SAM Magazine - Denver, Co, November 7, 2006 - It's a gutsy, innovative move that could change the face of skiing and snowboarding. It's also the kind of bold action that you'd expect from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who made his fortune as an entrepreneur in the restaurant business.

Hickenlooper was the most famous face among many city of Denver notables on hand for a press conference/rail jam in downtown Denver to announce the creation of an urban terrain park at Denver's Ruby Hill park. The project will be a partnership between Winter Park Resort (which, while managed by Intrawest, is owned by the city of Denver) and the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation.

This innovative park will complement the award winning Denver skatepark, and is seen as a natural way to introduce urban youth to skiing and snowboarding. Entrance to the park will be free, and the park will offer skiers and snowboarders a variety of rails, from beginner to expert. Winter Park staff will be intimately involved with the park and will be working with volunteers to train them in park safety and newschool riding techniques and education. Should the park become successful, expect it to be a model for other urban environments with lots of snow and plenty of kids with time on their hands during the long, cold months of winter. \