Tucker Fitzsimons, 19, a 2016 Hood River Valley High School grad and college freshman, won the Open Class Men’s Rail Jam at the 2017 USA Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) Freestyle Skier National Championships last week.

The Hood River Valley snowboard team sent six riders to the state competition in Bend earlier this month to compete in banked slalom, boardercross, slopestyle and halfpipe contests.

After overcoming challenges with both lack of funding and snowpack this winter, the Hood River Valley Snowboard Team is officially back in action and ready for an abbreviated season of Oregon Interscholastic Snowboard Association competition.