WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — It’s a sport not seen in Cobden before – skiing and snowboarding.
The first Whitewater Brewing Company Ski and Snowboard Rail Jam was held at the Whitewater Lakeside Brewery on Sunday, March 10.
Ryan Whetung, an employee at the brewery and one of the event organizers, said it was a “well-attended” event.
“It went off better than we expected,” he said.
There were about 25 competitors over the age of 18 who had the opportunity to jump four obstacles – board rail, standard metal rail, a rail made out of empty kegs and a jump feature.
“The rail made out of empty kegs was the centerpiece of the event, since the kegs came from the brewery,” he said.
While there is no hill at the brewery, Whetung noted there was enough snowfall this year to almost create the right-sized hill. Snow from the parking lot being plowed also helped create the hill, he added.
Students in the Action Sports Park Program at the Pembroke campus of Algonquin College were also credited for creating the jumps with materials from Brose Farm, he said.
While there were top three winners in various categories, Whetung said, “everyone got a gift bag.”
Whetung said there’s hope this will become a yearly event, “just getting bigger and better.”
“Thanks to everyone for coming out and participating, and the Brewery for providing the space,” he said. “That was a great thing to do.”
