October 20, 2007 Portland, OR - Stereotypes faced off on Saturday, as Portland, Oregon, hipster mecca of the northwest, hosted the Backyard Bang rail jam. At least one kid with tight jeans was spotted practicing track stands while ogling kids in baggy pants sliding kinked boxes at the southwest intersection of Burnside and Ankeny.

The crowds came out in full force to support regional, national and international rockstars from the world of snowboarding. Although Canadians Leanne Pelosi and Jed Anderson came all the way from the land up north, the rowdy crowds strongly favored locals such as Cory Noble, and other riders who call Mt. Hood their usual stomping grounds. On and off rainstorms and gales hardly dampened spirits. For most, this was clearly the first big snowboarding event of the season, and everybody was hyped. The competition on the women's side almost seemed fiercer than the men's, and both Carrie Galloway and Jed Anderson walked away with $3000. Kirsten Seith and Nick Dirks each won $1250, and Colleen Quigley and Lucas Magoon nabbed a satisfying $750 each.

Thanks to Bonfire, Salomon, and US Outdoor Store for throwing a really fun event! The excitement about snow in the mountains right now is nearly palpable in Portland. Backyard Bang helped to remind us that for every rainy, drizzly northwestern day we endure, snow is slowly piling up on our home mountain, waiting for some surf-style slashers under bluebird mountain skies.