Case Studies > Events > Metro Ski & Snowboard Show

The Challenge

• Since 2000, Soul Sports has been responsible for the supply and management of leading International Ski and Snowboard athletes to perform at the Metro Ski & Snowboard Show (previously sponsored by the Daily Mail). Soul Sports’ involvement has increased considerably since 2002 to consult on the design and creation of the main slope feature and develop exciting show formats to amaze visitors and media alike, plus the provision of on-site management.

Our Approach

• Design & Consultation: Each year the collaboration between Soul Sports and Johnstone Events has ensured the creation of a new, often ground-breaking, main slope feature to encourage the World’s best athletes and increase spectatorship. Working with challenging budget constraints and limited space Soul Sports has reliably created innovative features to maintain the show’s reputation as the leading snowsports attraction in the UK. See the images on the right.

• Construction: Demonstrating Soul Sports expertise in this field, it has been made responsible for the final and crucial construction elements of many of the shows’ main slope attractions and freestyle obstacles to optimize athlete performance and guarantee a spectacular showcase.

• Athlete management: Souls Sports arrange all athlete management, attracting high-profile UK and International athletes, among them Olympians, to create a World-renowned field to secure public and media attention
  

• Format: To create a show-stopping and memorable performance, the format must be considered from rider, media and public perspectives. Specific examples integrated into the format to compliment the scheduled demonstrations include:
  - One-day National and International competitions (I.e. Orange AIM Series & London Ride).
  - Selection of a volunteering member of the public (established athlete stooge planted in the crowd) to courageously ride the main slope feature
  - Highest air & best trick competitions
  - Choreographed rapid-fire trail of athletes performing a dare-devil climax to the show
  

• Onsite Management: Recruit a team of experts including judges, snow-shapers, officials and slope management staff to ensure that the shows run safely and efficiently. Duties include; sub-contractor relations for snow management, athlete mediation for prompt demonstration scheduling, media relationship to facilitate photography, filming and athlete interviews, and management of various on-slope public participation

Results

• The Show has become the biggest snowboard and freeski competition in the UK

• New slope designs such as the Quarter Pipe and Hip jumps were the first of their kind indoor

• Skiers & Snowboarders have including names such as Jon Olson, Jacob Wilhelmson, Eric Haugo, Scott Mcmorris, Steve Bailey, Lesley Mckenna, Mike Wakefield, Andy Bennett, Iannick B, Dan Wakeham, Henrik Weindst, Darius Hertchian, Marc Andre Tarte etc... with 12-24 riders each year for the past 5 years the list goes on.

• The Show hosts a stage of the Orange AIM Series and London Ride, two well respected competition's held within the UK

• The Show now receives large amounts of promotion and coverage within the core Ski & Snowboard titles, which it hadnt in the previous 20 years before Soul Sports started.

• Over 40,000 visitors per year
  

• View 7 samples of design
  

Client Quote

• Damian Norman, Show Manager, DMG World Media. "Having worked with Soulsports for a number of years Stuart, Spencer and the team offer an excellent mix of passion, professionalism, knowledge and pride in what they do. They have consistently brought together a crop of world class riders for our slope competitions which have always been run to a high standard"

• Andy Johnstone, Features Manager for The Show, Johnstone Events Ltd. "Working with Soulsports we receive an excellent service and a wide ranging knowledge of the extreme sports market which has been invaluable to us in the production of our projects"