Snowboarders Brave Boston Blizzard for Red Bull Heavy Metal 2026

Annual extreme sports event brings high-flying stunts to downtown City Hall Plaza

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Despite a massive winter storm bearing down on the East Coast, thousands of spectators braved the elements to witness the second annual Red Bull Heavy Metal snowboarding competition in the heart of downtown Boston. The event featured some of the top snowboarders in the world performing death-defying tricks off a custom-built urban course, with LJ Henriquez and Telma Särkipaju taking home the top prizes.

Why it matters

Red Bull Heavy Metal has quickly become a must-see winter event, showcasing the incredible skill and athleticism of professional snowboarders while bringing the sport to an unexpected urban setting. The competition not only thrills fans but also highlights Boston's ability to host large-scale action sports events, even in the face of challenging weather conditions.

The details

The course consisted of three distinct zones - a down bar with a tube and bank, a jump off a terrace to the plaza below, and a down bar leading to a treacherous multi-kink ledge feature. Despite the difficulty, riders like LJ Henriquez, Benny Milam, and Nick Fox were able to cleanly navigate the entire course, wowing the crowd with their technical prowess. Other standouts included Veda Halen and Mees Oostdijk for their stylish trick execution, and Egan Wint and Jess Perlmutter for their gutsy performances fresh off the Winter Olympics.

  • The event took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026, just hours before a major winter storm hit the Boston area.
  • This was the second annual Red Bull Heavy Metal competition, following the inaugural event in 2025.

The players

Red Bull

The energy drink company that organized and sponsored the Heavy Metal snowboarding competition in downtown Boston.

LJ Henriquez

The male winner of the Red Bull Heavy Metal competition, impressing the crowd with his ability to cleanly navigate the entire course.

Telma Särkipaju

The female winner of the Red Bull Heavy Metal competition, showcasing her technical skills on the urban course.

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What they’re saying

“It ain't easy being in Heavy Metal, and the crowd's cheers whenever a rider landed were a nice reminder of that. What these people do on their snowboards is extremely impressive.”

— Mark Clavin, Author (snowboardmag.com)

“Go watch the videos to see all the tricks and enjoy the photos here. This was the final for the U.S. but Montreal Heavy Metal is going down this upcoming weekend.”

— Mark Clavin, Author (snowboardmag.com)

What’s next

The Red Bull Heavy Metal tour will next head to Montreal for another urban snowboarding competition the following weekend.

The takeaway

Red Bull Heavy Metal has cemented itself as a must-see winter sports event, bringing the thrills of professional snowboarding to the heart of major cities like Boston. Despite challenging weather conditions, the competition showcases the incredible skill and athleticism of the world's top riders, captivating crowds and highlighting the versatility of the sport.