As a distributor and Taiwan representative for major sport companies that sponsor skaters to skate and snowboarders to ride, Sun is the first to admit that corporate sponsorship is a bit of a catch 22.
"I have boycotted competitions in the past and asked my riders not to compete, but corporations have the money. ? In a place like Taiwan where snowboarding and skiing don't exist, it also helps to introduce these sport to people and in a way that's cool, but you can't take it too seriously."
Like most seasoned skaters and distributors, Sun picks his battles with the brand names wisely.
"Nokia has the money to bring snow to Taipei in the summer and that's hard to criticize," he said.
The official big air competition takes place tomorrow afternoon but it's worth catching some of the action during the warm up tonight. From 9pm onwards skate and BMX demos will take place on the vert ramp. The snow sport stars begin their runs at 2pm tomorrow and wrap up around 10pm with the snowboard and ski finals.
Performance notes:
What: 2005 Nokia Totally Board
When: Tonight from 7pm to 11pm and tomorrow from 1pm to 11pm
Where: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (CKS Memorial Hall) at 21, Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路21號)
Tickets: Free
Website: www.nokia.tb.tw
Schedule of events
A) Pro Snow Ramp (Ski/Boarding Competition)
Fri: Closed
Sat: Preliminary: 2pm to 4pm and Finals: 8pm to 10pm
B) Skateboarding and BMX Vert Ramp
Fri: 9pm to 10pm
Sat: 1pm to 2pm and 5pm to 7pm
C) Public Sno Ramp
Fri: 7pm to 10pm
Sat: 1pm to 7pm
D) Concert Stage
Fri: 7:30pm to 11pm
Sat: 4pm to 11pm
E) Nokia Tent
Fri: Closed
Sat: 1pm to 11pm
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