Now there’s a terrain park for the Denver community that satisfies anyone seeking rails and other snowboard/ski features
Artwork by Mateo Rocha
The alarm goes off at six o-clock and there is a mad rush to get snow gear on and something edible inside the body. Once on I-70 West the clock shows that it’s 7:20 a.m.; skiers and snowboarders hope to make it to Summit County in good time, and at that same instance road signs begin to indicate, “traffic delays.” Once again it is another full morning spent on making the commute from the Denver Metro area to the Rocky Mountains. Can there possibly be a solution to this?
Winter Park and Denver Parks and Recreation have agreed on a partnership that will provide a sample of the snowboarding and skiing culture to the city of Denver. Rails and other features have been installed on the slippery slopes of Ruby Hill Park for the Denver community to take advantage of. This has provided a new idea of a place where anyone seeking to improve on their riding style, or simply enjoy themselves, can carry on and do so.
The rail yard is located in the heart of Ruby Hill Park on the corner of South Platte Road and Jewell Avenue. The calm and serene view of the South Platte River and the foothills provides for an interesting ambience surrounding the park. Colorado is state known for it’s active inhabitants with nature, and Ruby Hill fulfills its contribution to this wide known tag line with its natural surroundings.
When driving up the windy hill to the parking lot a white patch of land becomes visible where the skiers and riders congregate. The rail yard has features for all skill levels, from a skinny 15-foot rail to a smooth and slick butter box. These are some typical features that freestyle riders execute tricks on. Anyone can ride just about anything depending on his or her skill level.
“I love just being able to hit some features so close to home. The set up is real nice and there’s always snow,” said TJ snowboarder Michael Canady. Its artificial snow makers placed along the perimeter make the rail yard possible. The machines are turned on in December and are finally put away at the end of February.
Along with the opportunity to “shred” in Denver, Christy Sports has become involved with Ruby Hill by offering free ski and board rentals to kids between the ages of 5-17. This brings on a whole new range of opportunities for the youth as they are being exposed to a once out-of-reach activity. “Kids who aspire to ride now have the chance to grow in the sport like never before,” said snowboarding enthusiast and TJ Junior Logan Kimbrel.
It is obvious that the Rocky Mountains have left their mark on Kimbrel. “The Colorado culture is starting to reach out to other communities-who are under privileged-with these activities. By having a terrain park down here, I feel like everybody is getting the chance to try a little bit of what Colorado is about,” said Kimbrel.
Even though Ruby Hill has hosted hundreds of kids on its rails, one must acknowledge that it is no substitute for the mountains. “If I’m driving up to a ski resort only to hit rails and work up my skill, I’d rather just drive on over to Ruby Hill. It saves time and gas, so it’s beneficial for everyone,” said Canady with a joyous laugh.
Ruby Hill is a proud host to an annual snowboarding competition where anyone and everyone is executing hot new tricks. “It’s so entertaining to watch people throw some crazy tricks together, and of course watch the hard slams people take,” said Kimbrel. “I feel like this is one way that I am able to be closer to all the action surrounding snowboarding in Denver. It’s a real thrill just knowing that this is where riders are at.”
The rail yard is open from dawn till after dusk; tall lights shine on the slope once the sun goes down, so rippers can shred on. “I’ve had some fun memories at Ruby hill, especially at night. I like to take shots (photos) of people in motion hitting a rail or riding,” said Canady. The spotlights are visible from up to two blocks away so there is no need to be hesitant to drive on up to the hill after the sun sets.
