Salt Lake City, Utah – Ski Utah will host its annual winter kick-off celebration, the Fat Flake Festival (formerly Snow Jam), Saturday November 3, 2007. The event takes place from 4 - 10 p.m. at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City. New to this year’s event will be the Monster (Energy Drink) Rail Jam. The largest rail structure in Salt Lake City history will be built on top of the Gallivan Center ice rink, completely engulfing the skating venue.

A 14 foot high, super sturdy scaffold ramp in-run/jump will lead to a 20 foot C-box, provided by Park City Mountain Resort, and a 37 foot “volcano” box (a battleship with a slightly concave plateau), provided by The Canyons. Fresh Wasatch snow will be trucked down from Alta and Brighton for the event.

“The Monster Rail Jam will be largest and most impressive rail jam ever produced in downtown Salt Lake City,” said Mountain Sports International’s (MSI) Keith Carlsen, who is the event director for the second annual Fat Flake Festival. “MSI is building the in-run and installing the rails on the ice rink oval in the middle of the Gallivan Center. This addition to the event which will feature Utah’s top professional skiers and snowboarders–will take the winter kick-off festival to a whole new level. People will be blown away.”

In addition, the event has adopted a new name. “We decided to call it the Fat Flake Festival in honor of our new logo, the fat flake,” said Raelene Davis, Ski Utah marketing director, “Not to mention, this event celebrates Utah’s incredible powder snow.”

All attendees are encouraged to dress up in their best ‘80s ski outfits. A panel of judges will select the best ‘80s attire and award the winner a complete ski package, including gear from Eider, Rossignol, Burton and Smith. Another favorite at the event is the Powder Lounge, where fans can get autographs from their favorite athletes including Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Jeremy Nobis, Julian Carr, Grete Eliassen, Nate Roberts, Heidi Volker, Ashley Battersby, Cooper Hoffmeister, Jamey Parks, Billy Poole, Eric Leines, Bjorn Leines, Marc Frank Montoya and more. For the second year, Ski Utah will also honor the best photographers in the industry with the 2007 Ski & Ride Utah Photo of the Year contest. Eight finalists for skiing and snowboarding photos will be showcased and the winner for each sport will take home a $1,000 prize.

Riveting ski and snowboard videos will tempt spectators, while live musicians, DJ Knucklz and the Spazmatics, are sure to keep the crowd dancing. Utah’s resorts will attend with swag, passes and other prize giveaways. The event also features food, beer garden and more! Best of all, the event is FREE!! Get your ‘80s gear and come out to celebrate the coming of another incredible Utah Ski and Snowboard Season!

2007 FAT FLAKE FESTIVAL, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, 4 – 10 p.m., Gallivan Center, Salt Lake City
4 - 4:30 p.m. - DJ KNUCKLZ
4 - 6 P.M. - MONSTER RAIL JAM
5 - 10 p.m. – Ski and Snowboard Videos
6 - 9 p.m. - Athlete Poster Signing in Powder Lounge
6 - 6:45 p.m. - The SPAZMATICS
6:45 p.m. - Photo of the Year Contest
8:15 p.m. - ‘80s Costume Contest winner announced
8:45 – 9:30 p.m. - The SPAZMATICS
9:30 – 10 p.m. - DJ KNUCKLZ and the party continues until spring!

Ski Utah Fat Flake Festival powered by Monster Energy Drink, Powder Magazine, Salt Lake CVB, X96, Comcast and KSL-TV. For more information visit Skiutah.com