NEWRY, Maine — Snowboarders from across the east coast will converge upon Sunday River on Saturday, Dec. 22 to win their way into the Union Square Street Sessions (USSS) to be held in New York City on Feb. 7, 2008. A prize purse of $3000 is on the line in addition to one spot in the Manhattan event to ride alongside the likes of last year’s winner Eddie Wall, Lucas Magoon and Scotty Lago.

16 riders will compete in the nighttime rail jam that will be hosted on the slopeside of the South Ridge Lodge starting at 7 p.m. Eight of the 16 spots in the finals will be filled via the daytime prejam with the other eight being invite only. The Sunday River event is the only New England qualifier for the USSS. Mountain Creek in New Jersey is hosting the only other qualifier event.

Sunday River is debuting a new event venue for the nighttime throwdown. Viewable from the Foggy Goggle Apres Ski Bar, Sunday River’s main base area will be transformed into a night lit rail-sliding spectacle. Video crews from NBC will be on hand to document the Qualifier for their USSS coverage.

“I’m so amped to build a venue in South Ridge,” said Nick Roma, Sunday River Parks Manager. “Our new Red Bull custom feature will be perfect for this event and the locale will give everyone a chance to get up close.”

The 16 nighttime finalists will have a 30-minute open jam to select the top eight riders. Once eight are selected, riders will then compete head to head until one is crowned and offered a spot in the USSS.

Riders hoping to get into the finals can register between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. outside the Sunday Sessions Snowboard Shop in the South Ridge Base Lodge. Registration is $20. The daytime prejam event starts at 11:30 a.m. in the South Ridge Jib Park. More information is available at www.sundayriver.com/terrainparks