An artist’s impression of a sloped jump pad for the 2009-2010 Big Air Snowboard World Cup /Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

The Men’s Big Air Snowboard World Cup for 2009-10 will be held for the first time this year in Seoul, Korea, from December 11-13. Previously held in European cities, such as London, Barcelona and Stockholm, this international contest will be the first time an Asian city has hosted the comp and held in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.

For the competition, the city plans to build a sloped jump pad 34 m high and 100 m long at the northern end of Gwanghwamun Sqaure in central Seoul. The facility will be carpeted with artificial snow.

On the sidelines of the competition, other sports and cultural events such as a ski jump demonstration and a snowboard gala show will also be staged to attract tourists and stimulate interest in winter sports. An ice skating rink will be set up between the jump pad and the statue of King Sejong while the World Cup is underway.