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Boarders Jam the Rail
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On Saturday afternoon the Boise State intramural field was transformed into something a bit out of the ordinary.
A mountain of snow was dumped right in the middle of Campus and a crowd of snowboarders took over with the first annual BSU Rail Jam event.
The Rail Jam was a hit with fans, which gave local sponsors a chance to showcase the talents of professional and local amateur snowboarders. The event was a huge success. People came from all over the country to compete in the events.
It allowed snowboarders to showcase their best skills on a rail set-up. Eight students from BSU took part, including A.J. Ogden (who rode for Newt & Harolds) and Bogus Basin Events Coordinator Cory McDonald. A lot of planning and time went into making this all happen. Without the help from various outlets and organizations this could not have been accomplished.
“Jim Stewart who runs the shop at Bogus Basin was able to get the plows and the dump trucks,” McDonald said. “We got three loads of snow, which is equivalent to 36 yards of snow.”
The Student Programs Board, The Outdoors Program and Newt & Harolds also helped organize the event. They donated prizes for the riders. These companies and organizations not only helped organize it, but they also helped
advertise and promote the Rail Jam. SPB President Jorge Cardenas was in charge of advertising and making the event ride smoothly.
“The Rail Jam coordinators contacted the Outdoor Program here and the Outdoor Program asked us if we wanted to put it on,” Cardenas said. “We thought it was a great idea, all we had to do was sign a few contracts, get the riders and The Rail Jam coordinators did the rest.”
The Rail Jam has become quite a hit around the West, with its sponsors and the opportunities it presents to snowboarders who want to showcase their abilities in front of a crowd.
Rail Jam has been traveling for three years, staying mainly in the western states, stopping at universities all over the map. This year the tour made stops in seven different states at 14 college campuses. Some of the stops include the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, University of Denver, University of Utah, San Diego State and Fresno State.
The competitors at the competition Saturday felt the Rail Jam was a huge success and it should keep building on the start it has.
Andrae Cameron, a competitor from Portland, Ore., rides at Mt. Hood year-round and has been part of the Rail Jam revolution for the last few years. Cameron won the competition.
“This event today was sick,” Cameron said. “I’m so stoked that these guys were able to put this on and introduce everyone on these campuses to snowboarding. This is huge for the snowboarding community.”
Cameron was also involved in the building of the course.
“The course was awesome,” Cameron said. “I did a little shovel work on the lips so that they weren’t very poppy. We wanted to make sure that the level of riding was for everyone but at the same time there are a lot of kids out here that can shred real hard.”
The Rail Jam was a big enough success that the sponsors, riders and event coordinators all hope it is only the first of many Rail Jams at BSU.
TRENT LOOTENS
Sports Writer
