Rome SDS Pre-Jib Buck Hill

During the week proceeding Pre Jib at Buck Hill in Minnesota, I had calls from Don, the GM, optimistic it would drop below the point in which they could blow some classic man-made snow. Well, the weather didn't cooperate with us and it never was possible to blow. So Friday, the day before the event, with Rome SDS Midwest rep Chris Coleman en route from Chi-town and the word out to the shreds we decide to ante up. The call went out to Aaron Fryman, an OG Burnsville local who works for the city. At the same time, we called Shawn Solem of Zombie Boardshop fame to help out with the undertaking of getting snow from the Burnsville ice arena.

So with the borrowing of Shawn’s trusted Ranger and regional team rider Brandon Rhoades’ Dakota, we were off to shovel. After a few loads of snow we decided to let the 24' flat box and the two C-box laid up into an S lay as they were and fill in snow around them. Using the two small patches of man-made left over from a first attempt to blow in a run, we made run ups and landings to both obstacles. In true Pre Jib fashion it was riding before the resort was open.

Saturday morning rolled in and at first glance we realized more snow was needed so Brandon and crew hightailed it to the ice arena again. Some early arrivals from the St. Cloud area helped make the best of our slim snow pack. We raked, shoveled and iced down the snow we had and made it work. Two hundred plus sign ups later, heads were rippin the boxes with vigor. The attendees were split into three groups, each getting 30 mins of jam. The top 10-12 where pulled to a final jam of 20 mins. From there, the judges pulled the top 3 riders and had one last jam session. At this point the snow was next to nothing in the landing area of the S-box setup. It was make or mud time for our top three.

It was left to the crowd to decide first, second, and third. After a short heated session on the S-box, the crowd decided it was 3rd place for Mason Crawford of N Mankato MN, 2nd for Zach Monte of Burnsville MN, and 1st place for Max Bowen of River Falls WI. The Rome SDS crew also awarded 'grom of the day' and 'female rider of the day' awards. A product toss ensued for those that stuck around. The hill was served a Pre Jib in the purest sense and all riders brought a positive outlook and ripped that snow until it was brown and green. Much love to the Illinois crew that Coleman brought up, B. Rhoades and the Dodge, Shawn and the Ranger, Don and the Buckhill crew, and all the riders that helped shovel, pull in, and salt to make it happen.

Click HERE to see all the photos!