Clear your schedule for Saturday night, because the Campustown Rail Jam is back. Hosted by the ISU Ski & Snowboard Club, the Rail Jam is a chance for members to show off their tricks to the student community.

This year, the excitement will take place on Chamberlain Street, between Welch and Stanton Avenues, in order to create a bigger and better event than has been seen in years past. There will be more room to watch and more room for the performers to maneuver around.

“We will block off Chamberlain starting around noon on Saturday. Then we’ll start bringing in truck loads of snow around 2 or 3 [p.m.]. Everything should be complete by 6 [p.m.] so we can test everything before the event starts,” said Michael Bray, president of the ISU Ski & Snowboard Club and senior in marketing.

The event showcases many of the club members, but there will be a few performances given by those from other schools as well. After the street is lined with snow and the jumps and rails are put into place, riders will perform for the crowd and judges.

“The riders have been out working on their bag of tricks for the event, so it’s always fun to see what someone is going to try off the jump. There will be some competitors from the University of Nebraska freestyle team there as well, so everyone will be going big this year,” Bray said.

In order to make this event a success, the club has been working closely with the university and the city. They’ve added more sponsors this year to create an entertaining atmosphere.

“Scion of Ames will be at the event handing out promotional items to spectators and [they] will have a few cars for people to look at. We’ll have a DJ at the event to keep things moving and to announce the riders,” Bray said.

Also new this year, the riders will be towed in with a high speed winch instead of the ATV’s used in the past. Although this has never been tried before, it has worked well for wakeboarding events and Bray said that it should also work well with the Rail Jam setup.

So, while you’re out and about Saturday night, be sure to stop by Chamberlain Street and catch a glimpse of the action. After all, it’s not every day that a college street turns into a snow park.