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Skiers and snowboarders will ride into the nighttime sky in downtown Denver this January off what organizers says will be one of the biggest man-made ramps ever constructed. More photos. (The Denver Post)

Denver plans to host an FIS ski and snowboarding event in Civic Center park in January featuring one of the biggest man-made ramps ever constructed.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and officials with the Metro Denver Sports Commission and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced the "Denver Big Air presented by Sprint" event today at a press conference at Civic Center Park.

"Imagine in real space seeing athletes flying hundreds of feet into the air right outside Civic Center, and having the city and county building in the background," Hickenlooper said. "We will have an opportunity to make history with a truly international spectacle."

The LG FIS World Cup Snowboard Big Air will make its first stop in the United States. In the past, the event has been held in Moscow, Barcelona, Quebec, Seoul and London.

The ramp for the event will be 101 feet high, 300 feet long and 80 feet wide and will face toward the City and County Building.

"In just a few months just outside these doors one of the most magical, thrilling sporting events ever to come to Denver is going to be taking place," said KieAnn Brownell, president of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, speaking at the press conference held inside the McNichols Building at Civic Center Park..

The event will be held Jan. 25-26 and is scheduled to precede Snow Show, the SnowSports Industries America's annual exhibition, as well as ESPN's annual X Games in Aspen, both of which are scheduled Jan. 27-30.

The competition is expected to attract 20,000 spectators. A free viewing area will be set up in Civic Center Park, where liquor will also be sold. Paid viewing will occur along Bannock Street and in the plaza of the City and County Building.

"The tricks that are going to happen are going to be out of this world, mind blowing," said Bobby Brown, an X Games gold champion, and native of Denver who plans to participate in the January competition.

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While sitting on the stage in the McNichols Building in Civic Center, Mayor John Hickenlooper tells X-Games gold medalist Bobby Brown that he has a hole in his shoe. Brown responded that that is what happens to skateboard shoes. The two were at a news conference announcing the unveiling of Denver Big Air. More photos. (Judy DeHaas, The Denver Post)

Negotiations are underway to bring Shaun White, the Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding, to the event, organizers said.

Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com