The AST Dew Tour has announced that the Wendy’s Invitational in Portland this weekend will host a Nike 6.0 Snowboard and Ski Rail Jam specialty competition on Saturday. Nearly 44,000 pounds of ice are used to create the snow for the Rail Jam.

Riders will begin each run perched atop a 30-foot snow-covered platform and then ride down the course to perform tricks on a handrail with ledges on either side. Each rider will be allowed one introductory run, followed by a 30-minute jam session that includes all the athletes.

Three judges will rank the competitors based on overall impression of the following: variety, difficulty, technical ability and the use of course obstacles. At stake is a prize purse of nearly $14,000.“Some of the best snowboarders and skiers competing in a Rail Jam in the middle of the summer at Portland’s Rose Quarter, sounds like fun to me,” said Wade Martin, AST President.  Matt Walker, 19, of Boulder, Colo., is the favorite in the Ski Rail Jam having captured first place in the ski Slopestyle event at this year’s Aspen/Snowmass Open. He will face some stiff competition as he takes on Frank Raymond, Peter Olenick, Tom Wallisch, Joe Schuster and Ian Cosco.

Snowboarder Jonas Michilot, 20, of Bloomington, Minn., is the reigning Rail Jam champion and has hopes to repeat in 2008. He will have tough competition from Mike Casanova, Travis Kennedy, Chris Rotax, Trevor Jacob and Lucas Magoon.