Oakley Builds Free Snow Park For Local Riders In Norway

Highlighting the impact that a brand can have on helping people live-out their obsessions, Oakley, in partnership with Scandinavian-shaper Emil Fossheim, has built the ‘Vassa-Parken by Oakley’ at the Vassfjellet Vinterpark, Norway. Providing the resources to fund and maintain the facility for the 19/20 season.

Situated 30 minutes drive from Trondheim city centre the resort services a population of approximately 220,000 people and has faced turbulent times of late. However, 18 months ago local Ski and Snowboard clubs joined forces and purchased the resort back for the local community to enjoy.

To help design, create and build a snow park at one of Norway’s leading independent resorts Oakley teamed up with high-profile snow park shaper Emil Fossheim. One of the prominent figures at the forefront of the snow park evolution, Emil has been designing and building terrain parks since the early 2000’s and works closely with athletes to build bigger and safer jumps which in return has brought new and innovative tricks including Torstein Horgmo ́s first triple cork.

Oakley’s investment at the Vassfjellet Vinterpark includes the manufacture of new rails and two new ‘Pro Line’ jumps amongst installing other park features. Additionally, resources have been provided to install snow making facilities to ensure the park has sufficient snow to build and maintain features throughout the season.

“The partnership with Vassfjellet Vinterpark is an extension of the Oakley campaign - See It In Prizm,” says Ben Goss, Oakley Global Brand Director. “We saw this park as a vehicle to ignite human possibilities by removing barriers and helping people live out their obsessions. So, with the help of Emil Fossheim and other leading park shapers across the Nordics, we were able to design a freestyle terrain park that simply didn’t exist before and we’re thrilled to bring that to life for the local community.”

For the official opening of the park, taking place on 15th February Oakley held a ski and snowboard ‘JAM’ event that encouraged local riders to take part in a relaxed open format contest with prizes awarded for best tricks throughout the day. A more traditional prize giving was also held to reward the best male and female overall. Total participants on the day stood at 156. (63 snowboarders & 93 skiers)