In 1999 Oakley asked Terje Haakonsen if he would be interested in doing a special / interactive event with several top riders, to which Haakonsen shared his idea for a new event format. Snowboarding contests had gone stale in format and the industry was hungry for someone to step in and make a change. Upon hearing the news of Terje’s idea for a new approach to an event format, Oakley and TAC crew began the progression of what The Oakley Arctic Challenge is today.

The Oakley Arctic Challenge (TAC) has been the smart fox on the competitive snowboarding scene now for many years. Free from corporate constraints, Terje and his crew have been able to implement new ideas faster and more unexpectedly then any other contest. By 2001 TAC had built the first 10-meter Quarterpipe and 6-meter Pipe; redefining snow architecture for snowboard contests. Even today, with live TV and huge arena productions, TAC is able to keep the essence of the pure jam format that was originally developed back in 1999.

Every snowboard air that has gone above the 9-meter mark in a Quarterpipe, has taken place at TAC: Heikki Sorsa was the first with his legendary world record 9.3-meter air in 2001 – which stood until 2007, when Terje set the new world record air at 9.8-meters, that same year Jake Blauvelt went 9.4 meters in a very special final round.

In TAC 2010, we have one judge per every obstacle, giving the obstacle score. And we have two guys looking at the flow. We even brought in an assistant head judge to make sure maximum focus at the job at hand. Live TV airings is a thrilling experience, and especially with all this info going into the system. For each run there are 5 obstacle score, one flow score and a total score. Not ONE total score as in other contests. In the finals alone, the judge panel is delivering 210 scores – everything live, on the air, on the mike, through the wire.

Thank God they are all former or existing pro riders and don’t hang in the bar the night before….

SCHEDULE

Thursday March 4 - Official Opening in front of City Hall. Railjam, concerts, FIFA 10, and official opening by the Mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, and Terje Haakonsen.

Friday March 5 - Qualifications, 20 riders move on to the semifinals on Saturday

Saturday March 6 - Semifinals

Sunday March 7 - Finals and Prize Ceremony