Sunday River and Sugarloaf host largest rail event in Portland’s history
Countdown to Downtown Showdown Begins
Newry, Maine/Carrabassett Valley, Maine/Portland, Maine - Sunday River and Sugarloaf have officially begun the countdown to their first-ever Downtown Showdown, an urban rail jam where 16 skiers and 16 riders compete for bragging rights and cash and prizes in Monument Square in Portland, Maine, on Saturday, February 14. The event is part of Portland’s WinteRush Festival and takes place from 4:00 to 7:00 pm under bright lights accompanied by music from a DJ.
Over $5,000 in cash and prizes are on the line for the 32 invited participants who hail from various academies, industry teams and special qualifying events held at Sunday River, Loon, and Sugarloaf throughout this winter season.
Under assembly now, the event will feature a two-story run-in, a custom-built thirty-foot three-rail staircase, and an overturned boat hull for sliding. This invitation-only event is going to be the largest of its kind ever held in Maine.
“Hundreds of man-hours have gone into this project and all its components,” says Nick Roma, Sunday River’s terrain park manager. “The staircase itself weighs well over a ton,” Roma notes. “We’ll construct it here at Sunday River first, then, we’ll take it apart and bring it to Portland where we’ll put it all back together again.”
The top skier and snowboarder will each walk away with $500 in cash and exclusive Oakley Crankcase watches valued at $900. Second place secures $250 in cash and third place $100. Second and third place athletes will also walk away with new skis/snowboards.
Event sponsors include Red Bull, Oakley, Burton, Resort Sports Network and Freeskier and Snowboarder magazines.
A complete athlete list will be announced soon. For more information on The Downtown Showdown, visit thedowntownshowdown.com