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air and International Ski Invitational on Saturday 14th November in London. Freeze Big Air 2015 will be Britain’s biggest-ever snow sports event and will be held at the iconic London’s Queen Olympic Park.
This huge event will feature 60 of the world’s best snowboarders and skiers to compete on a real 120m x 41m snow jump made our of 360 tonnes of snow.
Freeze is famed for holding its start of winter festivals at Battersea Power Station and Clapham Common, after a year break in 2014, the brand has come back in 2015 with Freeze Big Air.
Team GB Olympic bronze medallist Jenny Jones is confirmed as the event’s official ambassador, and together with fellow Olympian Jamie Nicholls, they will compete alongside the world-class snowboarders and skiers on British soil.
Sochi showed the nation that we have world class skiers and snowboarders, and a huge event like this in the capital will be a very exciting opportunity to further the awareness of snowsports in the UK.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “The Freeze Big Air Festival is clear proof that anything is possible at the magnificent Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We have already hosted a plethora of world class sporting events and can now add Olympic-level snowboarding to that incredible mix. I am delighted that London will be showcasing the spectacular talents of some of the world’s leading winter athletes in such a unique setting. It promises to be an extraordinary day that adds to our reputation as the world’s number one sporting city.”
Jamie Nicholls and Jenny Jones at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The event will form part of UK Sport’s National Lottery funded major events programme and is fantastic news for snowsports in the UK. Dave Edwards, Chief Executive of event partner and national governing body British Ski and Snowboard has commented “Our British athletes helped to showcase halfpipe and slopestyle competitions at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Now, we are able to provide many of those outstanding athletes, and the next generation of British world class competitors, with an opportunity to demonstrate their talents in a World Cup event on home snow! We are honoured to be allowed to host what is likely to be the first World Cup Big Air competition to take place following the announcement that the event is to be included in the Olympic programme in 2018.”
Other huge annual ski and snowboard events that are held in cities include: Burton Rail Days in Tokyo, and Air + Style in Innsbruck, Beijing and LA. It would be a brilliant addition to have Freeze Big Air as a regular event in London.
Snowboard Slopestyle Bronze medalist, Jenny Jones
When: 14th November 2015
Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
How: Early bird tickets now on sale at £37.50