BOSTON — Charles Guldemond has been to Fenway Park three times. Julia Marino has walked by the Red Sox’s home on many occasions, but she has never been inside.
But the snowboarders do have some things in common after Thursday night: both New England natives can say they hit a 140-foot jump at Big Air at Fenway Park and finished in the top three.
Marino didn’t even know what her status would be for the snowboard main event since she originally was a forerunner. However, she got the call the night before that a spot had opened up for her, and she certainly made the most of her opportunity.
The Westport, Connecticut native came in first with a combined score of 169.25, and she understandably was all smiles afterward.
“I was actually just trying to feel out the scaffolding jump because I was going to the Quebec Big Air next, so it was more of a practice trip for me,” Marino said. “And then I got in yesterday night last minute, and I was so stoked. Today I was just amazed and so happy to be able to put down my runs and actually win.”
And she got to win in front of countless family members, who made the trip from all around New England to see her compete.
“My parents actually lived here for a while and a lot of my cousins live here right now,” Marino said. “So I’ve been to this city many times, and I’ve walked past Fenway Park a ton. To be walking past there and to now be snowboarding on a big jump in the baseball stadium is pretty cool.”
Guldemond didn’t come in first on the men’s side, but he did earn a spot on the podium with a 170.
He also had the moment of the night when he stepped up to the edge of the massive man-made scaffolding jump and mimicked calling his shot. And he delivered with a podium-sealing run.
“I’m trying to give back to the sport as much as I can,” Guldemond said. “So many people came out here for me to support me from all over the East coast. It’s like you got to put on a show. And then I was thinking, ‘How can I get this crowd riled up? I might as well call my shot like Babe Ruth and just send it to the bottom.’ That’s what I did and it worked out. It was a sick experience.”
Guldemond, a Laconia, New Hampshire native, also saw Thursday night as more than just your average event. After all, it’s not often that major ski and snowboard competitions happen in New England, much less in the middle of Fenway Park. And this was a chance for him to give back and introduce the sport to a new audience.
“The whole setup, and the work that went in to making the jump, and then just the whole experience as a rider was just kind of a blessing,” Guldemond said. “I don’t think it could have gone any better. The crowd was amazing. I think the riding was top-notch.
“… I just tried to do my best and put on a good show for the East coast crowd. It was just an amazing experience and hope to do it again.”
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@fenwaypark
