Abstract: A contoured landing surface system and a method of making thereof are provided. The system matches landing surface or pit density to the force generated by an athlete's descending body to cushion the athlete's fall based on air displacement rather than foam characteristics. The system is designed to compensate for variables such a velocity, mass and surface area at the point of impact by utilizing a multi-layer structure, each layer having a plurality of patterned ridges thereon and a network of air channels therebetween. The ridges and air channels of adjacent layers extend perpendicular to the ridges and air channels of each other. Preferably, the landing surface is constructed using layers of foam having the same density.