A series of rail features was built for the event.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Nearly 1,000 spectators were on hand to witness a smorgasbord of spins, jumps and grinds in the first-ever Budweiser Rail Jam at Sugarloaf/USA.

Sixteen skiers and riders were at the specially prepared rail park on the Landing competing for a cash purse of $2,000. Ryan McDermott, a student at Carrabassett Valley Academy, took top honors in the skier category and Brett Christie of Rumford took home the $500 first prize for snowboarders. Other skiers and riders to take home prizes were skiers Benjamin Englesberg of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., Bobby Trnavsky of Erie, Pa., and Ryan McPherson of Marshfield, Mass. Alex Lund and Benjamin Manheimer of Falmouth and Tyler Smith of Winthrop captured the judges’ eyes in the snowboarding category.

The competition was a jam format, meaning rail riders could take as many runs as they wanted in the one-hour time frame. The more runs an athlete took, the better his chances to lay down that perfect trick.

A series of urban rail features was built on the Landing just above the base lodge for the spectator-friendly street-style handrail event. The specially built rails were modeled after standard staircase handrails and will become regular features in the Stomping Grounds, Sugarloaf’s showcase terrain park, next season.

The success of the first-ever event has assured it a place in the line up for next season.