Big Air at Fenway Park

SI Staff | Feb 16, 2016

Big Air at Fenway Park /

Big Air at Fenway Park

Fenway Park’s Green Monster dressed up for the Polartec Big Air competition.

The 150-foot-ramp, which extended from home plate out to left center field, took nearly three weeks to build and was 10 feet taller than originally anticipated.

A member of the Fenway Park grounds crew prepares the lower bowl seating for the big crowds expected for the two-night event.

Athletes practice on the ramp, sizing up the man-made jump and figuring out their plans for the coming event.

A snowboarder tests the ramp, catching air in front of a very unfamiliar backdrop for a ski or snowboard event.

A snowboarder rises above the iconic Fenway Park sign during Polartec Big Air practice.

Just like this year’s X Games Olso Big Air competition, the Big Air competition at Fenway was open to female snowboarders and skiers. The big air event was added to the women’s World Cup and U.S. Grand Prix seasons in 2015.

A couple of riders sized up the 150-foot jump from the very top during practice.

The athletes had a lot of fun with the novelty of holding a big air event in Boston’s Fenway Park.

The Big Air ramp as the sun set over Fenway Park.

The Big Air ramp from the launch base as the snowboarders are introduced at the snowboarding competition.

The crowd at Fenway Park for the snowboard Big Air competition, seen from the launch pad level of the jump.

Michael Schaerer slides safely across the home plate drawn at the base of the jump during the first round of the Big Air snowboard final.

Silver medalist Michael Ciccarelli goes airborne during the second round of the snowboard Big Air competition.

Lyon Farrell, the youngest member of the Big Air snowboard final, takes flight during the second round.

Charles Guldemond, "Chuck G" for short, mid-flight in the second round of the snowboard final.

Max Parrot acknowledges the Fenway crowd after completing his second run, which earned him the top score of the competition.

The base of the jump ended quickly after home plate; many riders opted to speed check by taking a seat after their runs were deemed completed to avoid hitting the wall.

Max Parrot flies over Fenway Park during his third run and the final run of the night.

The crowd at Fenway Park grows even larger for the freeskiing competition on Day 2.

The Boston faithful fill the center of the stadium in anticipation of the skiing Big Air final.

The male and female skiers who qualified for the final assemble at the bottom of the jump for introductions.

Klaus Finne catches air during the skiing Big Air final.

First-place winner Vincent Gagnier during the first of his three high scoring runs.

Women’s third-place winner Emma Dahlstrom takes off from the Big Air ramp during the ski final.

Oscar Wester leaves a trail of powder in his wake during his second run of the Big Air ski final.

Boston favorite Jonas Hunziker embraces a member of his crew right before his final run.

Hunziker, who performed in a Boston Bruins jersey, was all smiles during the moment he took to look down upon Fenway Park before his final run.

The view of the crowd at Fenway Park from the very top of the Big Air ramp

Men’s ski Big Air winner Vincent Gagnier during his interview with Fenway Big Air and X Games field reporter DC.

Published Feb 16, 2016

SI STAFF