Woodward Park City brought a slice of their complex to the University of Utah on Nov. 7, when it hosted a rail jam competition for students.
A rail jam is a skiing and, or, snowboarding competition where competitors throw their best tricks off a series of rails. Woodward set up a slope with three rails on the university’s Union Building Lawn for the event.
Woodward welcomed around 65 student competitors and 4,000 fans to the competition. It ran for a few hours with women’s and men’s ski and snowboard categories. The complex let students in for free and provided a DJ and emcee for the event.
Woodward hoped it gave the competitors and students a lifelong memory. They’d love to return to the university for similar events in the future, or possibly take rail jams to other campuses across the country.
“We were blown away,” said Woodward Brand Activation and Events Manager, Luke Giacopelli. “We have hosted smaller events off-site, but this was just so massive. We were just so stoked with how many people showed up.”
Giacopelli said spectators showed up and created the event’s lively atmosphere. He could tell how glad they were to have such an event right on campus. Giacopelli thought excitement for the event was building the whole first week of November as Woodward was constructing the competition venue on campus.
A highlight of the competition was when Parkite and Utah freshman Nate Barber hit a trick going from one rail to the next, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Barber has been skiing at Woodward for years, and he and the complex hope the event inspired others to come check their offerings out. Barber said he believes the complex to be the closest ski and snowboard area to the university.
“The level of riding really took things to the next level,” Giacopelli added. “I’ve never heard a crowd pop like that — it was unbelievable. This time of year, I think everyone’s super antsy to get out and ride, and I’m sure that really adds to the level of hype as well.”
Woodward worked with a snowmaker who works on Hollywood sets, to get the venue ready amid unseasonably warm fall temps. They also had ambassador pros, like freeskiing legend and Utah alumnus Tom Wallisch, on hand to inspire the competitors and rally the crowd.
“We really enjoyed working with the University of Utah,” Giacopelli said. “We’re excited to continue our partnership in the future. … We talked with them about bringing it to life again, and I think we will, but it’s not set in stone.”
“It was so cool,” Wallisch added. “I grew up doing smaller-level events pretty similar to this. … Their numbers were crazy — it was like a concert.”
Wallisch loved to see the freeride element of skiing and snowboarding on display. He said the student body is “all so talented.” Wallisch said a 2034 Olympic medalist emerging from the University of Utah is absolutely possible.
“It’s hard to maybe get all the way up to Park City or Brighton and see skiing up close,” Wallisch added. “This is a type of skiing and snowboarding on the rails and stuff that maybe people haven’t seen before. … For them to get up close and see the kids laugh, smile and do something cool and extreme on their skis firsthand is hopefully the inspiration to go for a day at Woodward or check out another local hill.”
“It was really fun to be able to snowboard this early, especially with my peers,” third place snowboard finisher Barber added. “I’ve competed snowboarding about my whole life, and I’ve never seen a crowd that big. It was pretty cool to see how many people shared the same love for skiing and snowboarding as I do.”
Barber hopes to return to a similar competition in the future. He’s taking primarily online classes at the university and chasing professional snowboarding. Barber competed in Nor-Am Cup events this past winter — a level just below the World Cup circuit.
On Barber’s crowd-pleasing run, he narrowly missed his trick on his first go around. With the crowd cheering him on, he attempted it a second time and landed it. Barber said the competition was something he’ll “never really forget because it’s such a unique experience.”
“If you’re a university student and you’re not going to Woodward, definitely start making that commute,” Barber said. “You’re going to have the most fun at that place.”