MONTREAL – It’s unseasonably mild and it hasn’t even snowed yet so it may be hard to believe that people are actually snowboarding — in Montreal! On Saint-Denis Street to be exact.
This is the second year that Empire City Troopers brings the magic of the slopes to the city with a pop-up ski hill.
Starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, 60 competitors hit the course on Saint-Denis Street, between Sherbrooke and Ontario streets, to compete for over $15,000 in prizes.
At 76- metres long, and nearly eight metres off the ground, the slope is the longest urban snowboard course in Canada.
The slope also features three different obstacles guaranteeing boarders will be performing some high-flying tricks.
Micah Desforges with Empire City Troopers says the event is about celebrating winter and showcasing some local talent.
“A lot of the best snowboarders in the world come from Quebec,” said Desforges “We wanted to showcase those guys on an urban scene.”
Organizers say that eight truckloads of artificial snow, or almost 200 cubic metres, was shipped in from the Mont Saint-Bruno ski hill for the event.
A free snowboarding clinic for kids was held before the competition.
Last year’s event drew some 12,500 spectators and organizers are hoping to smash that record this year.
One of the boarders said he actually felt a little overwhelmed by the crowds.
“It’s fun,” he said. ” “But there are too many people. It’s stressful.”
Finals kick-off at 9:15 p.m. with the awards ceremony being held at 10:15.
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