-Snow Pirates Co. Archives -
When the Snow Pirates Co. crew announced the return of BOMBS AWAY, expectations were already sky-high. Last year’s debut at Ruby Hill set a new standard for what a true community snowboard event could look like — free entry, all levels welcome, nothing but good energy. But BOMBS AWAY 2.0? It took everything that made the first one special and cranked it up tenfold.
The days leading up to the event were far from easy. Cameron Lawrence, the mastermind behind Ruby Hill’s park build, went through hell and back to make it happen. Just days before the jam, the snowcat track snapped — dead in the water. The only option was a replacement part from Winter Park, but with 2–3 feet of fresh snow burying the route there, the odds were stacked against them. We were told the event is probably off. Still, Cameron and the Ruby Hill park crew refused to quit. They found a way — digging, wrenching, welding, and pushing through every setback imaginable. Somehow, by the night before the event, they pulled off the impossible.
And what they built was legendary.
The park was transformed — a full top-to-bottom setup covering every inch of Ruby Hill. Beginner-friendly lines blended seamlessly with pro-level features, giving everyone from first-timers to seasoned legends something to throw down on.
Will Gosh, Snow Pirates team manager and the voice of the event, held it down on the mic all day — hyping riders, cracking jokes, and keeping the energy high. The Snow Pirates team was everywhere — Shane Lynch, Van Littlejohn, Andy Rebne, Hunter Ventline, Kaleb Loper, and more — hiking, dropping, and sending trick after trick. Every run was a hammer.
Over 190 riders registered — all completely free. The crowd tripled from last year, lining the edges of the park to watch the chaos unfold. Riders came in from across the globe — Japan, Italy, Argentina — to be part of the madness. Kids as young as 8 were sharing the same course as seasoned veterans, each getting their moment to shine.
The list of riders read like a who’s who of the local snowboard scene: Aaron Hoffman, Kaiden Paulson, Tommy and Joe Lynch, Maddie Korth, Billy Rodriguez, Kefren Mendolia, James Holahan, Iono Windell, Niko Phelan, and so many others who’ve supported Snow Pirates since day one. The energy was contagious — pure stoke from sunrise to sunset.
But BOMBS AWAY 2.0 wasn’t just an event — it was a statement.
It was proof that snowboarding doesn’t need corporate backing or high entry fees to be incredible. It just needs people who care. It’s about the local legends, the kids just starting out, the friends who film until their batteries die, and the park crews who work through the night to give the community a place to ride.
By the end of the day, Ruby Hill looked like a scene out of a dream — boards flying, music bumping thank to 8AM Knights, people laughing, and that shared feeling that something special just happened. The heart and soul of snowboarding was alive and right there on display.
BOMBS AWAY 2.0 was everything it was meant to be — free, inclusive, chaotic, and unforgettable. It’s more than a rail jam. It’s a celebration of everyone who makes this community what it is.
And if this year was any indication, next year’s BOMBS AWAY 3.0 might just blow the roof off Ruby Hill.
