Rail Jam
By Collin Bolebruch
The Plattsburgh Ski & Snowboard Club plans to host Rail Jam Nov. 18 on the hill behind Memorial Hall. Rail Jam is a ski and snowboard trick competition, once annual, that has not been held since 2019. Competitors and judges arrive at 5 p.m., and spectators arrive at 6 p.m.
The club plans to shovel snow on the already-expected snow to create ideal conditions for tricks. Judges will score contestants with a points system with prizes for the top winners.
Maui North, a recreation store in Plattsburgh, has donated prizes that include a free ski or snowboard tune-up. Rail Jam will also feature music, snacks and food.
“A lot of people just go there to have fun,” Vice President Sasha Baker said. “It’s a very good community-building event, and you get to talk to everyone and it’s just really fun.”
Whiteface Mountain will be providing rails for the event for competitors to do their tricks on. Ski & Snowboard has partnered with Whiteface Mountain in the past, but in recent years, it has become difficult to find a willing provider.
“They’re doing us a very big favor,” Baker said. “We’re very thankful. Whiteface helping us out.”
Rail Jam was originally scheduled a week prior, Nov. 11. Inclement weather forced a reschedule. Ski & Snowboard stressed the importance that competitors are 18 years old or older and must wear a helmet.
Competitors can sign up as late as the day of the event. Sign-up can be found on their Instagram page (@2psu.ssc). Spectators are not required to sign up.
Men’s Basketball
By Garret Jones
The Plattsburgh Men’s basketball team fell to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 76-71 Nov. 11 when they traveled to play the TrailBlazers for the first time since 1983.
Plattsburgh, coming hot on the heels of a season opening win over Clarkson, got off to a cold start.
Shots weren’t falling early for the Cardinals, and the Trailblazers jumped out to an early lead. About halfway through the first half, Plattsburgh was down 17-28, and that’s when the tides turned in favor of the Cardinals.
Senior Sheriff Conteh took a charge that sparked a run to bring Plattsburgh back into the game moving toward halftime.
The Cardinals would go on a 16-5 run that would give them a one point lead with little time left in the half. It was looking like it would go into halftime with a lead but a half court heave by Trail Blazers guard Noah Yearsley gave his time the lead 37-39 going into halftime.
For much of the second half the Cardinals looked like a better team, including a 10-0 run late in the game that gave it a 63-52 lead.
However, the physical damage on the Cardinals of a full court press and in your face defense by the Trail Blazers began to show with minutes left.
Miscommunication and costly turnovers let the Blazers back in the game and allowed them to steal the game out from under Plattsburgh.
According to Conteh, this tough loss won’t hold the Cardinals down for long though.
“Team morale after the game was good,” Conteh said. “We all know what we have to do as a team to prepare for the next game.”
The Cardinals next game came at home against St. Lawrence this Wednesday, where it lost 65-77, which made the team’s record 1-2.
