Well this is rather exciting. Vans are launching a brand new big air series with three stops in European resorts – Les Arcs on March the 12th, Mayrhofen on March 23rd and, wait for it… Cairngorm on April 6th.

Not since the last Dawn of the Shred in 2011 has a proper man-sized kicker been shaped up at Cairngorm, and based on the success of those legendary competitions, the new Vans Hi Standard series promises to be just as exciting and just as good a day up the hill. We pray the weather will play nice.

The idea of the Hi-Standard Series is to bring the focus back on style and creativity rather than spurring a huck-fest, with a blanket ban on rotations over 720. Do a 9 and you may just be shot at from the sidelines with a beer bottle cap launched from a homemade catapult, or far worse…

Here’s the skinny from Vans on the contest format:

The judging criteria is pretty simple, the more style and trick variety you have, the more you get paid. Each styled out trick will earn you Van Doren dollars with no repetition of tricks allowed. Alongside the Big Air contest, each event will also include a best trick rail jam as well as a prize for the most valuable rider and the worst bail.

The competition is open to all – pros, ams, old, young, males and females with space being limited to the first 66 snowboarders split into under and over 16’s categories (sign up is at 8:30 am and the contest starts at 10 am). It goes without saying that the BBQ will be out in full force and Vans will even be covering the cost of lift tickets – it just sounds like an absolutely rubbish time right?

See you all there on April 6th!