Warm Winter Forced MSU To Rethink Its Rail Jam Tradition

Winter in Montana is usually prime time for snow lovers. Skiing, snowboarding, cross country trails, all of it. For a lot of people, this is the season we wait for. Unfortunately, this year has been different. With record setting warm temps and not much snow to work with, it has been a tough one for winter sports fans.

At Montana State University, that flexibility was on full display. The school made the call to cancel its annual Rail Jam event due to the lack of snow and pivoted to something new instead.

Rather than watching skiers and snowboarders hit a rail course on campus, the community came together for the “Pray for Snow Music Festival.” The event took place on the south side of Romney Hall on February 21st. It hosted live music, food vendors, and a celebration of Bozeman’s winter sports, even if the snow was missing.

This would have been Rail Jam’s fifth year. Traditionally, it had a constructed slopestyle setup where athletes show off tricks and compete in front of a crowd. Without enough snow to safely build the course, organizers were forced to make the call.

The music festival was free, open to families, and welcomed the broader community. While it may not have replaced the thrill of watching big tricks under the lights, it kept the spirit alive.

If we cannot have powder days, at least we can have good music and a reason to gather. COME ON SNOW!!!