Snow Bunnies And Boarders Hit The Beach Today

What do you mean you've never heard of a Pyramid Rail Jam??

The Cal State Long Beach Snow Team actually just invented it--the skiiers and snow boarders' solution to being weekday school-bound: bring the snow to the Pyramid at The Beach.

Because it is the first Long Beach State Pyramid Rail Jam, we have no archival photos with which to tease the event.

But try and picture about 15 tons, or 30,000 pounds, of block ice that will be shredded into snow and blasted over the entry stairs at Cal State Long Beach's blue Pyramid (official title: The Walter Pyramid, which doesn't sound very Egyptian but then, it is in Long Beach.) Then, dozens of people will be riding the snow by the stair rails.

From 9:30 a.m. to noon, the north entrance of the prominent Pyramid will get its coating in preparation for several rounds of riding, and 40 competitors; they will include CSULB alumni teams and snow teams from other universities. They will use the stair hand rails in their moves in skiing and snowboarding events. Prizes and elevated personal status are promised. are (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton,

Among the competitors: UCLA, USA, San Diego State, Cal State San Marcos and Cal State Fullerton. The schedule for the events:

--Exhibition riding from noon to 1 p.m.

--Competitive events running from 1 to 3 p.m.

--The (hand) rail jam will conclude with more exhibition riding from 3 - 4 p.m.

Spectators will find free music performed and giveaways of unnamed variety, plus food will be sold nearby. "The team is also encouraging folks to bring their own shovels to take any leftover snow that may still be around once the competition is finished," said CSULB spokesman Rick Gloady.

As snow dwellers know, there is no escaping the shovel.