Boston City Hall Plaza Hosts Red Bull Heavy Metal Snowboarding Finals

Snowboarders flipped, spun in the air, grinded in, and delighted the audience in downtown Boston on Saturday, Feb. 21. The city hosted the Red Bull Heavy Metal competition, a street-style snowboarding finals held at City Hall Plaza.

According to a Boston Globe report, City Hall Plaza was transformed into a snowboarder's paradise with 300 tons of snow transported from New Hampshire's Loon Mountain Resort. A team of approximately 30 people, including snow sculptors, scaffolding specialists, and welders, created the jumps and ramps on the plaza.

The Globe reported that spectators arrived early, waiting in line at barricades, and received free energy drinks in can-shaped backpacks. They were able to view all the action from multiple vantage points and a large video screen situated on the plaza.

The event blended high-level X Games tricks with DIY skate culture, attracting top international snowboarding stars alongside rising local talent. Standout performers included Zeb Powell and Benny Milam. Additional top performers included Benny Milam, Telma Särkipaju, Jess Perlmutter, Liam Johnson, and Emmaus Rich.

Competitors and families gathered for the event, which also featured 18-year-old Mae Morelli from Charlestown in slope-style and big air tricks.

The Boston Globe spoke with Jacob McPherson, a 20-year-old Minnesota snowboarder, who became emotional when he found out he received an invitation to attend the event. “It means the world that I'm here today,” McPherson said. “It's just such a blessing that I could be here with everybody, some of my favorite snowboarders. Every feeling is surreal.”

Last year, approximately 20,000 people attended the festivities in Boston. A similar-sized crowd descended on the plaza again this year.

Following last weekend's event, the competition moves to Montreal next. There, boarders will compete at the city's Olympic Park on Saturday, Feb. 28.