NBA All-Star Weekend just got more exciting.
Announced on Tuesday, GRIT Rail Jam, presented by the Utah Sports Commission, Utah Jazz and Cactus Jack, is a sensational opportunity for fans wanting to enjoy the energy coming from All-Star weekend festivities. Open to the public and free to attend for all ages, the event is broken up over two days, beginning on Friday, Feb. 17, and concluding on Saturday, Feb. 18.
“These opportunities don’t come around often, but Salt Lake City is a critical component in urban snowboarding’s culture and history in the sport,” said Jeremy Jones, professional snowboarder and businessman who was essential in bringing the competition to Utah for All-Star weekend. “To showcase that on ‘home turf’ is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Heavily involved in the creation and setup of the competition, multi-platinum hip hop artist Travis Scott has worked with Jones to procure a deep roster of athletes for this two-day snowboarding competition, including Scott's friend, Jake Canter.
The two-day event will feature some of the best professional and amateur snowboarders in the country as they look to master the handrails, walls, and ledges at Olympic Park at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Amateur Snowboard Competition will run from 2-5 p.m. on Friday, and the winning male and female snowboarders will join the Professional Snowboard Competition, which is set to run from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Zak Hale, Dusty Henrickseon, and Denver Ore will join Canter in the men’s professional competition, while Jill Perkins, Iris Pham, Egan Wint, and Sierra Forscliemer will face off in the women’s professional competition.
“Salt Lake City has an extremely rich history in the culture of urban snowboarding,” Jones said. “I’m beyond stoked to see the local ams (amateurs) win an opportunity in the pro event. … And am then equally as stoked to witness the invited pros (professionals) show the Utah energy and love for urban snowboarding and its community.”
For those who don’t know what a Rail Jam is or have never seen one live, it’s nothing short of an epic, action-packed, high-energy spectator event.
Set to focus on snowboarding in an urban environment, a Rail Jam showcases athletes jumping up and sliding down handrails, walls, or ledges that plunge down sets of concrete steps or other beautiful city architecture. Competitors will be judged based on overall impression through crowd engagement and level of difficulty for the tricks.
Athletes will be given a certain amount of time to complete as many tricks as possible in a singular zone. An announcer will be present to call out the live action, speak with riders throughout the runs, and hype up the crowd. Fans will be right in the action, able to watch some of the most insane tricks right in front of them.
Through GRIT Rail Jam, Salt Lake City will showcase its roots in urban snowboard events at epic proportions. Don’t miss this two-day family-friendly competition and high-energy event at The Gateway.