Ski Utah's Fat Flake Festival Saturday at Gallivan Center

Ski Utah will host its annual winter kickoff to the season — the Fat Flake Festival (formerly Snow Jam) — this Saturday at the Gallivan Utah Center.

The event is free and will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. This will be the second year Ski Utah has hosted the event.

"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."

The highlight of the event will be the Monster Rail Jam, which will be the largest rail jam ever produced in downtown Salt Lake City. The in-run and rails will be built on the ice rink oval in the middle of the Gallivan Center.

Ski-Utah officials are asking those attending to dress in 1980s ski outfits. A panel of judges will select the best attire and award the winner a complete ski package, including equipment from Eider, Rossignol, Burton and Smith.

Those attending will also be able to get autographs from top winter athletes, including Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Nate Roberts, Heidi Volker, Cooper Hoffmeister, Julian Carr and Jamey Parks, to name a few.

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.

Among the activities will be ski and snowboard videos, live music, representatives from Utah resorts to give away passes and other prizes.

For information call 801-534-1779.