London’s Olympic Park, scene of so many medal triumphs, and where brilliant memories were etched during that blissful summer three years ago, is to host snowboarding and skiing for the first time this November.

But nope there hasn’t been a super-earthquake creating a sudden range of mountains in east London (epic as that would be…) what’s happening is the Freeze Big Air contest is coming to town, bringing with it a man-made jump measuring a whopping 120m, which will be furnished with 360 tonnes of real snow.

The Freeze Big Air will be an invitational event, with some of the world’s best snowboarders and skiers expected to attend. Already confirmed and fronting the promotional campaign is the Winter Olympic Bronze medal-winner Jenny Jones, and her fellow Team GB Park and Pipe star and Olympian Jamie Nicholls.

The Freeze Big Air, which previously took place at Battersea Power Station, takes on extra significance this year as the IOC have just included Big Air the programme for the next Winter Olympics in South Korea. As Jenny Jones says:

 “The news that Snowboard Big Air will be an Olympic discipline in 2018 is huge for British snowboarding and skiing. British riders like Billy Morgan and Katie Ormerod are real medal prospects in 2018.

And the fact that we’ll be able to see the best riders in the world battling it out in the middle of London will be an amazing start to each winter. I can’t wait!” 

London’s eccentric mayor, Boris Johnson, who famously got stuck on an Olympic zip wire just before the 2012 Olympics, had this to add:

“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.”

Whether he’ll be sneaking a go on the Big Air in his own hapless/inimitable style remains to be seen.

The Freeze Big Air takes place in the Olympic Park on Saturday 14th November.

Early bird tickets are on sale now at the Freeze website.

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