College Kids Went Off at UMass Amherst Rail Jam

Umassskiandboard/Instagram.

UMass Amherst just turned a regular Friday night into an absolute heater with their annual Winter Fest, an event hosted by the Ski ‘n’ Board Club. The main attraction? A rail jam right in the Southwest Horseshoe, where students threw down their best tricks in front of a crowd hyped on ski culture, good vibes, and possibly some “hydration.”

Competitors sent it on a setup that somehow made a college quad feel like a terrain park, pulling out all the stops to impress their classmates and take home some sweet prizes—including a fresh pair of Line Skis for first place. Whether you were there for the skiing, the free entertainment, or just to procrastinate that essay due at midnight, the energy was undeniable.

Southpleasantrevival/Instagram.

Of course, no good ski event is complete without the essentials: live music and food. DJs and bands kept the scene bumping, adding even more hype to every stomped landing and occasional bails. Meanwhile, food vendors were on deck for those who needed to refuel—because let’s be real, sending rails on an empty stomach is a guaranteed way to end up in the crash reel.

But beyond the tricks and tunes, Winter Fest was about bringing people together. Whether you were a seasoned park rat, a casual skier who just came to watch, or someone who didn’t know the difference between a rail jam and a rail trail, everyone was there for a good time. It was the kind of night that makes UMass’s “ZooMass” reputation well-earned—an event that blended ski culture with that signature Amherst energy.

For some, it was a break from midterms. For others, it was a warm-up before catching an uber to Spoke. Either way, it was one for the books. Shoutout to the UMass Ski ‘n’ Board Club for pulling off an absolute banger. Other schools, take notes.