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Rail Jam event seeks to make skiing, snowboarding more popular

November 23, 2014
<p>Business junior Kelsey McGorisk snowboards on Nov. 21, 2014, at The Rock on Farm Lane. The Michigan State Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team and the Spartan Ski Club hosted their 2nd annual Rail Jam. Aerika Williams/The State News </p>

Business junior Kelsey McGorisk snowboards on Nov. 21, 2014, at The Rock on Farm Lane. The Michigan State Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team and the Spartan Ski Club hosted their 2nd annual Rail Jam. Aerika Williams/The State News

Neuroscience junior Charlie Nicoli, the Spartan Ski Club treasurer, said the groups aim to make skiing and snowboarding more popular at MSU.

“(It’s) a collaboration between Ski Team and Spartan Ski Club this year. We just do it to bring skiing and snowboarding to campus, kind of have a little fun before finals start up,” Nicoli said.

The second annual Rail Jam began at 2 p.m. with a three-hour open jam session that allowed people to freestyle on the setup just for fun.

“It’s just a fun time, that’s what Spartan Ski Club is all about. It’s good to kind of experience something new on campus,” he said.

After the open jam session ended at 5 p.m., the Rail Jam competition began. It was judged by some of Mt. Brighton’s staffers, and also some experienced skiers and snowboarders.

“We (had) some awesome prizes from Rome, a couple snowboards to give away, some other promo stuff,” Nicoli said.

Marketing senior Patrick Walsh was one of the many students to attend the event. He said he’s been to previous Ski Club events and had a lot of fun, so he decided to come out to Rail Jam.

Walsh, a snowboarder himself, said he’s a little timid when it comes to participating in snowboarding events because of past injuries.

“I’ve broken my collarbone and my wrist and a couple other bones variously, but those are from snowboarding,” he said.

Walsh said he’d like to see more events similar to Rail Jam taking place on campus.

“I think they draw a pretty good showing and it kind of brings a different atmosphere during the winter environment,” he said.

Fifth year Lansing Community College welding student Kyle Petersen made it to the secondary finals.

Petersen said his love for snowboarding began 13 years ago, when he would go up north with his family to go skiing.

“I saw snowboarders doing flips and jumps. I had to try it out and caught the bug,” he said.

Petersen said his snowboarding goal is simple – to keep having fun.

“I don’t have any more fun in life than when I’m on a snowboard,” he said.

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