World’s Top Riders Meet for the Union Square Street Sessions, Presented by Jeep®
PORTLAND, Maine, January 23, 2007 – Aura360 in partnership with NYC Parks & Recreation announces New York City’s first major pro snowboarding rail jam competition, The Union Square Street Sessions, presented by Jeep®. Thursday, February 8, the world’s top pro riders including Marc Frank Montoya, Danny Kass and Eddie Wall will compete head-to-head for a prize purse of $30,000.
"The Union Square Street Sessions will expose residents to the thrill of a professional snowboarding rail jam set in Union Square Park, the gateway to downtown Manhattan," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe.
Twenty-four men and eight women will participate in Union Square Street Sessions and will show off their skills on a customized urban rail fabricated at Mountain Creek Resort’s Jib Lab. This will be the largest such structure ever produced for an event of this kind in New York City.
“We have been working on the concept for a major pro snowboarding competition in New York City for several years,” said Dan Gacetta, partner of Aura360. “We wanted to produce a breakthrough event in a world class venue that would demonstrate the long standing involvement of urban communities in the sport of snowboarding.”
The Union Square Street Sessions will begin with athlete training at 3:00 p.m. leading up to the rail jam competition commencing at 5:30 p.m. During the contest, the neighborhood of Union Square will be transformed into an action sports block party with celebrity judges, live music provided by Fuse TV and a sponsor village comprised of action sports retailers.
The invitational pro field of top riders will be augmented by up-and-coming athletes selected at three Street Session qualifiers. Winners at The Block Party in Tahoe and Rails to Riches and Shop Wars events at Killington receive automatic qualifications.
Union Square Street Sessions partners include Jeep as the presenting sponsor and supporting sponsors Burton, Fuse TV, Snowboarder Magazine, Lat34.com, Boost Mobile, Plantronics, Mountain Creek Resort and Killington Resort.
“Freedom and adventure are among the core values of the Jeep brand, so we’re excited to sponsor The Union Square Street Sessions,” said John Plecha, Jeep Marketing and Global Communications. “Snowboarding is one of the many outdoor activities Jeep owners enjoy. Snowboarding in New York City fits naturally with the ‘go anywhere-do anything’ versatility of the Jeep brand and its vehicles.”
The winter sports celebrations will continue in New York City on Saturday, February 10 with NYC Parks & Recreation’s Winter Jam, a pro/am rail jam and winter carnival with snowshoeing and cross country skiing held in Central Park.
UNION SQUARE STREET SESSIONS SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Street Sessions Pre Event Demo For Media – 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m..
o Athlete Demo
o Athlete Interviews
o Fashion & Gear Demo
Street Sessions Pro Rail Jam – 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – Demo & festival area opens
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. - Athlete autograph signing and demos
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. - Athlete warm-up
5:00 to 5:30 p.m. - Music act 1
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Rail competition preliminaries
6:30 to 7:15 p.m. - Music act 2
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Rail competition finals
8:30 to 9:00 p.m. - Awards
9:30 p.m. - VIP Rail Jam Party
WEBSITE: www.lat34.com/streetsessionsnyc
DIRECTIONS: Subway: N,R,Q,W, 4,5,6, or L to 14th Street/Union Square
NYC PARKS & RECREATION’S WINTER JAM IN CENTRAL PARK
Saturday, February 10 - 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
o Winter Sports Gear & Product Demos
o Amateur Rail Jam
o Music & awards
WEBSITE: www.nyc.gov/parks
DIRECTIONS: Subway: 6 to 68th Street; B or C to 72nd Street
