Red Bull Heavy Metal Returns to St. Paul

Street snowboarding hits the Capitol steps on Saturday, Feb. 1

St. Paul is about to host one of the most exhilarating events in snowboarding as Red Bull Heavy Metal returns to the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. The competition will feature 30 of the world’s top street snowboarders, ready to show off their skills in what promises to be a high-energy, action-packed day.

Zeb Powell and his trophy at Red Bull Heavy Metal 2022 in Duluth, Minnesota

Photo by Mark Clavin

What is Red Bull Heavy Metal?

For those who aren’t familiar, Red Bull Heavy Metal is a groundbreaking snowboarding event that celebrates the urban side of the sport. Instead of hitting the slopes at ski resorts, street snowboarders use features you’d normally see in a skatepark—like rails, stairs, and ledges—all while navigating obstacles in an urban environment.

First held in the early 2000s, Red Bull Heavy Metal aimed to spotlight this unique, creative style of snowboarding. After a nearly two-decade hiatus, the event was revived in 2022 in Duluth, followed by Detroit in 2023. In 2024, the competition transformed the historic steps of the Minnesota State Capitol into a thrilling snowboarding arena. And this year, it’s back, promising even more action and excitement.

Photo by Emily Tidwell

The Competition Format

This year’s Red Bull Heavy Metal will challenge riders on three distinct zones, each designed to test different aspects of street snowboarding:

-Zone One: The competition kicks off with a 30-foot gap on the lowest set of stairs on the south side of the Capitol, where electric winches will tow riders into the gap for an extra burst of speed.
-Zone Two: Next, riders will tackle the Capitol’s main stairs, which feature two handrails and a series of marble ledges—perfect for showcasing technical tricks.
-Zone Three: The final zone is a 60-foot kinked rail stretching the length of the main staircase. This feature promises big air and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.

Each zone will have a winner and runner-up for both male and female riders. At the end of the day, one male and one female athlete will be crowned the overall champion, sharing a $30,000 prize purse equally between the men’s and women’s categories.

The Event

Red Bull Heavy Metal kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m., with the competition running from 2 to 5 p.m. The event is free to attend, and all are welcome to come out and watch the action unfold.

After the competition, head over to Patrick McGovern’s Pub & Restaurant in downtown St. Paul for the official afterparty, where you can celebrate the day’s champions and mingle with the snowboarding community.

Photo by Joe Gall

Can’t Make It? Watch It Live!

If you can’t be there in person, don’t worry—you can still catch all the action from the comfort of your own home. Red Bull Heavy Metal will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 p.m. CST. You can also follow the event on Red Bull’s Snow YouTube channel, where highlights and recaps will be posted after the competition.