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November, 2023

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Support Rail Jams

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JoshWong
Posts: 2818 - Karma: 20,510
Let's talk about rail jams, personally I've met so many cool people through the experience of rail jams. Rail jams bring together people from different areas, different mountains, different disciplines, and bring them all together.

I really think rail jams were one of the core pillars behind creating such a strong community that drew me into skiing.

So why don't we see them anymore? I believe the disappearance of rail jams is because people do not see affect they have on community. There is no tangible result or product that you can put down on a spreadsheet. They certainly don't make a profit. But that doesn't mean that they don't have immense value!

So how can we help change people's perspectives on this?
One way is to educate, another way is to go extremely out of our way to support any rail jams that still are in existence. To give the organizers of the event large crowds or insane participation numbers, so that they can have something tangible to show for why the next rail jam should happen!

That being said, I have been tasked with running a rail jam this Saturday at Gilson. I ask that if you found any of the things I've said true for yourself, and your experience with rail jams. And you are within a vicinity where you could show up to this event. For the sake of rail jams, please turn out and show your support!

Honestly, we will have another rail jam next year regardless. Because it's something we believe in. Don't need anything more to convince us. But it would certainly be easier for us to get other companies to join in on it next year. Get even bigger prizes. Get even larger sponsors, build bigger setups, it could turn into a circuit of winter rail jams, who knows. But all those things have to be pitched to a company, or a mountain, or a sponsor. And companies have a hard time buying into "strengthening the community" Some don't have the same value placed on that as others.

Sorry for my rant. I just really hate to see so few events for the next gen. When I had some of the best memories traveling with my friends to a rail jam or whatever.
Aug 9 2021 6:50PM
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junior1derful
Posts: 260 - Karma: 3,095
From my experience planning, organizing, and executing two rail jams this past season I have learned a lot. My main take away from running these events is social media / the internet has hindered the ability for genuine human interactions. I remember back in 2007-2010 going to rail jams and it was a great way to meet new people. Everybody was super open for conversation, and it really grew my love and passion for free-skiing. I find nowadays more people are much more anti-social and less open to strangers. Maybe this is a good thing because of all the crazy people out there haha, but when it comes to rail jams it hurts the ability for these events to be successful. I really want to keep hosting rail jams and marketing them to people who are like minded and open to meeting new people. As for the overall snow sports industry, I hope they make a comeback. It's awesome riding with a bunch of talented people, with everybody hyping each other up, as well as for spectators drinking beers, meeting new people, and having fun watching people throw down. Thanks for this post dude!
Aug 9 2021 8:08PM
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JoshWong
Posts: 2818 - Karma: 20,510
junior1derfulFrom my experience planning, organizing, and executing two rail jams this past season I have learned a lot. My main take away from running these events is social media / the internet has hindered the ability for genuine human interactions. I remember back in 2007-2010 going to rail jams and it was a great way to meet new people. Everybody was super open for conversation, and it really grew my love and passion for free-skiing. I find nowadays more people are much more anti-social and less open to strangers. Maybe this is a good thing because of all the crazy people out there haha, but when it comes to rail jams it hurts the ability for these events to be successful. I really want to keep hosting rail jams and marketing them to people who are like minded and open to meeting new people. As for the overall snow sports industry, I hope they make a comeback. It's awesome riding with a bunch of talented people, with everybody hyping each other up, as well as for spectators drinking beers, meeting new people, and having fun watching people throw down. Thanks for this post dude!


Definitely agree! Trying to find as many ways possible to take what's so much a digital community and create physical experiences to bring us together!
Real life experiences are powerful! Just look at movie premieres vs the video dropping only online.

Both are needed, and there's space for both. But often the physical experience is neglected. Because it's way harder to coordinate and make a reality!
Aug 9 2021 8:37PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2755 - Karma: 5,426
Great post! Incidentally, I believe we crossed paths at a Castlerock rail jam 5 or 6 years ago. Freestyle skiing has simultaneously had an excellent grassroots community while always teetering on the edge of being exclusionary, insular, and generally negative. Rail jams and local slopestyle events were significant in my personal history with skiing because I was otherwise a relatively anxious kid. I learned that my passion for skiing gave me just enough confidence to connect with other kids who felt the same way. Additionally, local events are important for creating a local scene that pushes everyone within it to grow their skills and create compelling content. I don't think it's any secret that grassroots skiing content has been lacking for a few years now...
Aug 9 2021 9:02PM
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Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,100
mattytruGreat post! Incidentally, I believe we crossed paths at a Castlerock rail jam 5 or 6 years ago. Freestyle skiing has simultaneously had an excellent grassroots community while always teetering on the edge of being exclusionary, insular, and generally negative. Rail jams and local slopestyle events were significant in my personal history with skiing because I was otherwise a relatively anxious kid. I learned that my passion for skiing gave me just enough confidence to connect with other kids who felt the same way. Additionally, local events are important for creating a local scene that pushes everyone within it to grow their skills and create compelling content. I don't think it's any secret that grassroots skiing content has been lacking for a few years now...


Castle rock? The city in colorado? We have railjams? I wanted to host one last season but couldn’t find enough people to get it started
Aug 9 2021 10:46PM
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JoshWong
Posts: 2818 - Karma: 20,510
Max.broCastle rock? The city in colorado? We have railjams? I wanted to host one last season but couldn’t find enough people to get it started

Yes, an organization called SFC (skiers and snowboarders for Christ) used to do pre season rail jams every year around Denver.
One year they did it in castle rock, at the park that was supposed to get a dryslope facility.
They've been talking about building that dryslope for almost 10 years now though. So who knows if it will ever exist
Aug 10 2021 8:06AM
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mattytru
Posts: 2755 - Karma: 5,426
let's do a front range rail jam this fall!
Aug 10 2021 11:11AM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7463 - Karma: 62,239
HV put on a rail jam in the spring this season 2 features and it was definitely a highlight of the season. Just tons of kids hiking the rails and hyping each other up and giving each other compliments. Which was rly nice cause normally the park is just a bunch of 12-16yearolds shit talking each other in their little possys
Aug 10 2021 2:29PM
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Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,100
JoshWongYes, an organization called SFC (skiers and snowboarders for Christ) used to do pre season rail jams every year around Denver.
One year they did it in castle rock, at the park that was supposed to get a dryslope facility.
They've been talking about building that dryslope for almost 10 years now though. So who knows if it will ever exist


I heard about the dryslope at that outdoor place, I live down the street from it and I’ve been hearing about that for as long as I’ve lived here, they were starting it up literally right before covid started so they haven’t had a chance to get back on it. And of course I’m headed off to college soon so I won’t be around for it
Aug 10 2021 3:11PM
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Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,100
mattytrulet's do a front range rail jam this fall!


Yo I’m down for this, where/when you thinkin? I’ve wanted to do one in like November/December
Aug 10 2021 3:41PM
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peterpants
Posts: 260 - Karma: 640
If theres any on the west coast of canada id help setup and bring homies!
Aug 10 2021 3:43PM
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junior1derful
Posts: 260 - Karma: 3,095
I'm the terrain park manager at manning park. I'm hoping to host one mid January 2022 after the winter break rush settles down. Extra help/volunteers would be super helpful✌️
peterpantsIf theres any on the west coast of canada id help setup and bring homies!
Aug 10 2021 3:52PM
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dant02
Posts: 236 - Karma: 2,277
Max.broYo I’m down for this, where/when you thinkin? I’ve wanted to do one in like November/December


I support this
Aug 10 2021 4:22PM
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vibe.crudo
Posts: 461 - Karma: 4,652
josh spittin
JoshWongI really think rail jams were core
Aug 11 2021 2:41PM
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vibe.crudo
Posts: 461 - Karma: 4,652
@CarinthiaParks Let’s run it, I know you’ve done buttercup and some other events but I haven’t seen one in a while
Aug 11 2021 2:43PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3822 - Karma: 5,562
Petition to bring back Rails 2 Riches 👀
Aug 11 2021 8:25PM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7463 - Karma: 62,239
Brule.Petition to bring back Rails 2 Riches 👀


Make K parks green again… but keep peace park lol
Aug 11 2021 8:25PM
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T-Pency
Posts: 737 - Karma: 827
I feel like its a 2 part problem.. 1. resorts don't want to bother because they don't want to spend the money/put in the effort. 2. kids just don't enter because they are intimidated, or they forgot that its about having fun and not just about winning.

True story, red bull had a mini jib pipe challenge at my home mountain last season. all you had to do was film a few clips in it and you would be entered to win a free session to Woodward. we only had 3 snowboarders and 2 skiers enter.. it was pretty well advertised and the local kids were well aware, but still didn't even bother..

Its a bummer, when I was young I traveled far and wide for any chance to do a rail jam! I didn't care about winning or losing, I just wanted to ski! Now it seems like the only jams that exist are privately funded and have very limited resources.

We had a good run in my part of Pa back in the early 2000's, but now you don't even hear about kids building dry slopes anymore.
Aug 16 2021 5:42PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 5918 - Karma: 66,375
T-PencyTrue story, red bull had a mini jib pipe challenge at my home mountain last season. all you had to do was film a few clips in it and you would be entered to win a free session to Woodward. we only had 3 snowboarders and 2 skiers enter.. it was pretty well advertised and the local kids were well aware, but still didn't even bother..

Its a bummer, when I was young I traveled far and wide for any chance to do a rail jam! I didn't care about winning or losing, I just wanted to ski! Now it seems like the only jams that exist are privately funded and have very limited resources.

We had a good run in my part of Pa back in the early 2000's, but now you don't even hear about kids building dry slopes anymore.

Honestly I think no one entered because they didn’t wanna take the time to shred that pipe, plus modified pipes aren’t the strong suit of Springs riders. If they would have put that kind effort into an alley or beard setup, and made the contest based on that, I think it would have done so much better. Hell, just even have the contest in the alley with the setup that we had.
Aug 16 2021 7:16PM
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JoshWong
Posts: 2818 - Karma: 20,510
T-PencyI feel like its a 2 part problem.. 1. resorts don't want to bother because they don't want to spend the money/put in the effort. 2. kids just don't enter because they are intimidated, or they forgot that its about having fun and not just about winning.

True story, red bull had a mini jib pipe challenge at my home mountain last season. all you had to do was film a few clips in it and you would be entered to win a free session to Woodward. we only had 3 snowboarders and 2 skiers enter.. it was pretty well advertised and the local kids were well aware, but still didn't even bother..

Its a bummer, when I was young I traveled far and wide for any chance to do a rail jam! I didn't care about winning or losing, I just wanted to ski! Now it seems like the only jams that exist are privately funded and have very limited resources.

We had a good run in my part of Pa back in the early 2000's, but now you don't even hear about kids building dry slopes anymore.


I agree that having a format that doesn't encourage people with zero chance of podium to participate is an issue. I don't know the ideal solution.

But for our Rail Jam we just hosted this past weekend. We did about 50-50 with our prizes and cash. Had around 10k of prizes and cash and did 5k of that to podium and 5k of that handed out during qualifiers. So that everyone felt like they could walk away with something.

We also had over 50 people show up for the rail jam. And was definitely maxed out on our small summer setup. With some guys coming as far as 7 hours away. So there is for a sure a desire for these events from riders regardless.
Aug 18 2021 1:58PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 50997 - Karma: 154,588
Vincent.Crudo@CarinthiaParks Let’s run it, I know you’ve done buttercup and some other events but I haven’t seen one in a while

Vail hates rail jams and park events in general
Aug 18 2021 2:45PM
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