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Community Corner

Viewfinder: Snow Lovers Jump, Spin and Slide into Preview of Winter Fun

Even a short, temporary Birmingham hill is a thrill just days after summer ends.

Temperatures in the 60s and bright sunshine made for slushy winter sports weather Saturday afternoon at Birmingham's third annual Rail Jam for skiers and boarders. Still, several hundred young competitors and spectators were drawn by giveaways, music and a ramp spread with ice rink shavings that began melting soon after being spread.

The man-made hill included a jumping ledge, a rail and an angled "box" ramp for aerial stunts. Volunteers from the Oak Park Ice Arena shoveled mounds of Zamboni scrapings onto the "terrain park" and raked the surface for a snow-like substitute.

The five-hour promotion on the grass triangle between Old Woodward and the other Woodward was sponsored by Saab, , the Otsego Club and Resort near Gaylord, MI, equipment and clothing manufacturers and others. The vendors' colorful "tent city" added to a festive first day of the nearby.        

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Just two days after summer's official end, more than 80 entrants in boots, helmets and short sleeves competed by age and gender in five categories. Another three dozen were on a stand-by list for a chance to participate and latecomers were turned away – including 15-year-old skier Will Givens of Columbus, OH. "I'm sorry," event coordinator Monique "Mo" Shorr of Milford told him. "Enjoy yourself anyway, there's lots of free stuff."

Branded kerchiefs, beach balls and tote bags were among the handouts. A few skateboarders caught air by dropping into an oval "bowl" erected for thrill.

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Shorr, a seventh-grade computer teacher at Hartland Farms Intermediate School in Livingston County, coordinates a dozen Middle Earth Snow Series events from December through March at the Otsego Club and two other northern Michigan mountains. The Otsego site gave $650 weekend packages to the skier and boarder judged to have performed best Saturday.

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