Downtown Slopes

Taking inspiration from the “if you build it, they will come” school of thought, the Scion Open 2009 tournament offers Midwest snowboarders the chance to compete against top-tier professionals. After two years at Snow Creek in Weston, Missouri, the tournament will take place this year on a snow-covered slope-and-rail course erected in the middle of the Power & Light District (14th Street and Grand). It will bring in pros such as Mike Ennen to throw down with area up-and-comers. Registration is limited to 250 snowboarders — sign up for free at scionopen.com or take your chances at the gate. The tricksters start their ollies and air-to-fakies at 11:30 a.m., but audiences will likely get the biggest kicks between 7 p.m. and midnight, when the day’s top 10 amateurs square off against the pros. The free event will also feature a performance by DJ A.K. and a closed-circuit broadcast throughout the P&L District.

Sat., Feb. 7, 2009