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A rider drops into the course at Thursday's third annual Snow in the Quad event, held as part of the Cricket Wireless Campus Railjam Tour. The railjam was originally organized by two OSU students and has now developed into a national touring project that visited 14 college campuses this year.

85 degrees with chance of snow

Annual Snow in the Quad event excites crowd with snowboarding, music, food

By: Nick Ngo

Posted: 5/16/08

The burning sun couldn't keep them away. With temperatures in the high 80s, snowboarders and skiers descended on snow-covered rails in the MU Quad, performing whatever tricks they had in their arsenal.

Snowriders from around the Northwest journeyed to OSU on Thursday to compete in Cricket Wireless' Campus Railjam Tour.

The Railjam Tour was organized by MUPC and Galvanic Design.

OSU alumni Dan Genco and Ryan Kirkpatrick are the founders of Galvanic Design. For past three years, Galvanic Design has hosted railjams at OSU.

What started as an OSU project called Snow in the Quad has now transformed into a large-scale collegiate railjam tour that visits 14 college campuses.

Cierra Westlund, MUPC director, said the event contained high energy and fun.

"This year has definitely been a cool experience," Westlund said. "It's cool to see what goes on behind the scenes."

"Its been really cool this year to work with Galvanic Design because they have been touring and have more knowledge of how to put this event together," Westlund said.

Above all the other stops along their tour, Genco and Kirkpatrick have always been excited to bring the tour back home to OSU.

"It's a great homecoming," Kirkpatrick said. "We've been all over the place, but we couldn't ask for a better day - 90 degrees and lots of people."

It's tradition to host a railjam event at OSU, Kirkpatrick said

"We love coming back to Oregon State," Genco said. "The crowd is always good, the school is always good to us, and MUPC does a good job organizing it."

Riders from Nevada, Washington and Oregon came to participate in the event. Kirkpatrick said over 100 snowriders applied to take part in the event.

MUPC and Galvanic Design strove to make this year's event a bigger success than it has been in previous years.

Westlund said her goal for the event was retention.

"Every year it's been very popular in the beginning and it tapers off in the end," Westlund said. "This year we wanted to keep people in the finals because that's where all the good action happens.

"Everybody is really excited [for the tour], and once the event started, people leave [because it] gets too hot or they been here too long. This year we're offering other different events."

Along with MUPC booths were tents from sponsors such as Cricket, Scion, Giro, Clif Bars and Civil Apparel.

Volleyball nets were set up in the back of the quad as an alternative source of entertainment. The volleyball portion was part of the MUPC's Spring Series event.

Throughout the quad, sponsors gave away free shirts, shoes, a snowboard and frisbees.

Qdoba provided free food, and Red Bull gave away free drinks.

"Its been great because a lot of sponsors have been here giving away free stuff to make the event even more enjoyable," said Leann White, leadership and involvement program adviser. "It's fortunate that Qdoba donated us all this free stuff."

Organizers added more features around the ramp to create a better environment for students and for sponsors to give away prizes.

A tower was set up next to the ramp for the emcee and DJ.

Additionally, a filmmaker was sent to the sky in a helicopter in order to record snowboarders and skiers performing their tricks.

"[Our goal is] just to be bigger and better then ever," Genco said. "We're trying to grow support and get people involved with their school.

"It's to show that Oregon State is unique."

Nick Ngo, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231