Photos: Drew Diehl
Words: Keenan Jones
For the full photo gallery click HERE!
It's all or nothing. After five months and over 15,000 miles traveled, the crew made it to the City of Roses, Portland, Oregon for the fourth annual Ford Campus Rail Jam Tour Finals. 60 of the top skiers and snowboarders from around the nation found their way to Pioneer Square with hopes of snagging a piece of the $5,000 cash purse, heaps of gear, and bragging rights for a year.
Riders arrived to a clear bluebird day, but to nobody's surprise the unpredictable spring weather of Oregon rolled in and rain started falling… hard. For the thousands of people who showed up, the rain didn’t discourage the excitement. Copious amounts of free beverages provided by Vitamin Water and Widmer, and ridiculous riding made even the skeptics stay to enjoy the event. Ponchos were handed out keeping people nice and dry and Team Banzai started spinning to kick thing off.
The skiing couldn't have been more entertaining. Banger after banger made judging nearly impossible. Pete Arneson made the down flat down look like child’s play, landing him in third place. Second place was awarded to Utah’s own Khai Krepela receiving $600 in cash to help get him through the summer in Govy. Young gun Conner Bennett was awarded the 2011 Ford Campus Rail Jam Tour crown receiving $1,000 in cash, a pair of Pabst x K2 skis and some First Drop Outerwear. Congratulations to all the skiers who absolutely killed it.
And that’s how to the cookie crumbles. The 2011 Ford Campus Rail Jam Tour was a success. Many thanks to Ford, K2, First Drop Outerwear, Roxy and Vitamin Water for making this one heck of a year, along with the riders for coming out and shredding hard. The boys at Galvanic are already planning for next year, so until next time… stay classy!
