University of Utah students are predicted to dominate the park this year. The Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) and Woodward collaborated on Friday, November 7, to host a school-sanctioned rail jam event. Three divisions: women’s ski and snowboard, men’s ski, and men’s snowboard all competed for a podium finish. First prize winners received a free season pass to Woodward, Park City. Riders had their pick of a down rail, a down-flat-down rail, and a flat rail with a steep drop. With an electric crowd of students crowding the plaza, the stoke reassured riders to let loose and throw down.
Rail jams are not uncommon in Salt Lake City. ShredFest, Brighton’s “Bombhole Cup,” and Woodward’s “The Uninvited” are just a few of the local events that bring crowds yearly to watch their favorite local riders. However, it had been since 2011 since ASUU had organized such an event sanctioned by the school. Even professional freestyle skier Tom Wallisch was there as one of the hosts of the event. We spoke to Wallisch about his thoughts on these community ski events. “It’s one of the most core, grassroots, interactive events. The course is so small, you don’t need a big TV screen; you see it in person. It’s introducing freeskiing and rail riding to a whole new demographic.”
The close-quarters stage brought a different kind of energy from the audience. While professional televised ski events feature top-level athletes and ground-breaking stunts, they certainly lack a level of intimacy. “Where X Games is in Aspen, and the Olympics this year are in Italy, they’re unattainable for a lot of people to see in person, but an event like this is more approachable, more in your face,” Wallisch explained.
The ASUU rail jam had flocks of students all there in support of their friends, representing different ski clubs at the university, and being part of a greater student body. Fans were right up against the course rails. The action was right in your face. For the riders, every attempt garnered an immediate response from the crowd. The younger college student demographic brought this rowdy, electric feel that kept everyone in high spirits from start to finish. The community element certainly gave the contest a more personal feel, as riders were not just trying to impress the judges, but their peers as well.
There wasn’t a dull moment throughout the event. All of the podium finishers earned their titles. Marist Wrenn kicked off the night with a hefty front 450 spin off the flat rail. Not to be outdone, Jaylen Hanson locked into the down rail for a 50-50 slide, then cranked a 360 spin off the end. The men’s event also had its fair share of spectacle. Wyatt Dorman had a snappy and controlled style, despite the spins thrown onto the down-flat-down; he still landed with his heels locked in place. Grey Katko demonstrated his air awareness after sliding a front boardslide and whipping around a 540 spin, nearly clipping his board on the adjacent rail. It has to be mentioned, Jack Coyne’s transfer from the flat rail to the end of the down-flat-down instigated the most deafening response of the evening. All around, it was an action-packed event.
With such a positive response from the student body, we can hope to see more events from the university. For a city with so much access to outdoor recreation, it’s a big incentive for students enrolling in Utah schools. Wallisch also commented on the university and community relationship as a big positive for ski culture as a whole. “These are real sports, we’re not just doing a handrail in the dark, getting kicked out by security. This is a cool Olympic sport, and the school accepts it as one of the college pastimes.” People left the event recapping their favorite tricks and planning out their season regimen for terrain park days ahead. ASUU’s rail jam was definitely the way to kick off the 2025-26 ski season.
