Spring Break
Snow in May?
Galvanic Design, MUPC brings loads of snow to MU Quad; boarders, skiers participate
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 5/18/07 Section: News
| |
|
This year's Snow in the Quad event was put on by Galvanic Design along with assistance from the MUPC.
The event took place in the MU Quad and featured snowboarders and skiers from around the Northwest. They were able to perform tricks on imported snow shaped into a slope with rails.
Galvanic Design founders, OSU alumni Dan Genco and Ryan Kirkpatrick, came up with the event last year as a student project. What started out as a student project turned into a career.
"It's kind of their little child," said Caitlyn DeMars, MUPC director.
Genco said they created the company because different colleges kept asking them how to organize it.
"We had so many different colleges calling us to asking for our advice on how to do these rail-jams," he said. "We decided to start this company to do it and bring it to them."
Genco is glad that he returned to OSU to organize another Snow in the Quad event.
"We just wanted to come home and visit and show some love to the campus we graduated from," Genco said. "There's always a good turnout here at OSU. We love everybody - great times."
DeMars said they knew all year that they would do another event. They started planning it sometime before spring break.
DeMars said that in order to bring snow into the quad, they had two dump trucks with trailers import it from Timberline Lodge. Timberline Lodge also supplied them with rails.
Genco said it takes a lot of work to put together this kind of event but that it's well worth it.
"There's a lot of logistics, and a lot of marketing to get sponsorships to make sure the event is paid for," Genco said. "It takes some coordination to bring in quality riders. It's a lot of work but it's well worth it, the reward is huge."
Snowboarders and skiers from around the Northwest came to participate. Genco said there were around 30 riders from outside of OSU, who are riders from other area schools and regional riders as well. OSU had eight riders participating the event.
Brian Spere, a freshman in business and skier, said the event gives him a great chance to ski in front of everybody at OSU.
"Its fun. It's the end of May and we're skiing, it's all good," Spere said. "Its nice to show all the students what skiers can do, its not just snowboarders."
Snow in the Quad is not only an event that allows snowboarders and skiers to come participate, but it's also a competition allowing them to show off their skills and tricks.
Keenan Jones, a student in merchandising management, considers himself lucky for winning the top student award.
"I feel I got lucky because there are so many good riders," Jones said. "I'm pretty stoked that there's a lot of good riders here."
Winning the best overall award was Austin Hironaka, an amateur rider from Washington and returnee from last year's event.
"There's a lot bigger crowd than last year, they did a good job promoting it," Hironaka said. "[I'm here] just to have fun, it's really about bonding with all your friends and to have fun snowboarding."
Other winners are Randa Shahin for the top female award, Shaun Daley for the rider's choice award, and Jesse Lederer taking the best trick award.
Winners of the competition received prizes including free merchandise and cash to spend at snowboarding stores. There was also a raffle drawing throughout the event allowing students to win free items from the many sponsors of the event.
Throughout the event, a large audience surrounded the ramp. Students either stood watching the riders, found a nice spot out on the grass field or rummaged around the different sponsor tents.
"I think it was awesome," said Harrison Brooks, freshman in mechanical engineering. "It's a change from what's usually here, and they brought together a pretty huge crowd it looks like."
Genco considers the event a great success.
"We had a great turnout, the weather came through, no rain- we love it," Genco said. "The riders seem to be pretty happy. We're excited for our grand finale in Eugene.
"Hopefully, we'll be back here at Oregon State [next year] to put on another big show."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.