VERNON, New Jersey — Aura360, in partnership with NYC Parks & Recreation, has announced the return of the first major pro snowboarding rail jam in Union Square, to be held on February 7, 2008; and Mountain Creek is again bringing the mountain to Manhattan for this world-class event.

The Jeep?В® Union Square Street Sessions will showcase a narrowed field of 20 world class competitors who will compete for a $30,000 purse on custom urban features designed and built by Mountain Creek’s JibLab. Plus spectators will enjoy the action sports block party in Union Square from 3-6 pm, which will include autograph sessions, giveaways and product demonstrations from event sponsors including Mountain Creek, Jeep, Burton, Snowboarder Magazine, Red Bull, Oakley, and N’East Magazine. Last year, a crowd of over 10,000 packed Union Square for this unique event.

JibLab, the in-house design and fabrication team behind Mountain Creek’s new South ??“ the Largest Terrain Park in the East — has turned their attention to creating an incredible urban rail yard to challenge the pros, and dazzle the fans and news cameras. This is one event you’ll have to see to believe, with innovative features that will be right at home in the city, including the new custom Jeep?В® rail with a working traffic light built in; the Red Bull Wallride/Stairset, plus jibs created from Jersey barriers and a reclaimed steam pipe.

Confirmed athletes include Mountain Creek’s own Tom Weiss who secured one of the two amateur spots during the Union Square Street Sessions qualifier at the resort on December 17th, and Eddie Wall who will be defending the title, plus some of the world’s top pros including:

1. EDDIE WALL
2. LUCAS MAGOON
3. SCOTTY LAGO
4. MIKE CASANOVA
5. LOUIE VITO
6. CHRIS ROTAX
7. YALE CUSINO
8. JONAS MICHILOT
9. JED ANDERSON
10. AARON BITTNER
11. PAT MOORE
12. SKYE GALE
13. BRANDON REIS
14. EIKI HELGARSON
15. ANDREW KAHKONEN
16. CHARLES REID
17 SAM HULBERT
18. BODE MERRILL

If you can’t make it to Manhattan you can catch all the action on NBC Sports on February 16th from 5-6pm.

The winter sports celebrations will continue in New York City on Saturday, February 9 with NYC Parks & Recreation’s Winter Jam, a pro/am rail jam and winter carnival with music, sledding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more held at the Central Park Bandshell, in coordination with Aura360 and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Introductory Terrain Park features will be incorporated into Mountain Creek’s tent, with Switch Academy instructors and Burton Demo boards on hand, to give participants a taste of what the mountain’s South Terrain Park has to offer.

The full event schedule for the Union Square Street Sessions on Thursday, February 7th is as follows:

5:00-9:00am: Media Showcase: Pro Rail Jam Live TV Coverage

• Athlete Demo
• Local New York City & National Morning Shows
• NYC News & Weather outlets
• Cable Sports Networks

3:00-9:00pm: Pro Rail Jam

• Festival area opens with music and demos ??“ 3:00 PM
• Rail Competition 1st Round ??“ 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
• Rail Competition Semi-finals ??“ 6:30 to 7:30 PM
• Rail Competition Finals ??“ 8:00 to 8:45 PM
• Awards 8:45 ??“ 9:00 PM

For more info visit www.mountaincreek.com/todo/events/2008_February/020708_USSS.htm or to request media credentials please email [email]smcsweeney@mountaincreek.com[/email].