This Downtown Montreal Street Will Become A Snowboard & Ski Hill For A Free Winter Festival

Montreal's rue Saint-Denis is trading traffic for snowboards and skis next month. From March 1 to 3, the urban corridor will become a free, open-air winter sports festival. APIK promises an epic showdown that turns the Quartier Latin into a wintertime playground. Snowboarders have the spotlight on Saturday; skiers follow on Sunday. The competition is fierce, with athletes vying for prizes.

Participating athletes face a gauntlet of trials, from nail-biting qualifying rounds to the adrenaline-pumping super-finals. Top performers in each category could walk (or glide) away with some serious cash, with the winners taking home $3,000.

Up to 40 athletes will carve their way across two heats in a jam-packed, 60-minute showdown. Each contender gets three runs, with only their top performance, scored out of 100 points, propelling them forward. They'll be judged for style, difficulty, and originality, among other criteria like consistency, execution, and how well they navigate the course, to earn points.

The climax of the competition, the super-final, will see the top five athletes in a fierce face-off. They each get three opportunities to show off the top-scoring tricks.

In addition to the high-flying action, the festival will also feature a best trick contest, open to all athletes. Set in the lower section of the course, the challenge allows competitors to earn extra cash each time they impress the judges until the prize money runs out.

For those intrigued by the burgeoning sport of snowskating — basically skateboarding on snow — there will be an exclusive best trick competition. The invitation-only event will have $500 up for grabs.

Spectators are in for a treat, with no need for tickets or reservations — just show up and enjoy the spectacle. Plus, with local vendors joining in on the fun, you can expect hot drinks, snacks, and a festive atmosphere to keep you warm between events.