Memorial Day Weekend Rail Jams Abound at Northeastern Ski Resorts

Stratton Mountain, VT – For those skiers and riders looking for a post-season fix, no fewer than five rail jam competitions will take place across ski and snowboard resorts in the Northeast this holiday weekend.nStratton Mountain and Mount Snow in Vermont are teaming up for a weekend of competition. The action starts on Saturday at Mount Snow’s Peace Pipe Jam, a free event that has become an instant favorite for jibbers throughout the northeast with 200 participants in year one and almost 500 in year two. The jam, music and a barbeque runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is totally freeform — no judges, just the love of sport.


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This pile of snow Tuesday morning is waiting for Mount Snow’s parks crew to prepare for the Peace Pipe Rail Jam this Saturday.
(photo: Mount Snow Resort)

On Sunday, just 20 miles up the road from Mount Snow, Stratton will host its first annual Mountain Mayhem jam, a freestyle mash up, “park builder’s pick” event featuring cash prizes for the winners. This is a last chance for some high flying action and killer tricks before the snow takes a five-month hiatus. DJ Joe Bell will be spinning tunes with free swag, cash prizes and a post event barbeque to follow.

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Registration for the Stratton event costs $20 and participants can sign up through www.active.com, or on-site beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of the event.

The next ski season at Stowe is nearly six months away, which is why every year for the past half dozen or so, the northern Vermont resort has hosted its “Last Trick” Rail Jam on Memorial Day weekend. All are welcome to the free event, for which a giant pile of snow — formerly the ski resort’s halfpipe — provides the venue for Stowe’s park crew to set up the rails, boxes and jumps for one more jam session from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday. This event is open to all skiers, snowboarders and spectators. Music will be provided by Lotus Entertainment and there will be a bounty of prizes and giveaways for participants. Bring yourself, friends, summer attire, sunscreen and lawn chairs. It’s always a good time.

Those from points further south not looking to make the trek to Vermont this weekend may opt instead for a pair of rail jam in New York State’s Catskill Mountains. At Windham Mountain, resort officials are preparing for a rail jam of their own this Saturday, when from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Windham will push out its stockpile of snow for the last few jibs of the year at the Endless Winter Rail Jam. All are welcome, so bring your skis or board.

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Nearby Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount is hosting a rail jam of its own as part of its 2nd Annual Triple Crown Splash into Summer Extravaganza this Saturday, which consists of not only the Memorial Day Weekend Rail Jam, but also a Kayak Regatta at Belleayre Beach and a Mountain Bike Drag Race. The grand prize to the person who wins all three events is family pack of four season passes to ski or ride at Belleayre for the 2010-11 season. The schedule of events begins with registration at 9:00 a.m. at the Belleayre Beach for kayakers and people who are entering the Triple Crown. Competitors participating in only the Mountain Bike Drag Race and the Rail Jam will be able to register at Overlook Lodge beginning at 10:00 a.m. The cost to enter all three events is $15 or competitors can enter just the event they are interested in — $8 for the Kayak Regatta, $5 for the Mountain Bike Hill Climb Drag and $10 for the Rail Jam. The award ceremony for all three events will happen on the Overlook Deck at 6:00 p.m., where DJ Pure will be rocking out all day at the Belleayre Memorial Day Weekend BBQ. Skiers and riders who are not participating in the Triple Crown are welcome to hit the rails beginning at noon.

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