Woodward Brings a Full Rail Jam to the University of Utah

It’s not a rail jam until someone does a flip.

On Friday night hundreds of students and spectators gathered on the Union Lawn at the University of Utah to watch the competition throw down. With a 30 foot tall DJ stand, an emcee, and X Games gold medalist skier Tom Wallisch, the energy was at an all time high. With that atmosphere, the riders had no choice but to match the hype—and they did.

Woodward Park City worked with the Associated Students of the University of Utah to build a full drop in ramp, set up three rails, and haul in tons of snow. Staff were onsite grooming the lips and landings to make sure everything was smooth. What’s normally a walkway between classes turned into a mini terrain park. It was the kind of setup you’d expect on a hill at a resort, not in the middle of a college campus.

Now the event was invite only. There were 12 women competing between ski and snowboard, 30 men’s skiers, and 23 men’s snowboarders. Having a deep field across both skiing and snowboarding made the event feel balanced with strong representation on each side.

Tricks like mistys off the high rail, transfers from rail to rail, and both front and backflips kept fans dialed in. The energy from the crowd radiated through the lawn whenever someone dropped in. Even students who don’t ski or snowboard stopped by to watch. It was clear from the start that this event was nothing casual, it was for those who came to play.

For Woodward, this event was about building community and bringing some of the school’s best skiers and boarders to the spotlight. It gave riders the platform to show what they’re made of, which most won’t get outside of park laps at Brighton.

The turnout of the event made one thing apparent: mixing the U’s awesome campus life with winter sports was nothing short of perfect. It brought students together in an event that fits the identity of the U.

Now that’s what going to school in Utah looks like.