Despite fighting an uphill battle with overcast skies and light rain, day one of the 7th Annual World Ski and Snowboard Festival went off as well as could have been expected. Opening acts on the mainstage Baby Blue Soundcrew, Harpoon Missile, Bishop, and Choclair managed to pump up the crowd while a steady rain kept most people indoors. Just metres from the pumping bass of the mainstage, the first day of Big Air practice for the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational was going off. It took the riders a little while to get their speed right but once everyone got settled the athletes gave the crowd a good idea of the show they’ll be putting on for the finals, Saturday evening from 4pm-6pm. Headlining Saturday’s Big Air on the mainstage will be Toronto’s The New Deal. I had a chance to see them this summer at Moby’s Area:One Festival, and they are not to be missed. As usual the clubs will be crazy and if the sun gets a chance to peek through the clouds, the vibe will be electric.