E-Club goes big with Rail Jam
The Entrepreneur Club planned on Galvanic Design bringing 25 tons of snow to the field east of Old Main for Tuesday’s E-Week Rail Jam. Mother Nature decided her way was easier. Galvanic only needed shovels.
Skiers and snowboarders from USU and around Utah showed the student body and the judges their skills during the four-and-one-half-hour party near the business building. Fifty competitors dished out the $25 entrance fee, most of which went to rider insurance, for a chance to win cash, skis, snowboards, shirts and other prizes.
“The reason we wanted Galvanic Design here for E-Week was because they’re made up of a bunch of students from Oregon State University that were entrepreneurs themselves,” said Jordan Staples, VP of marketing for the Entrepreneur Club. “They wanted to start a cool thing to share with other people, so they started the Rail Jam. They tour campuses across the west with their setup, promoting entrepreneurship and always bringing a great time.”
Jamie Duby, the only woman skier, took home the first-place prize for women skiing: $50 and a bag full of swag.
USU junior graphic design major Jessica Nichols topped the women’s boarding competition, earning her $75. Kiri Binnersiem left the competition halfway through the final heat with a possible torn ACL but earned second place for $50. Another Aggie junior, Megan Heinz, dual major in accounting and finance, finished out the women’s podium coming out even, earning her $25 entrance fee back.
John Kutcher earned a new pair of skis and $100 for his skills in the men’s ski section, while Sam Hurst and Tyson Cox earned $75 and $50 for second and third place, respectively.
The men’s snowboard heat was a close competition with Jordan Morse taking the first-place prize of a new snowboard and $100. Morse was followed by Christian Hobush and Tanner Nielson with $75 and $50 respectively.
Staples said he was happy with the event and hopes that Rail Jam will set a precedent for other events on campus.
“It was definitely the coolest club event I’ve seen since I’ve been here at Utah State,” Heinz said.
Staples said, “It’s cool to have all these riders and thousands of students cycling through to see the event. We wanted to show students what Entrepreneur Club was all about. We’re not some boring business club. Entrepreneurship is all about whatever passion drives you. It’s an amazing thing and it’s super fun to be a part of.”