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2nd Annual Butterbox Rail Jam

Dan Conroy
Featured Issue

Words by Christophe Haeberlin Photos by Sawyer Mahoney

Saturday, February 22nd marked the 2nd Annual Butterbox Rail Jam at Northstar California put on by Mountain Dew. Another typical California winter day treated contestants and spectators alike with bluebird skies and warm temps throughout the day. Northstar’s Park Crew built a rail garden at the bottom of the Village Run and with music bumping, sun shining, and little kids running around over-caffeinated on Mountain Dew. The rail jam was on.

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With features ranging from down-flat-down to boxes to donkey-dick rails, there was something that every competitor could hit. The groms (12 and Under) started things off, flinging their bodies with reckless abandon into the course. Showing technical ability that you wouldn’t expect at their age, the groms got the crowd warmed up. Even when they slipped off the rails and fell, they just bounced off the ground and immediately raced back up to strap in before time ran out. Must be nice to be a kid again and have rubber bones..

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With the younger contestants done and the temperatures dropping, the lights flipped on and it was time for the Open division. With the features a little bit more mellow than last year, and with more rail options, the contestants had the ability to get more creative and show off to the judges and crowd. The riders didn’t take that long to get warmed up and banger after banger went down immediately, as the riders fed off each other and off of the crowd that had congregated at the bottom of the rail jam, as well as at the outside bar areas at Chocolate Bar and Tavern 6330′.
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As the finals concluded, the riders and spectators made their way down to Butterbox, Northstar’s premier shop for snowboard gear, where a product raffle and the awards were be held. I forgot how crazy kids, and adults, can get when there’s free product to be given out. Animals. Afterwards came the awards; and over $2000 in money and numerous prizes from sponsors were doled out to the riders. Congrats to all the riders and cross your fingers for some snow this weekend!
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RESULTS:
Women’s 
  1. Mia B.
  2. Samantha H.
  3. Emilia V.

Men’s 

  1. Josh N.
  2. Dan D.
  3. Evan Stagnaro