Tundra Wookie: First Rail Jam of the Season!

On Saturday, October 17th, I entered my first rail jam of the season in Denver, Colorado, along with my friend Emily Blewitt and her brother Scott Blewitt who rides for 720 Boardshop with me. Xavier Rojas was also in attendance, as were some other friends!

I had no idea what to expect and was kinda nervous, but knowing that my friend was with me, that helped to ease the anxiety. I got to ride Loveland for a little bit that morning before heading down to Denver, which also helped!

Pic found on facebook from Randal Schroeder's album

Apparently the snow was trucked in from Loveland Pass... I think it would had been easier if they just went to a local ice rink and got shaved ice from the zambonis... that's how we did it in Missouri hahaha. Either way, they definitely put a lot of effort into setting this up.

Pic found on facebook from Randal Schroeder's album

The set up was a ride-on up box that connected to a flat box. You could also hit the flat box from the sides, but it was kinda sketchy, according to Scott, so he recommended that we hit the boxes straight on. The drop in was also steep and short. I, along with other people participating, wished that the boxes were set up a little bit further from the drop in because everyone felt like we didn't have any time to line up to the boxes once we dropped in.

Pic found on facebook from Randal Schroeder's album

The rail jam started off with practice, and I was only able to get in one run before they started the jam. They kicked it off by having all the skiers, under 18 boys on snowboards, and all girls compete together for the first heat, which lasted 45 minutes. Show time!

Emily strapping in and staying wild!

Pic found on facebook from Randal Schroeder's album

Emily getting all spinny!
Pic by Alex Ore

Xavier slaying!
Pic by Alex Ore

Once the girls, groms, and skiers heat was done, they announced people who could move onto the finals. Emily and I were selected, so we were pretty stoked about that. The funny thing is, Xavier only dropped in like once or twice, and he also got to advance. SWEET! We had a break for another 45 minutes while the 18+ dudes on snowboards went at it.

Scott probably spinning here, he spun a lot
Pic by Alex Ore

The dudes heat was done, and it was finally time for the girls to go, along with the groms and skiers. Emily and I felt like we were doing pretty good, and then... disaster! Emily was standing at the top of the scaffolding bending over to strap in, when the skier in front of her decided to jump instead of drop in, whacking her right in the face with his ski. I didn't see this actually happen, but I saw her covering her eye, and thought that she said a ski pole had went in her eye... eek!! I got so scared and thought she might be blind or something, so someone unstrapped her from her snowboard and helped her climb down, and got her to a chair to sit down. Upon closer inspection, her eye looked okay. Such a huge relief!! Unfortunately she had a little scratch above her eyebrow, and she looked like she might need stitches. My boyfriend told me to keep doing the rail jam while he took her to the hospital, so I went back in line and continued doing it. It definitely shook me up though. There was nothing I could do after that, so I went back to the jam.

Myself going into a frontside boardslide
Pic found on facebook from Randal Schroeder's album

Press to impress! Haha
Pic by Alex Ore

Once the rail jam was over, Emily and Adrian were still at the hospital as they announced the winners. I was excited to find that I won second place, and super stoked that Emily won first place! Yeah, the 720 Boardshop team dominated the podium!!!! The prizes I got kinda sucked though, haha, it looked like they didn't prepare it before the end of the rail jam... seriously. I got a mens large Vans shirt, a mens Vans cap, an Airblaster... what is it called again? Clavas? This thing in blue:

Annnnd a sweet MeGlad face mask. It has zebra stripes! I'm pretty stoked on the face mask and clava as I can actually use those, but I honestly don't see any use for the mens large shirt. I'm like a Youth XL in mens shirts haha. Emily got a really sweet Vans jacket, and yes, it was a womens jacket in the proper size. I think that if they had appropriate prizes, more girls will want to come out to rail jams.

I remember I did one at A-Basin last year and I won first place, and I got a FRISBEE for a prize. Seriously, all that work for a FRISBEE? I can't be picky though; anytime I get on the podium, that gets me stoked. Well, riding powder gets me more stoked, but you get where I'm coming from!