Unexpected Turns: Mex 1 Rail Jam at Charleston, South Carolina

When Snowboarding Finds a Way – even in 75-degree heat.

First up in our new mini-series shining a light on snowboarding communities and events in unexpected places, we head to Charleston, South Carolina, where the Mex 1 Rail Jam returned for its Xth edition this January.

Charleston isn’t known for mountains, lift lines, or winter storms. But that hasn’t stopped a tight-knit crew from building something that feels undeniably snowboard. What began as a creative experiment – truckloads of ice, a wood chipper, and a good excuse to throw a party – has grown into a community-driven rail jam that pulls together surfers, skaters, and snowboarders.

We caught up with Morgan Hurley, the marketing and beverage director at Mex 1, to talk about how the event came to life, what it takes to make snow in 75-degree heat, and why this is bigger than just one night of tricks.

Hi Morgan! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got into snowboarding? What’s your personal connection to the sport?
I grew up with a dad who was really into skiing, so from a young age, my brother and I were on the mountain skiing and snowboarding. Later on, our family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, which is where snowboarding naturally gave way to surfing and skateboarding. Even after the move, we always made it a point to take at least one snowboarding trip every year. Surfing felt like a natural transition, and between surfing and skateboarding, snowboarding always felt comfortable and familiar whenever I got back on a board.

For people who might not immediately associate South Carolina with snowboarding – what’s the snowboard scene actually like there? How would you describe the community?
Charleston has a strong board sports culture. There’s a big community of surfers, skateboarders, and wakeboarders, along with a lot of people who relocated here from mountain towns. While it’s definitely a long drive to the nearest mountains, there’s a dedicated group that makes that trip regularly. It’s a smaller scene, but it’s passionate and tight-knit.

South Carolina isn’t the first place people think of when they hear “Rail Jam.” How did the Mex 1 Rail Jam come to life? What sparked the idea – and what does the event mean for the local snowboard community now?
The Mex 1 Rail Jam originally started as part of our anniversary party in January. Some friends had built a few small snowboard ramps using ice left over from our local hockey rink. We decided to set it up in the front parking lot of the restaurant, blow snow, bring in DJs, and pair it all with margaritas. The idea really came from myself and a group of local guys who knew how to build skate ramps, spent a lot of time in the mountains, and knew how to throw a good party. What started as a fun idea quickly turned into something bigger for the community.

What challenges come with building a snowboard event in a place without mountains – and how have you worked around them?
The biggest challenge is the snow itself. We bring in over 40,000 pounds of ice, run it through a wood chipper, and blow it onto the ramp. We’re also at the mercy of the weather, which can be tricky. This past year, we were literally blowing snow in 75-degree temperatures. Once the sun went down, though, the snow held u,p and the event turned out incredible.

Do you see this as just an event or as something bigger for the future of snowboarding in the South?
To me, this represents an event the entire community can rally around. It’s not often you get snow, snowboarders throwing tricks, and live music all coming together in one place. It really reinforces Charleston as a true board sport city that spans skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. Looking ahead, we’d love to expand it into a full-day experience with a surf session in the morning, skateboarding at lunch, and snowboarding at night, with a winner-takes-all format to tie it all together.