Snowboarding, hip hop collide at Algonquin competition
For many, hip-hop music is more likely to conjure images of blinged-out rappers than snowboarders gliding down the hill.
But organizers of the Under Armour 3rd Rail Jam snowboarding competition, which on Saturday made a stop in Algonquin, say the marriage of their sport with the high-energy, rhythmic cadence of hip hop makes perfect sense.
“The words that you hear on the mountain, like ‘stoked’ and ‘epic,’ you also hear on the streets,” said 3rd Rail Jam organizer Timmy Grins, a rapper from New Jersey. “On the street they use ‘dope’ and ‘fresh,’ and you also hear that on the hills. It’s the same style, it’s the same attitude.”
Raging Buffalo snowboard and ski park hosted the event for the second consecutive year. About 130 competitors from across the Chicago area faced off in four categories — juniors, skiers, women, and best of breed — while hip hop music blared from the speakers at the bottom of the hill.
The “jam format” of the competition meant that everyone snowboarded at the same time for 25 minutes.
Competitors were judged on their style and the uniqueness of their tricks. Prizes included jackets, hats, gloves, goggles, helmets, headphones and more. All the competitors got a hat by Kangol, one of the sponsors.
Snowboarder Kane Kearney, 17, of Carpentersville, said that with temperatures in the teens, the snow was hard, even icy at times. He was all for the combination of snowboarding and hip hop, although he admitted not everyone agrees.
“I listen to music every time I snowboard, but I know some people who don’t because they prefer to hear the scenery,” he said.
About 500 spectators showed up for the competition, said Raging Buffalo owner Keith Duck.
“It’s a great event,” he said. “Any time that we can give our regular riders the opportunity to compete in a national event, instead of regional or local, is great.”
The competition also included live graffiti and a “Battle Below Zero” MC battle, won by S-Preme.
Coleen Bley of Inverness watched the competition while her 16-year-old son, Quinton, was busy creating a colorful graffiti symbolizing consumerism in America.
“It’s awesome,” Bley said. “There is lots of energy, and a lot of style.”
Last year’s winner, Paul Buck, won again in the Best of Breed category. Nathan Wroten won among the juniors, and Jordan Troiani was first among the skiers. Jackie Wingate, 20, of Joliet, won the women’s category.
Illinois was the third leg of the show’s eight-stop tour, which wraps up Feb. 26 in North Carolina.