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The general public anticipates the sunny skies of Spring in March, often forgetting the cold months of winter they had just endured. The disappearing snow pushes memories of ski resorts to the last of their thoughts. But for many snowboarders and skiers across the state of Minnesota warm spring days mean perfect conditions for riding and a memorable conclusion of a season they have come to love the most. This winter snowboarders and skiers alike have prepared for the 6th and final event of the AM Thrash Jam Series Tour since the end of November.

The AM Thrash Jam Series Tour is a 6 stop competitive snowsports competition that has athletes separated into age/group classes, and compete in what's called a "Jam Format" on jumps and skateboard type rails at Hyland Hills in Bloomington, MN and Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, MN. Each age class rides for 15 minutes nonstop while judges select the top 3 riders of each age/group class to compete in a final jam based upon difficulty of tricks, variety of tricks, execution of tricks, and overall progression of tricks. Riders are selected from the following age/group classes; 11 & Under Snowboarders, 12-14 year old Snowbaorders, 15 & Up Snowboarders, Women Snowboarders, Open Class Snowboarders, Amateur Skiers, and Open Class Skiers. The top 3 finalists compete head to head in a 15-minute final jam session for the final placing of the contest.

The AM Thrash event on Sunday, March 22nd was a day never to forget. This event wrapped up a 6-stop tour series on a beautiful sunny skied day. A large field of spectators came to watch some of Minnesota's most talented winter sports athletes compete at Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, MN. With the sun beating down through the 55-degree weather onto the competition course riders had no troubles adjusting to the heavy, wet, and continually changing snow conditions.

Age/group classes were separate into 3 different heats. Representing Heat #1 was the 11 and Under Snowboarders, Heat #2 had a deep field of 12-14 year old Snowboarders, and Heat #3 was an organized class of 15 and Up Snowboarders, Amateur Skier division, Women Snowboarders, and Open Class Snowboarders. Each heat jammed for 15 minutes in which judges would select the finalists. The Judge had a very difficult time separating the fields into a final selection. "The progression rate of each individual athlete throughout the tour has been outstanding, let alone the synergy of the collective AM Thrash group has as a whole," said judge Kristen Miller.

Making there way through the competitive selection process here are the final standings:

11 & Under Snowboarders

1st Place- Benny Milam

2nd Place- Noah Bowles

3rd Place- Johnna Farley

12-14 year old Snowboarders

1st Place- Justin Henigin

2nd Place- Garrett McKenzie

3rd Place- Luke McKenzie

15 & Up Snowbaorders

1st Place- Cullen Bernklua

2nd Place- Mitch Kirby

Women

1st Place- Megan Graham

Open Class Snowboarders

1st Place- Sam Bakken

2nd Place- Cole Linzmeyer

3rd Place- Grant Parker

Amateur Skiers

1st Place- Kory Kirby

2nd Place- Matt Wunderlich

Specialty awards were given to the riders with for Best Trick, Best Super Model (a technical grabbing trick), and Best Crash. Sam Bakken won Best Trick with a stylish and smooth Backside Rodeo that is an inverted backflip 540-degree rotation spin. Winning Best Super Model was Garrett McKenzie jumping over a Flat Box with a Backside 180 Super Model that is a 180-degree rotation grab trick. And last but not least Johnna Farley walked away with Best Crash by landing unintentionally on his stomach on a handrail in which he intended to slide down on his snowboard.

At this last AM Thrash event overall contest tour winners were awarded. Listed below are the top tour winners:

11 & Under Snowbaorders: Benny Milam

12-14 year old Snowboarders: Garrett McKenzie

15 & Up Snowboaders: Cullen Bernklau

Open Class Snowboarders: Josh Tranby

The AM Thrash Snowboard Tour was a great success from the helping hands of Wild Mountain, the Park Crew at Wild Mountain, Hyland Hills Ski and Snowboard Area, and The House Boardshop.

The fun and excitement won't stop. Stay tuned for possibilities of a late Spring Am Thrash Rail Jam at Wild Mountain. The season wrapped up quick, the weather was always great, and the riding kept getting better!

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