The big winner of Rail Jam 2023 was skier Milo Macdougall in the 14 to 17 age category for his front 450.
Kitimat’s 15th annual Rail Jam ski and snowboard competition took place in the lower City Centre Mall parking lot Jan. 27 and featured live ski and snowboarding demonstrations, a variety of food vendors and music.
The event was colourfully commentated by Chance Heale, who playfully referred to the youngest age bracket of competitors, age 10 and under, as both “chihuahuas” and “Pomeranians.”
He also called the oldest age bracket of athletes, ages 18-48, “geriatrics, who should have realized they have a mortgage.”
The event was judged by Tanner Grypstra, Xander McFee and “Broken Shoulder Finley” (Finley Hayes).
Rail Jam 2023 also featured an appearance by “Ski Rex” — a dinosaur-themed mascot — who helped present the evening’s awards.
The major sponsors of the event were Shaun Oviatt, Daudet Creek Contracting, the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Leavitt Construction, the District of Kitimat, The Kitimat Rotary Club, No Frills, Local Supply Co., Kitimat Leisure Services, Bandstra Transportation System, the Kitimat Humane Society, Dal Monte’s Ltd. Wood Craft, Shames Mountain Ski and Snowboard Club and the Northern Brain Injury Association — which had an educational booth and checked the helmets of all the athletes before the competition.