Competitors training on the Slopestyle course at Genting Snow Park in preparation for competition at the Winter Olympic Games on February 4th, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
- Coursemakers at the Beijing Olympics re-created parts of the Great Wall on the snowboarding slopes.
- The course not only celebrates the history of the country, but also protects athletes from strong winds.
Coursemakers at the Beijing Olympics have created a snowy version of the Great Wall of China on a skiing and snowboarding route being used at the winter games.
The wall was carved out — block by block — on the slope in order to honor the iconic Chinese monument, the Associated Press reported.
Photos of the course show snowboarders practicing tricks alongside portions of the Great Wall ahead of competitions, which are due to start Saturday.
Coursemakers of the Beijing Olympic Games have carved out parts of the Great Wall for snowboarders to cruise by as they make their way down the slopes.
Olympics, snowboard, slopestyle, training at Genting Snow Park. Freestyle snowboarder Leon Vockensperger in action. Angelika Warmuth/picture alliance via Getty Images
Aside from the unique design, portions of the wall are meant to block strong winds and protect athletes as they go through the course.
Olympics, snowboard, slopestyle, training at Genting Snow Park. A freestyle snowboarder in action Angelika Warmuth/picture alliance via Getty Images
The course will make its debut on Saturday as the women's snowboard slopestyle competition begins.
An athlete takes part in a snowboard slopestyle practice session at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou on February 3, 2022, ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images
"We're happy to be here and build this bold, creative and culture-connected course," Janis Jansons, the head builder, said in a sneak-peek video released by the International Ski Federation.
Mons Roisland of Norway attends a slopestyle snowboard training at the Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou,north China's Hebei Province, Feb.2, 2022 Xu Chang/Xinhua via Getty Images