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Murphys Rail Jam Competition A Huge Success!~Photos by Kelly Ellefritz Photography

Murphys, CA....Snowboarding was on tap Saturday night at the Murphys Hotel for the first Annual Rail Jam. Event Promoter Fred Brunton of Earth and Ocean Boardshop says he was "completely happy with the turnout for the first ever Rail Jam in Calaveras County." Fred Brunton not only promotes this event he supports many riders and helps them with their equipment needs from one of his three stores that are located in Oakhurst, Sonora and his ......

Lauren Phillips of Bear Valley was the ladies winner. Click the above photo by Kelly Ellifritz for more shots of the action

newest store in Jackson. You can find Fred at the Jackson location at 12030 Industry Blvd between Safeway and Lowes. "We had to turn away athletes that wanted to enter the event due to insurance costs. We sent out 1500 invitations via facebook and had 178 guests RSVP" says Fred Brunton. Hundreds of fans gathered bravely in a chilly drizzly night to watch over 40 Snowboard riders and skiers launch themselves off the second floor of the Murphys Hotel to hit one of the three apparatuses to do their gnarly jumps spins and tricks. With names like The Dragonback Rollercoaster Rail, one wonders how these daredevils get enough courage to drop twenty plus feet and slide on a frozen piece of steel all the while spinning and flipping in the air between hits.

Chris Johnson riding for Bear Valley and Earth and Ocean, was the big winner of the night taking first place in the men's snowboarding event and also won best overall trick of the night doing a switch 270 on the Dragonback Rollercoaster Rail to a 360 out on the extra large water tank at the end of the course. Rounding out the Men's division is Andy Davis from Earth and Ocean who took second place while Jason Rivera of Earth and Ocean Sonora came in Third. The under 16 division was won by Seth Fisher of Earth and Ocean Jackson, Danny Giordano in second and Dylan Miguel of the Sonora Earth and Ocean was third.

In the women's division, Lauren Phillips of Bear Valley and E&O was the Champion with Sabrina Coulombe of Mimi Back Clothing and E&O was a close second. In the skiing division , Shawn Finigan of E&O was first Alden Spence from Amador took second with James Young of Bear Valley Riders came home with a third place. overall this event was a huge success for Earth and Ocean Boardshop, Murphys Hotel and the whole community. As a photographer and a fan it was nice to walk around this event and see so many happy smiling faces. We will be looking forward to the next Rail Jam

We would like to thank local photographer Kelly Ellifritz for stopping by and taking some photos of the action for us..

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