REELcomp

Portland has a reputation for being a weird city. Even as a PDX local, you’re bound to stumble upon new oddities nearly every day. But even with weird as the norm, the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour turned up the bizarre even more and transformed Portland into a downright freak show. Something about snow in the summer attracts the most awesome/interesting amalgamation of human beings one will ever witness. 30 tons of snow and the nation’s best college shreds may have been the main attraction, but when the beer started flowing and the vagrants came out of the woodwork, the day turned into much more than your average snowboard rail jam.

A rare sighting of snow in the city

Getting the setup primped and primed!

Free product anyone?

Tour DJ, Kid Couture lays down the tracks

The beer was free, and the VIP was poppin off

Last Saturday, the finals of the 2009 Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour took over Pioneer Square with an all out shred celebration. Industry folks were downing beer and generally bro-ing, Todd Richards was making fun of people on the mic, and riders were absolutely slaying the rails for $6000 in prize money. Business yuppies mixed with burly street dwellers and snowboarders mixed with meth heads in a beautiful mess of snow and sweat.

Todd Richards kept people laughing with his worst tattoo contest

Two suns?

Stoke factor was high

60 of the west’s top rippers made the trek to Portland to ride with the best amateur snowboarders and get loose on Cricket Wireless’ tab. The three-feature setup was blanketed in 60,000 pounds of glacier flakes from the good people at Timberline and positioned in the heart of downtown P-town. After showering the snow with bags of salt and tapping the kegs from Miller High Life and new brew Lat 44, the event kicked off with a bang and riders dropped some serious hammers on the setup.

Rock solid frontboard

Here comes the 270….

Pressing to the end

Nose tappy

The 90-degree heat made things interesting, turning the landing into sloppy margarita slush, but that didn’t seem to affect the top finishers as they put on the best show the Tour has ever seen. Third place finisher Seth Hill’s good vibes matched his stylie stunts and landed him some skrilla for his efforts. Kyle Martola’s back swivel 540’s were sending the crowd into a frenzy and must have got the judges excited too. Kyle scooped some benjamins and a new Omatic stick for his creative riding. The man of the hour was Josh Bishop taking the crown as the winner of the 2009 Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour. Josh was rewarded with a briefcase full of 1,500 $1 bills, some killer headphones from ZAGG and a new board courtesy of GNU.

Getting Tricky on the ZAGG box

Colt Morgan goes backward

Blunts in the big city

1st placer, Josh Bishop with the frozen supermodel

Kyle Martola pops a 5 off the Red Bull box

2nd place finisher, Kyle Martola

3rd place finisher, Seth Hill

(L-R) Seth Hill (3rd) Josh Bishop (1st), and Kyle Martola (2nd)

Josh’s got enough bills to keep the party going for days

In between heats, product tosses meant tug-of-war with the bums, and a chance to dance for swag from Grenade and ELM company. REELcomp was running around with cameras to get the shot for all the peeps stuck at home watching the live webcast. Highlights will be posted soon for anyone who missed it! FUEL TV was also shooting for the Weekly Update, interviewing riders and spreading the love. For those who were taking a break from beer consumption, Red Bull was providing glorious refreshment from the sun and stoking out the homeless with plenty of empty cans to trade in for change.

Insurance salesmen can get hyphy too!

Stacy makes Red Bull look gooood.

The lady rippers had a strong showing at the jam, holding it down with the best of em’. When the fat lady had sung, Madison Blackley walked away with third place and a mix of cash and product. Erika Vikander took second after impressing judges on all three rails. In first place was tour veteran, Miss Ronda Shahin, stepping onto the top of the podium, stoked as hell, ready to party. Congrats ladies!

Gabby Maiden

Madison Blackley, thru the kink

Erika Vikander presses down the shotgun

Ronda gets pressy

(L-R) Madison Blackley (3rd) Ronda Shahin (1st), and Erika Vikander (2nd)

Ronda – Dolla dolla bills y’all!

Well, that’s it! The 2009 Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour is history! Thanks to everyone for making the Tour happen and helping to promote the amateur shred scene across the US. The Galvanic Design crew couldn’t have done it without all the great support from the riders, schools, and companies that believed in the Tour and their goal of spreading the shred. Planning for 2010 is already well underway, so expect to see some BIG improvements, additions, and new surprises next year. Stay tuned to www.campusrailjamtour.com for summer updates on what we are up to, and where we are heading next. We’re out!

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UCSD is a school of genius. The students are all brainiac maniacs, the architecture is something out of the Matrix, and they serve alcohol on campus. They did it right. The campus is full of potential, overrun with aspiring Fortune 500 execs and a plethora of gaps, ledges, and stair sets that scream “SKATE ME!” The Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour crew took full advantage of UCSD’s superior skatability and local nightlife scene at the most recent shred session in San Diego. Good times were had by all who were smart enough to drop their books for a few hours and study the massive 25-ton snow pile that appeared on campus.

The Study Spaceship

SUNGOD

With 70-degree weather, Red Bull flowing, and Swine Flu in the air, the conditions were perfect for the rare breed of shredding that is the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour. Mother nature was able to sit back and rest as the crew brought in a massive “margarita maker” to blow 25 tons of pearly white flakes onto the setup. By the time the machine was near finished grinding the huge ice blocks, a massive sea of people had already gathered around the setup to peep the scene and get their photo taken at the ELM company booth. Cricket Wireless was giving away tons of free shirts and stoking out the crowd. Big ups to Cricket for making it happen!

Making one giant sno-cone

The Setup – Pre Destruction

60 local shreds came out to terrorize the rails and throw down for their shot at some skrill and assorted products from all the fine sponsors. Knife Show’s own Casey Wrightsman took home the win for the men’s snowboard division and walked away with the cash and an invite to the Portland finals. Second place finisher, Colt Morgan, flew down from Tahoe just to qualify for the finals, and that he did! Colt also walked away with a crisp new Omatic board to beat all the babes off him. Eric Singer is no stranger to the Tour, and finished in third with some Skullcandy gear.

Casey Wrightsman - swivnasty

Colt rocks a tie-dye shirt to match his board

Frontside 3 from Eric Singer

(L-R) Eric Singer (3rd) Casey Wrightsman (1st), and Colt Morgan (2nd)

As for the ladies, Nirvana Ortanez took home the W and the infamous jackalope trophy. So sick. Monica Thatcher finished in second and got a ticket to the finals. Congrats ladies!

The Red Bull box is taller than Nirvana

Monica pushes through the kink

(L-R) Nirvana Ortanez (1st), and Monica Thatcher (2nd)

When the sun had set and the winners had been crowned, the crew got their hands dirty and tore down the setup in record time to make it to the after party in Pacific Beach. 50 shred rats in a bar full of bros always makes for a good/interesting time. Now that UCSD is in the books, the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour is back in Oregon to host one more event on their home turf, before the final showdown in downtown Portland on Saturday, May 30th. Keep your eyes peeled on www.campusrailjamtour.com for a live webcast from REELcomp!

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Our friends over at Adrenaline Garage in Colorado have a position available for one lucky film maker. Please check out the posting below and respond to the contact information provided. This is not a job offering to work for REELcomp, please read the posting in detail.

JOB LISTING:
Adrenaline Garage is looking for a paid Associate Producer to assist Producers with planning, filming and editing a snowboard television show for Fuel TV, producing live events and independently producing other smaller video projects this summer. The ideal applicant is a jack-of-all-trades in video production, highly motivated, hard-working, tenacious, eager to learn and talented. You need to be familiar with professional production techniques in addition to the snowsports world.

The job involves long hours of hard work, but it also includes traveling, working with A-list professional athletes and time on snow. The applicant must be willing to relocate to Winter Park, CO.

Job Requirements:

Ability to ride all types of terrain.
Experience shooting and editing snow sports.
Experience managing video projects.
Ability to compose shots and convey a story through video.
Extensive knowledge of OSX, Windows, Final Cut Studio.
Knowledge of Graphic Design is a plus.
Owning your own equipment is a plus.

Please submit your resume, cover letter and reel to jobs@adrenalinegarage.com.

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The weather has been somewhat cloudy, but the waves have been consistently good and that’s all that really matters when there is $50-grand$ up for grabs! The 2009 VOLCOM VQS Championships have been dubbed, “The Hillbilly Stomp”. There are live chickens and strange games as well as banjos and muskrat tails everywhere. It’s… weird and very fun at the same time. VOLCOM has pulled out all the stops in creating this years theme and they are carrying it out to the fullest. You need to come down here before it’s all over and check it out for yourself to really understand the extent of the set up. Check out some photos and stay tuned for results and updates and videos!

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Asher Roth must have gone to USC. Sure, every college has kegs rollin’ around and red cups in the alleyways, but USC is the mecca. It would be no surprise if the music video for that “I Love College” song was filmed on a typical night at a typical party at USC. It’s crazy. People were even singing the song while stumbling down the street with fiesta beverages in their hands. Unfortunately, Asher Roth must have been writing lyrics for his next piece of genius, because he was nowhere to be seen. However, the electro duo LMFAO and Ghostland Observatory were in the house to keep things raging in typical college fashion. The Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour decided to show up too, just long enough to spread the shred and get out….before they could get kicked out.

This is Foo. Weird name, Cool hair

Riders meeting

The spring shred fest was part of the annual “Derby Days” charity event hosted by the Sigma Chi fraternity. There’s nothing like giving back to the LA Children’s Hospital with some good clean snow slidin’. Students were stoked/confused to say the least. Some people seemed the fear the huge mass of margarita spread throughout the street and stood a safe distance, snapping picture on their camera phones. Others thought a snowball fight was the right thing to do. Either way, everyone was stoked on the snow, stoked on the shredding, and stoked to be doing it all for charity.

The massive margarita pile

FUEL TV was on-site gathering footy for the Weekly Update, while Omatic snowboards mastermind Todd Richards kept everyone laughing on the mic. Boarding for Breast Cancer, ELM company, and the Red Bull wiiings team were also spreading the love with tons of free product for all the hungry co-eds.

TR was making fun of people…as usual

With the snow melting fast under the sun, things got slushy and riders got wet. Local rippers pulled out all their bangers without even warming up, resulting in a mix of cheers and carnage. When the fat lady had sung, judges huddled together and put their pens to the paper to score the 60 riders and skiers that came out to throw down. All in all, it was Mikey Radziwon who took first for the mens snowboarders. Mike Brokeoff followed closely in second and scooped up a new Omatic board for his smooth style. Swivel master, Jon Montana, rounded up the pack in third and took home some new Skullcandy headphones. Congrats boys!

Mikey Radziwon and his party pants

Mike Brokeoff is the nicest dude in the galaxy

Jon Montana can ride metal as good as he can edit videos

(L-R): Jon Montana (3rd), Mikey Radziwon (1st), and Mike Brokeoff (2nd)

As for the ladies, Omatic ripper, Alice Gong claimed the top spot on the podium. Bre Wright took home a new Omatic stick for her second place efforts. Third place was filled by Erica Stark after destroying all three rails.

Alice Gong, repping the Omatic family

Bre Wright

Erica Stark

(L-R): Erica Stark (3rd), Alice Gong (1st), and Bre Wright (2nd)

Now that the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour crew has successfully spred the shred in seven states, it is time for the guys to head back to Oregon to prep for one more event on their home turf before the Portland Finals on May 30th! Be sure to check out www.campusrailjamtour.com for a live webcast of the finals from REELcomp!

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On April 25th the Wright Group, Klassnine, Guru Apparel, Cecilias night club, Trinity irish pub, Bing Energy Drink, Coors Light and the board room all through down at A-Basin followed by an after party at Cecilias in Breckenridge Colorado. At A-Basin there was burgers and dogs, cotton candy, snow cones, raffles, go-go cages, Beruit, a double decker party bus and plenty of good times to be had. Frank, from Klass Nine, had two of his signature boards on display and the Klass Nine Team was shredding throughout the day. Groms, Chicken and Daniel where on the hill showing us all how its done with one footers on the boxes. Later in the evening we all joined at Cecilias for live music and some libations. Here are some photos of the day and night.

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Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour – BSU RECAP!

Boise Idaho is stoked on potatoes. This may seem boring, but think about it for a bit, potatoes are rad. Without them we wouldn’t have hash browns, french fries, potato guns, or Mr. Potato head. Sounds like a sad world. Fortunately, Boise has got the spud scene on lockdown, making the world a better place one tater at a time. The Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour is thankful of Boise’s hard days of farm labor and wanted to give back to the community with a whole boatload of shredding.

Skate competition as riders killed time waiting for the snow to arrive

It’s finally here!

Then, this happened…

The weather in B-Town couldn’t have been more perfect for the shred fest. Riders from all over the state came out of the fields to smother, cover, and chunk the three-feature setup. The event created a local media frenzy, with all four local news stations on-site, broadcasting live feeds of the event to the excited Boise public. With the sounds of Tour DJ Kid Couture filling up the Bronco stadium parking lot and the course prepped and ready, students poured into the lot curious to see what local riders and fellow classmate shredders had to show. As is par for the course, emcee Sub B started the jam off with hilarious commentary and some Thizz dancin’.

Thizz winners

As the 25 tons of snow poured onto the setup, the crowd’s stoke factor was at an all time high and it was rubbing off on all the rippers. The Bogus Basin locals came out to terrorize the rails, and that they did. Riders were pouring on the hot-sauce and baking something delicious.

In the end, the white fluffy flakes had been eaten up by the mid-April heat and all that was left was bacon bits, sour cream, and a handful of Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour Boise winners. The snowboarding ladies mashed-potatoed down the 3 contest features. Third place was earned by Emily Boswell, taking home some sick Skullcandy headphones. Francesca Wilson walked away with a new Omatic snowboard after finishing in second, and Raelynd Tarnove took home the cash in first place.

Emily Boswell

Francesca Wilson

Raelynd Tarnove

(L-R) Emily Boswell (3rd), Raelynd Tarnove (1st), and Francesca Wilson (2nd)

Tater-tot Cameron St. Pierre, competing against 3 of his siblings, proved his position in the family by third place in the Men’s snowboarding division. Cameron was stoked on his new Skullcandy headphones! Ralph Kunz, who followed close behind first place victor Eric Singer to the podium, earned second place and a new Omatic stick.

Cameron St. Pierre

Ralph Kunz

Eric Singer

(L-R): Cameron St. Pierre (3rd), Eric Singer (1st), and Ralph Kunz (2nd)

After the excitement, tour entertainer and hip-hop phenomenon Luck One wowed the crowd with an on-snow performance for the dedicated bunch of Idaho locals. Everyone walked away with their new custom shirts from Cricket Wireless, and smiles on their faces. By now, Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour crew has made it all the way down to Southern California, so be sure to check out our upcoming events in the next two weeks!

The crowd fanning off the hot fire jams of Luck One

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Is being “The biggest little city in the world” really something to brag about? Some may interpret the statement as claiming something like “Being the best player on the worst team in the league.” However, you really need to visit Reno to understand the slogan’s validity and appropriateness. Besides, the iconic Reno arch serves as much more than a delightfully tacky sign, it is an entrance into the world of sin that is downtown Reno, NV. By passing through the arch, you are putting yourself at the mercy of the abundant temptation that awaits you in every casino, alleyway and female “companionship” establishment. To some, this is not an environment that sounds pleasant, but to the Galvanic Design crew it sounds like heaven on earth. And what better to add to the sinful mix than some good ol’ fashioned boardin’.

Tour DJ, Kid Couture

Pop, Lock, and Drop it

Last Thursday, the University of Nevada, Reno was home to the seventh stop of the Cricket Campus Rail Jam Tour. More than 100 local shred-heads applied to come out and compete for a chance at cash, product, and bragging rights. After sorting through competitor’s videos, competition history, and the likes, 60 of the area’s best skiers and snowboarders were accepted to compete. Riders must have been stoked to slide around on the 2009 CRJT setup because many traveled from all over the western U.S. to get in on the action. Whether it was the fun rails, the killer do-it-yourself shirts from Cricket Wireless, or the overall good vibes, it’s safe to say that everyone left with a smile on their face and a few new friends.

Colt Morgan wins the award for happiest dude of the day

Classrooms were empty

At the end of the day it was Smokin’ Snowboards own, Dakota Whitaker who took the cake as the top male shred. Dakota’s effortless presses and fluid style were just too clean for the judges to deny. Blake Geis’ half cab 360 off the kink earned him a sick new Omatic snowboard and second place spot on the podium. Rounding up the pack was Chris Gulick, finishing in a very respectable third place and walking away with some killer Skullcandy product after an array of swivels and spins on all three features. Congrats boys!

Dakota lays it down heavy on the nose Photo: Andy Hatch

Blake teeters on the kink

Chris Gulick

(L-R) Chris Gulick (3rd), Dakota Whitaker (1st), and Blake Geis (2nd)

As for the ladies, Alice Gong held it down for the Omatic family and swept the competition to claim first place. Libby Helmer finished in a close second, scoring a ladies Omatic stick, followed by Becky Bruce in third.

Alice powers through the flat into first place

Libby blasts through the kink with a serious noseslide

Becky with the gangster lean

(L-R) Becky Bruce (3rd), Alice Gong (1st), and Libby Helmer (2nd)

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to slay the rails and make this a killer event. Big ups to Cricket Wireless for making the Tour possible and spreading the shred across the nation! Now that Reno is history, the Galvanic Crew has set sail for the eighth stop of the Tour in Boise, Idaho on Thursday, April 16th. Keep your eyes peeled for event updates and news from the open road!

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The venue was brought inside one of the hangers at the Ventura County Fairgrounds because of the chance of rain over the weekend. New additions to the ramp include a bowl at one end and a 10’ halfpipe at the other end with the mini 6’ in between. Riders were stoked on the new ramps and the skating was proof of that. We saw ten heats of four or five people throughout the day and there was huge airs and technical lip tricks going down all over the place.

Omar Hassan was impressive on the snow and held his own in the water which gave him a 10th place overall coming into his strongest discipline. It was impressive to watch him ride the ramps and absolutely max out the potential of each feature. Other standouts included skating from Kristian Philipp, Chad Shetler, Aaron Astorga, Tosh Townend, Kurt Wastell, and young buck Birdhouse rider Adam Taylor. We’ll see all these guys in the finals today.

Check out Ultimate Boarders Production page for all the details.

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Woodward camps just opened the first indoor/outdoor ski and snowboard camp on the planet at Copper Mountian, CO. When pulling into Copper Mountain head straight down Copper Road and just before lodging check in is the Woodward Camp indoor facility. “The Barn” is a 20,000 square foot facility filled with spring boards, foam pits, trampolines, mini pipes and a full size skate bowl. When you walk into “the barn” you immediately get excited from the sound of skate ramps and rails. You definitely need to check out the Woodward camp at Copper!

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