IT'S DONE! Rail Jam WRAP

UPDATE:  

Check out the Burton Go Pro Snowboarding Trip of your dreams.... and yes, there are Rail Jam and Mt Buller highlights in here!

Burton x GoPro Road Trip: Australia from Burton Australia NZ on Vimeo.

Mt Buller hosted the thrilling Burton Cattleman's Rail Jam for the 14th year last night (Sat 20 July) making it the longest running snowboarding event in the country.

The bustling Mt Buller Village Square was transformed into a floodlit snowboarding arena where the 15 best rail riders showed the packed crowd just what is possible on a snowboard and a 45 degree angle stair rail with enough skill and courage.  The skilled Mt Buller Parks team bumped in the technical feature shovelling snow and preparing the site for a safe and stunning competition with many hours on shovels and rakes since Friday.

The weather held off with just a bit of fog swirling and the crowd revelled in the music, live commentary and give aways that kept the whole afternoon pumping through to the dramatic final tricks just before 8pm.


The top prize was taken out by New South Welshman Andy James who ended the night with a $4000 pay cheque for his technical series of spins on and off both outer rails, gaps and tricks on the close-out rail and incredible switch riding that nudged out the 14 other riders vying for the podium.

Another event veteran, Troy Sturrock took  second place, applying a clinical approach to the stair set with impeccable style and consistency.  One of Australia’s best up and coming snowboarders Josh Anderson rounded out the podium in third position with stylish, technical and creative tricks and put on a breathtaking show for the Mt Buller crowd.

 
The coveted Best Trick award this year was presented to Beau Fisher, who sent a huge, never-been-done maneuver, a transfer from the top closeout take off to frontside lipslide on the center rail. Beau earned a cool $1000 and the bragging rights of adding a first-time trick to the record books of the event. 

New to this winter's event, the Mt Buller competition was included in the 2019-2020 Burton Qualifiers Series, a network of internationally recognised events supporting grass-roots snowboarding. The most impressive new-comers in an Open and the Under 15 division were recognised with an incredible opportunity to receive a wild card entry into the Burton Qualifiers Finals Event in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania USA where they will compete for a shot at the $10K prize purse and get the experience of international competition.

At just 12 years old Zephyr Whitelaw-Holmes, the youngest competitor to ever hit the Cattleman’s rail took one of these new prizes and will travel to the US. There were open mouths in the crowd as this courageous young rider took on a feature that most adults are intimidated by.  Zephyr's cautious and calculated approach to the pressures of the rail and the huge crowd left everyone impressed, and his family incredibly proud of his efforts.

In the open division Josh Anderson impressed the judges and earned himself a wild card to the US event.  CONGRATULATIONS ZEPHYR AND JOSH!

Official Results:

1st Place - $4000 – Andy James

2nd Place - $2000 – Troy Sturrock

3rd Place - $1000 – Josh Anderson

Burton Best Trick – Beau Fisher

Burton Qualifiers Wildcard (U15) – Zephyr Whitelaw Holmes

Burton Qualifiers Wildcard (Opens) – Josh Anderson