Houghton’s Huron Street was transformed into a snowboarding trick park for the 2026 Jibba Jabba event. Over the two-day competition, both local amateur and professional snowboarders sent tricks on custom rails and jumps in Houghton. This park was built over several days by hauling in dump truck loads of snow and stretching it from the corner of Sheldon and Huron down toward the waterfront pier. For Michigan Tech students, Jibba Jabba was a 15-minute walk away from campus, and allowed students a front-row look at the Keweenaw’s snow-sports culture.
Jibba Jabba 2026 started on Friday, Feb. 13 at 4:00 p.m., when the course opened for a showcase qualifier offering locals a chance to earn a spot in Saturday’s pro showcase. All riders were required to sign waivers and wear helmets for the qualifier, which had up to 40 riders rotate through the park features in fast-paced groups. Once the qualifier was over, riders and spectators moved indoors to the Carnegie Museum for an announcement of the winners.
The following night, Feb. 14 at 6:00 p.m., 30 professional Midwest snowboarders took over the full Huron street setup, with the winners of the qualifier competing as well. The riders were judged based on the quality and complexity of their tricks, and the winners were announced after all the snowboarders’ runs were completed. This year’s winner, Charlie Vandemark, remarked, “Jibba Jabba is a really important event” that “showcases snowboarding to our local community,” and emphasized that it “brings [us] together.”
A fourth-year Michigan Tech electrical engineering student in attendance, Oliver Brunner, shared a similar sentiment, saying that Jibba Jabba was “a great event to watch in Houghton and a nice break from homework, with lots of opportunities to make friends, take pictures, and make memories.” Red Bull made an appearance at the event, bringing a party car with music, an MC, and free energy drinks. Local businesses such as Bosio Biscuit Co. and Copper Island Bagel Co. also attended the competition.
Jibba Jabba 2026 concluded as a community winter event that brought significant activity to downtown Houghton. This competition gave Michigan Tech students a convenient way to engage with the community off campus. Students benefited as spectators and participants alike, with opportunities to ride in the qualifier, volunteer, or document the event while building connections.
For more information, visit visitkeweenaw.com/events/
