It just occurred to me that even though the snow fall this year has been pretty crappy, I’ve been snowboarding more this year than last for sure. You don’t need much to have fun. In fact, all you need is a rail park similar to the one Mt Buller built for the Pepsi Rail Jam this past weekend…
The Pepsi Rail Jam (actually it was called The Pepsi Expression Session Rail Jam which is a bit ridiculous) was one of the most relaxed and stress free contests I’ve ever been involved with. So much so that I donned my Pepsi race bib (aka Unitard) and had a crack at the title. Which of course Mikey Williams (1st) took from me. Which he actually took from Tom Pelly (2nd) and Jason Currie (3rd).
With everyone having two runs to qualify for an 8 man final there were some early standouts. Jan Snarski had an impressive 1st run with combos on the down-flat-down kink and up-down box setup. As did Tom Pelly. Mikey Williams was solid as always and saved his signature frontside 270 to frontside boardslide for the final. Alex Kutaysov looked promising in the warm-up with some dope switch front blunt 270’s and a frontside boardslides through the kink. Buller kid Mitch Williams was getting noticed with his switch-frontside boardslides through the kink attempts. New Zealand friend Mark Katsburg was oozing style and looking like he was enjoying being back on the board. However the icy conditions would prove difficult for anyone with dulled rail friendly edges.
I was quite impressed with the girls riding on the night. Courtney Phillipson (1st), Christine Hocking (2nd) and Brooke Stanway were all hitting the kink rail with style. CP tried some frontside boardslides on the down rail which was rad to see. Trina Cooper got 3rd.
While the course was probably the best rail only setup I’ve seen in Australia, and hats off to Buller for putting it together, the vibe running through the contestants was a little down. I think this was due to the fun summery slush icing up and becoming rock solid once the sun went down. Plus with over 100 skiers and snowboarders entered in the contest, the start hill was ridiculously over crowded. I’d say the funnest times were had during the 5 or 6 hours the park was open before the contest. A lot of kids were throwing down and trying to learn tricks for their runs.
Still it’s good to see Buller dedicating snow and slope space to a decent rail park and getting the kids stoked on competing. No other mountain in Victoria has been putting in the effort like they have so you’ve got to give them that.
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Not the best editing or lighting (it was a dark course) but you get the idea.
The course. Top right feature. Right after the drop in.
Top left feature. Next to the kink.
Middle left feature.
Middle right feature.
Bottom left feature. A rail jump type thing. Fun for backside 180’s.
A fun long up-down box setup.
Again from the side to show the length.
From the top.
From the bottom.
Courtney Phillipson (aka CP) getting some tips from TSC coach Jarrod Wouters.
Yep, it worked Jarrod.
Alex Kutaysov chillin’ with the cute girls.
Chris Eacott and Mark Katsburg.
Chunk was doing a good job on the mic once again.
This kid is so good. He was getting creative with some backlips down the last bit of the down-flat-down kink.
M-Dog!
