Vans Slam City Jam started out with sketchy courses, minimal sponsorship, and limited mainstream media coverage. Ten years later, Slam City Jam has become the oldest, largest (drawing more than 20,000 people annually), and most respected professional skateboarding contest in North America, putting Vancouver, British Columbia, on the map of skateboard culture. With more than 50 exhibitor booths at the Slam Marketplace in 2002 alone and more than 275 accredited members of the media -- including major coverage by NBC Sports -- Slam City Jam has proven itself to be more than just a contest, but an experience shared by both the skaters and the fans.

The first and only Canadian stop of the Vans Triple Crown of Skateboarding, Slam City Jam is open to sponsored pros and each year attracts more than 200 of the world's top male and female street and vert skaters. It is the one contest that brings together virtually the entire skate world, from pros to skate companies to skate media and the general media. It is also the key event to witness the latest trends in skating and the professional debuts of emerging skate stars.

Notable pro debuts at Slam City Jam have included Bob Burnquist, Andy Macdonald, and local hero Rick McCrank. Slam 10 will see the pro debut of 16-year-old skate/snowboarding phenomenon Shaun White.

Another potential debut in the near future for Slam City Jam is a new Vancouver Street Park. The Vancouver Parks Board approved a report to send to City Council recommending the development of a downtown skateboard facility on Quebec and Union Streets. For more information on this, check out www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/20.htm and select the 2003 reports / February 24 / agenda item #3.

Along with the street parks, the skaters, the skills, and the fans, Slam City Jam has also showcased the talents of some of the best acts in punk and hip-hop. More than 45 DJs and bands -- NOFX, Jurassic 5, and The Offspring, to name a few -- have graced the Slam City Jam stages over the years. Slam 10 will surround you with the words and sounds of The Coup and Talib Kweli on May 2 and the cerebral punk of Bad Religion on May 3. A weekend to be "Remembered, Respected, Celebrated," and definitely experienced: Slam 10 at the Pacific Coliseum, on May 2-4, 2003.