PRESS RELEASE:

It was a packed house at Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square for the finals of the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour. The Rose City was definitely feeling the excitement as the top riders from seven western states battled it out for bragging rights and their share of the $5000 in prize money. Everyone from businessmen sipping cappuccinos to the local Hawthorne hipsters were on site to witness the nations best college snow sliders.

With a snow base of over ten feet, Mt. Hood was more than prepared to hook up our set-up crew with the five dump trucks of snow required for the grand finale. Anticipation built as the dump trucks roared into downtown, and the crowd continued to swell as the tricked-out Scion tC and xB’s showed up on the scene. Local shops, US Outdoor Store and Hillcrest were both on-site, providing a serious amount of free loot to shower over the crowd. Both shops were immediately swarmed with groms with the hopes of getting their paws on the mounds of product, possibly snagging autographs from Darrell Mathes & Brett Butcher, snow legends who were holding down the US Outdoor Store tent.

At 2pm, Galvanic’s own DJ Wiky began spinning, riders checked in to receive the last of the Cricket Wireless jerseys, and the park crew put the finishing touches on the course for the final competition of the 13 stop tour. With kick-off time right around the corner, judges Tim Windell and Logan Fuquay took their places in the Red Bull judge towers as Nick Dirks, Jarad Hadi and Sammy Carlson climbed the FUEL TV DJ tower to get a solid view of the competition.

The riders were poised on top of the scaffolding setup, sizing up the competition, slapping high-fives, and trying not to look nervous as they awaited the drop signal from the DJ tower. The FUEL TV cameras hit the switch as MC Chimpy T called the first competitors with an Active Culture Frozen Yogurt in hand. After four months of anticipation, the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour finals were finally under way.

The college shreds were going all out, throwing down ridiculous combos and supplying the crowd with some serious carnage. Big-ups went out to Giro, who provided helmets at qualifying events, saving riders’ craniums from the 80-foot monster of snow and steel they attempted to conquer.

For some, the sacrifice paid off, like Jaime Wabschall who laid down super clean 50-50s through the kink, landing her in third for the females. Becky Bruce was also able to put together solid combos on the kink with a 50-50 to front board, to hold it down in second. Tahoe shred Joanna Dzierzawski struck gold with the Best Overall Female performance and Best Female Trick with a textbook boardslide through the kink rail.

Scott Pullman and John Ware put together top performances in the ski category, but the Best Overall Skier performance went to Collin Wright with a very solid showing on all three features. Wright also landed the Best Skier Trick with his buttery 270 switch-up 270 out on the kink. His performance bagged him $1000 in cash as well as a full setup from next season’s Spyder Venom line.

The male snowboarders showed up for the finals ready for action, with a combination of post qualifier practice, tougher competition, and adrenaline pulsing through their veins. The finalists were a mix of the sickest collegiate riders in the country, making it a true battle of the best in the west. Civil Apparel’s John Adkins dropped jaws by acclaiming clean tail-presses through the kink followed by a 50-50 to backside 360 out of the kink.

Collin Spencer was on fire all day with a 50-50 to frontside 360 out on the kink, coupled with a tail press to backside feeble with a 270 out.

The Best Overall Men’s Snowboard Performance went to none other then Dylan Alito, making the 22-hour drive from Denver to stuff his wallet with close to 2k in cash. Dylan had more tricks than could fit on the judge sheet, taking Best Trick with a 50-50 to method to front board through the kink. Soon after, he dropped bombs on Portland with a 270 on to 270 off of the box, coupled with a moonwalk on the Windell’s stall feature.

Post-event, the top riders got their 15 minutes of fame interviews with FUEL TV and various local news stations, giving these athletes the well-deserved attention from their top tier performances. As with the end of every event, it was time to put on a fresh Mt. Theory hoody and hit the legendary Red Bull after-party. Drinks flowed, bar tabs were maxed, and karaoke was sung. Some celebrated victory while some nursed battle wounds with tequila shots, and all toasted to a great tour and an even greater anticipated tour next year. An epic night in Portland was had by all, to say the least. A special thanks to the Campus Rail Jam Tour supporters, you have believed in the vision:
“In college: a football player has a field, a basketball player has a gym, and snow-sports athletes need a venue to showcase their talents to their peers.” -Dan Genco, Galvanic Design founder

This could not have gone off without the support of these companies: A big thank you to Cricket Wireless, Red Bull, Clif Bar, Scion, Spyder, Giro, Civil Apparel’s, FUEL TV, Snowboarder Magazine, Snowboard Magazine and Galvanic Design.

Also, thank you to University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado State University, Denver, University of Utah, San Diego, Fresno State, Boise State University, Gonzaga, University of Nevada Reno, Chico State, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland Pioneer Square.

Men’s Best Overall Snowboard
1. Dylan Alito
2. Collin Spencer
3. John Adkins

Best Trick Men’s Snowboard
Dylan Alito: 50-50 method front board down the kink

Women’s Best Overall Snowboard
1. Joanna Dzierzawski
2 Becky Bruce
3 Jamie Wabschall

Best Trick Women’s Snowboard
Joanna Dzierzawski: clean backboard through the kink

Men’s Best Overall Skier
1. Collin Wright
2. John Ware
3. Scott Pollman

Best Trick Men’s Skier:
Collin Wright: 270 switch up 270 out of the kink