Beijing, China – Big things are happening in China this week. For the third year in a row Oakley and Shaun White will present Air & Style Beijing this Friday in Beijing’s famous Birds Nest Stadium.

This is not only the first 6Star event of the Ticket to Ride (TTR) world snowboard tour’s season, but the only 6Star event to take place in Asia during the 2012-13 winter season. Twenty-four of the tour’s top riders will be in attendance, including last year’s Beijing event winner, Ulrik Badertscher from Norway. He’s expected to face stiff competition from Big Air tour Champion Seppe Smits of Belgium, and the World Snowboard Tour Champion, Peetu Piiroinen of Finland, each trying to land that top spot. Also in attendance will be Slopestyle champion Chas Guldemond from the USA and Canadians Mark McMorris and Seb Toutant.

Riders will be dropping in from a 50 meter-high start gate on top of a monstrous ramp erected within the stadium when competition gets underway this Friday.

“China is continually showing its strength as a global sports leader and the action sports arena is no exception,” said Oakley Vice President of Global Sports Marketing, Patrick McIlvain. “Now in its third year, Air & Style Beijing is building momentum behind the sport of snowboarding in one of the most important emerging markets in the world. Oakley is proud to partner with Shaun White in bringing one of the best snowboard events of the year to the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium.”

For the first time all 24 riders will start in a head-to-head competition beginning with the first round. Twelve winners and four lucky losers will advance to the second round and battle their way through to the Super Final of four riders. One thousand World Snowboard Tour points, a dragon’s share of the US$100,000 prize purse and the Ring Of Glory are the plunder waiting to be captured by the top vanquishing hero.

The full confirmed rider list for Friday’s Air & Style Beijing is as follows: