The Octagon Rail Jam Event organiser said top skiers, snowboarders and wildcard entrants would compete for a share of the $20,000 prize pool at the August 20 event, which was being pitched as a free family event.
An crowd of 8000 people were expected to listen to the live entertainment and watch the action in the temporary amphitheatre, as the freestyle skiers and snowboarders try out the 26m long and 10m high ramp built specifically for the event.
The Octagon Rail Jam would complement other events in the region, including the Phoenix football game at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Rhythm and Vines Origin Concert, and the Winter Games.
There were also tentative plans to set up a big screen to watch the All Blacks v South Africa game, early the next morning.
Left-over snow would be used for a snowman-making competition the following day.
