In a sea of brown on the Tug Hill, a small slushy island of snow remained. Steel statues protruded from the snow, monuments to the season passed. Delicately arranged by the guys at Flower Skate Shop and Nick at Snow Ridge, the features were ready.
This oasis was set to provide one last chance for park riders to slide some steel. For the 5th year in a row, riders came from far and wide for the end of season rail at Snow Ridge.
Still booted up and recovering from injury, I got to the jam later than usual. The weather was a little suspect with light rain but it was forecast to clear up by 12.
I made my way across the muddy field to the last patch of snow remaining on the Ridge. The boys from Flower had the tent set up and the beats bumping already. I haven’t been super jealous missing out on the last 2 months of the season, but looking up at the park, I was.
As usual the magic carpet acted as the main artery transporting riders and skiers. On each side of the carpet a bevy of features were set up, and of course the multi-kink challenge rail. There were plenty of other creative features with a banked box and the creeper rail set up as coping on the quarter pipe.
The Woods Valley boys Sal and Big Bobby rode down to me. They said it was a little sticky but fun as hell. No worries about the speed because Sal brought out the vintage snowmobile again in case a tow was needed. The jam got started a little after noon, and I found myself in the usual spot with John from Flower grabbing pics and vids.
We started at the rainbow rail and sea monster box. The riders wanted all the gas, but the snow was all brakes. After hiking up beyond the drop in the riders started sending it. People were gapping the rainbow rail and flipping off the box.
Next thing I knew I looked up the mountain and Sal was dragging multiple riders up behind the snowmobile. We were starting the big air early. From halfway up the mountain, riders were straight lining it to the jump and throwing themselves off the lip. The Landon and the Max’s from Woods were flipping and throwing caution to the wind.
Not to be out down by his son, Big Bobby got in on the action. He threw down some type of rodeo spin and landed with a hand drag. When you’re that old going upside down, that’s a make. When the in run was torn up and rutted, we moved in the lower features.
In the center of the action, Nick stood with his clip board documenting the action as Boston from Flower hyped the riders up via the megaphone. Down on the lower park the pill jib and down-flat-down started to get some love. Bobby from Flower had a sick front board down the whole DFD. Lindsey, last year’s ladies champ, had a sweet boardslide-to-fakie over the pill.
I had to head out before the challenge rail. I was a little sad to be on the sidelines this year for the jam but I still had a blast. The vibe at this event is always infectious. At the beginning of the jam, John said have fun and hype each other up.
For 5 years that’s been the case. Just people riding because they love it. The winner was MR Pizza guy whose overall style was killer. No grades, no numbers, no spin to win. I think that’s the way it should be.
That is a great way to end the season. What Snow Ridge lacks in vert it more than makes up for in stoke
Way to get after it, Robert. A great post. Beast wishes for a quick recovery.