Austen Sweetin takes home the victory.

Words: Matt Vanatta / Photos: Sam Kosola

The night before The Rain City Rail Jam I was having a hard time sleeping, mostly because the forecast was calling for new snow, and I had to go sit and watch some rail comp. When you’re only real concern in life is how many powder slashes you’re going to get on any giving day, this can sound like a real tedious process. I mean these kids aren’t going to be conditioned for this thing; they’ve all been swimming through the same endless snowstorms as me. However it’s my job to occasionally sit through some painful mind numbing events and that’s just the kind of sacrifice I’m willing to make, so I don’t have to sit next to some kook named Bob over at Amazon all day.

Austin Hironaka Puts on a show.

It’s safe to say that sometimes when going into something you should keep an open mind because there just might be some things that jump up and surprise you. Like Krush and his crew at Snoqualmie and their ability to consistently organize and pull off good events through out the North West. Or that this was a fund raiser for Seattle’s Chill program, and that there would be money going to help less fortunate kids have a chance to enjoy the same mountains we all love so much. Also there where the companies that got involved like North Wave/Drake, Snowboard Connection, Signal Snowboards, Boarderline, Surf Rider Foundation, 107.7 The End, Arbor Snowboards, Zumiez, and probably some others that I cant remember.

Ivan gets wicked Pressed.

It ended up being a really cool vibe and everyone was just having fun shredding. Hometown hero Austin Hironaka showed up and put on a demo for the fans, and the riders started to throw down some heavy moves. The real story however was young Austen Sweetin, and his amazing talent on a snowboard. I had never witnessed Austen ride, but I’m from Minnesota so I have watched the who’s who of rail riders throw down, and let me just say Austen could hang with any of them. At first I thought he was a tiny man, maybe a midget or some kind of jockey because he didn’t have little kid style, he had killer style. Austen won the event and Ivan Marcinko took second, he also killed it. I don’t know who got third, but I know it was the kid with the creeper mustache. Well if clear contest results are what you want check summitatsnoqualmie.com. Tell next year!

Duffy from Northwave, Andrew and Matty V from Signal on coffee detail.