NZ UPDATE: Urban Jib Session
Skiers and snowboarders took a break from shredding the Southern Alps on Thursday night for an urban-style rail jam session on the campus of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand.
The University’s alternative snow sports club known as CUBA (Canterbury University Boardriders Association) hosted their second rail jam session of the ‘06 winter on the campus of the university. With a crowd of about 500 college students gathered in an amphitheatre setting outside the on-campus bar, a few skiers and several snowboarders attempted their luck. The features included a flat-to-down box, some sort of sketchy round rail, and a 4-foot high skate vert ramp to an angle sub box. Snow for the in-runs and landings was gathered from a local ice hockey rink as Christchurch does not receive much snow reminiscent of a Seattle or Portland winter climate.
Once the drum and base music of New Zealand started up along with the pouring of $1 beers, the event kicked off in true Kiwi fashion. As each rider successfully slid or failed to slide the box or rail, the large, drunken crowd of fellow riders cheered and laughed with appreciation and acceptance of a good time.
