Snowboarding event to kick off in Beijing

Snowboarders pose for a group photo after the draw of "2014 Air + Style Beijing Event" at the National Olympic Stadium in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo/Gao Qihui]

A preliminary draw of the "2014 Air + Style Beijing Event" - one of the most influential snowboarding events - was held at the National Olympic Stadium in Beijing on Thursday, one day before it kicks off.

The riders will ski down from a 42-meter-high platform and race on a 165-meter-long course lifted high above the ground by scaffolds, trying to accomplish some amazing maneuvers in the air.

The two-day event, which will have 24 top snowboarders fighting for the final glory, plays a quite positive role in promoting the skiing culture, improving the physical condition of young people and strengthening their willpower, said the deputy head of Beijing sports administration bureau Chen Jie at the draw ceremony.

Just before the draw, Chen, representing the Beijing government, signed a new contract with Shaun White, the owner of the event, to extend hosting the sport for another five years.

"I think it will be exciting for me that the Air + Style will continue to be held in Beijing and it will keep bringing me here every single year," said White during an interview with Tencent last month

This is the 5th consecutive time for Beijing to host this event while the city is now going into the key stage in its bid to jointly host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with its neighboring city of Shijiazhuang, capital of North China's Hebei province.