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| Create a free SCUK account and get access to the forums and our regular newsletter. | May 27, 2012 |
The Vermin Rail Jam
A jam style night of rats, rails and kickers.
Well it was 29°C when I left my house to pick up Kat and J in Hemel at 7pm. Even after a stop in MK to get broken Laura Berry, it was still 25°C by the time we reached Tamworth before 9pm. So, the big worry really had to be; how was the snow going to be? It wasn't the best it's been and with me riding a Morrow Slick 52 circa 1997 which hasn't seen wax or a file for a good 5 years plus baseless low-back bindings, it was certainly a bit sticky. The fog also came and went, and although that's not much good for photographers, doesn't much impair the rider's enjoyment to any great extent. With the mad British weather outside having any snow at all was a damn miracle. Stu from the Vermin crew had thought about this long and hard. Their answer was incredibly simple. Ram the slope so full of metal that you'd hardly need to use the snow at all. Genius! This set up was the best I've ever ridden at Tamworth and because of that you're going to have to forgive me for not ever getting my camera out. There was just too much fun to be had. Let's take you through the slope. At the very top you had the low Transco gas pipe, the new Crash Rail (a surface level rail made from square section crash barriers - great for beginners) and the slightly revamped Burton flat-down-flat-down (now reduced to three bars, from the original four). Just beyond those was the Vermin Barrel on the outside of the bend. On the knuckle they'd put the Rainbow and Straight Black rails. Further down you had the wide Burton Black metal kink in an up-flat configuration; the Burton Flat Down with the small ramp infront, the Vermin box with three on ramps, Burton S Rail, the Smithy, quarterpipe and right at the bottom, what can only be described as a mini hip less than a metre tall. The Grand Prix was nowhere to be seen, but this setup was for what the SnowDome does best and that's jibbing. Throughout the evening the snow actually improved. The amount of effort the slope staff put in at halftime to re-groom the slope, meant that for the last two hours, the slope was pretty much back to it's normal self. SnowDome say 120 people were riding on the night getting sweatier and sweatier in the warmest I've ever known an indoor slope. Nuff Respec (as yoofs are want of saying) to the SnowDome there I feel. This was a great event and what you'd expect from a local group given free-reign to create exactly what they wanted. The throwdowns came quick and fast, but a conscious decision had been made to keep this a free session with no real competitions going on at any stage. The number of lines down the slope meant most hits had small queues, if any and the use of a range of rails at the top of the slope meant the waiting time was reduced with the better riders not always going for the rope tow, so they could take those in. There were plenty of different runs for all levels of riding. For me it was the Crash Rail, Burton Straight Rail and quarterpipe with a few Up-flats thrown in for good measure - I was just stoked to get some sparks off the Crash Rail. For others it was the Burton flat-down-flat-down, Burton up-flat, box and Burton S rail. This is a setup that they need to keep and my only tiny criticism was that the Crash Rail was off the fall line, making it tricky to stay on to the end. That was the only problem for me. Rippers had come from across the land to join the regulars. Part of the ATV crew were up from MK, with Ted joining the few other freestyle skiers on the slope. Locals ruling it were Chris Kightley, Jo Sandy, Jules Smith, Kat Miller, Jon Weatherby, Ben McHugh and Alexa to name a few. To special thanks to SnowDome for letting the riders dictate what's best, Lee and Stu and the rest of the Vermin for getting it sorted and for everybody who turned up and rode including a whole load of SCUK regulars from MK, Tam and Cas. Special thanks to Chris Kightley for selling a heap of our Respect the Mountain green charity wristbands. Everybody I spoke to was just stoked on the whole setup and the BBQ in the car park just finished off a great night. I eventually got home at 5am. [By Duncan Worrell] From Lee; one of the organisers... All I can say is a BIG thanks to everyone that turned up!! Without you lot it would not have happened!! Stu wanted to create a relaxed jam session, where you just ride and enjoy, and that is exactly what went off. It was good to see so many people having a blast. Danny, the pics are wicked, I believe Laura was filming aswell, hope she managed to get some decent footage through all the mist. The ATV guys rocking it as always and I hope that the freestyle skiers had a good time aswell. I must also say a big thanks to all the guys that supported us and donated prizes, we are very grateful for this. And not forgeting Rob, Gary, Josh, Ryan and the rest of the staff for their help and hard work with the setup. React Snowboards, try these boards, UK based. Lexa for your bag of goodies Kat also for a bag of goodies Snowbunnies,check out this site Snopirates,Uk snowboard website Vermin, Hoodys t's and of course Infestation the DVD Snowdome Ski and Snowboarding Tamworth SCUK,Uk snowboarding community O.H.d Homeclothing.co.uk,got some wicked designs on these T's Standingsideways, Cool uk snowboard film And everybody else that I may have missed. The The Vermin Rail Jam event page can be administered by dunx (Dunx), stu (Stu Brass), spencer (Spencer Claridge) and office (Office). Page views: 4844 |
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