BOSTON, MA – February 12, 2026 – Red Bull Heavy Metal returns to Boston City Hall Plaza next Saturday, February 21 (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM), bringing the world’s top street snowboarders back to the heart of downtown.
Following a packed Pittsburgh qualifier that drew 5,000 fans, winners Liam Johnson (Savage, MN) and Emmaus Rich (Brooklyn, NY) have advanced to Boston, where they’ll join a stacked finals field including Zeb Powell, Benny Milam, Telma Särkipaju, and more.
Heavy Metal transforms iconic city architecture into a multi-zone street course, utilizing natural rails, drops, gaps, and banks to showcase elite rail riding up close in front of a live audience.
WHAT
Red Bull Heavy Metal Boston Finals
Single-day street snowboarding competition
WHEN
Saturday, February 21, 2026
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHERE
Boston City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
WHO
Top male and female street snowboarders, including:
Zeb Powell
Benny Milam
Telma Särkipaju
Jess Perlmutter (2026 U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team)
Liam Johnson (Pittsburgh Qualifier Winner)
Emmaus Rich (Pittsburgh Qualifier Winner)
Full athlete list available upon request.
BACKGROUND
Red Bull Heavy Metal, first launched in 2002 and revived in 2022, has become one of the most influential contests in modern street snowboarding. Unlike traditional slope-style events, Heavy Metal brings competition directly into urban environments, creating an immersive, up-close experience for fans. The 2026 season expanded with U.S. qualifiers in Pittsburgh, sending one male and one female rider forward to the Boston finale.
At the Pittsburgh stop, riders braved single-digit temperatures while crews trucked in snow and built the course over several days, reflecting the grassroots, community-driven culture at the heart of street snowboarding.
“The level of riding impressed me the most and the crowd that showed up was awesome,” said Competition Director Joe Sexton. “Before we head to Boston, it’s really exciting to see the turnout here and it’s a reflection of what we are going to see next.”
