Shep’s has gone social and joined the madness on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare and invites you to interact with us electronically as well as in person for special offers, prizes and insights.

Charge up your smartphone, notebook, pad or pod and play along.  It could earn you free merchandise, free shop services, prizes and discounts that “regular” customers won’t get.

Sign up, check in and tell your friends.  Have them join you in a swarm.  It could earn you a badge.  :)

• Each player stands in one of the four squares.
• To start the game, the player in square four serves the ball by bouncing it in their square once and then hitting it towards one of the other squares. The receiving player then hits the ball to any other player in one of the other squares.
• The ball must bounce in another player’s square, and they must hit it to another player before it bounces a second time.
• A player may hit the ball before it bounces, if they choose to do so.
• If a player hits the ball so that it misses another player’s square, or fails to hit the ball before the second bounce after it has landed in their square, they are “out”.
• When a player is out, the other players move up to take their place, and that player moves to the last square, or to the end of the line, if there are more than four players.
• The object of the game is to move up to and hold the server’s position.

Four Square – Different Variations

• Instead of numbering the squares 1 to 4, you can play by naming the squares Ace, King, Queen, President, or in some other ranking order.
• If you have eight or more players, you can have two players for each square. Each time a player hits the ball to another square, they will jump out of the court, and their partner will jump in. The two players will keep trading places each time the ball is hit towards their square.
• When players bounce the ball, they must also call out the name of a state, animal, celebrity or whatever the category may be. A player is out if they repeat something that’s already been said.

Read more: Four Square Game | Rules | American | Kids Games & Toys | Youth Sports Gear | King’s Court http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4776-four-square-game-rules#ixzz1MuWFHMRL

The grounds of the Marathon County Public Library in Downtown Wausau, Wisconsin were transformed by the artistic hands and strong shoulders of the Granite Peak Ski Area Parks Crew, under the leadership of Bobby Smith to host the second Badger State Games Rail Jam on Feb 5, 2011.

More than 60 talented snowboarders and skiers strutted their stuff in the third competition of the day orchestrated by Midwest Best Snowboarding’s Dana and Bryan Wilson.

Winners in five divisions won cash and prizes provided by Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods and Central Board Shop with the support of K2 Snowboards, Line Skis, Ride Snowboards, 686 and Nomis apparel, Seige audio and many others.  A prize toss put prizes in the hands of nearly every participant.

The event began with the official Badger State Games Opening Ceremony and Torch Lighting and the competition continued under the lights with colorful commentary by Midwest Best and Dave Kalloway of WIFC radio.  An after-party hosted by Malarky’s Pub kept the good vibe rolling.

Sincere thanks to Wausau DPW, who delivered loads of clean snow to augment the course, the MCP Library for welcoming the event and providing a warm registration area, American Family Insurance for free hot chocolate, Granite Peak Ski Patrol for being on hand, Badger State Games for including us, and everyone involved for creating a great event for local and regional athletes to show the world what we’ve got in Wausau.  :)  ~Theresa

Thanks Wisconsin Shred Project for making this great video of Badger State Rail Jam!  Thanks for the great photos Mr. Kalloway!

Photo Credit: Dave Kalloway

Photos: Dave Kalloway

Photo: Dave Kalloway

Midwest Best Team Shirts. Photo Credit: Dave Kalloway

The Rail Jam is organized by Midwest Best Snowboarding and Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods under the umbrella of The Badger State Games and with the assistance of Granite Peak Parks staff and Central Board Shop.  Athletes will compete for cash and prizes and can register on-site beginning at 4:00pm, or they can pre-register on-line at www.midwestbest.org.  The fee is $25 on site the day of the event or $20 on-line in advance.  The event is not a medal event in the Badger State Games, but will be scored by USASA Certified judges.

“Thanks to Granite Peak Ski Area, Wausau has become a destination for top-tier skiers and snowboarders from throughout the region.  There is a demand by this group for competitions and events that mirror the experience they would receive at mountain venues,” said Dana Wilson, Midwest Best Series Director. “We have a great team of professionals  assembled who know how to deliver the kind of event these athletes are asking for.”

In addition to watching athletes strut their stuff across custom-made rails and obstacles over the background of energetic music, viewers can visit vendor tents featuring snowboard and ski products and information and sample free hot chocolate from Badger State Games Sponsor American Family Insurance.

The library building will be closed with the exception of the lower level garage where registration will take place.  Bathrooms will be open to the public in the garage area.  Parking is available in three parking ramps within steps of the competition site .  The City of Wausau Department of Public Works will bring in extra snow to supplement the course.

“Downtown Wausau is a destination for families and adults seeking live entertainment, “ said Theresa Shepherd, Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods.  “We’re thrilled to offer one more special event here that anyone will find entertaining whether they know anything about snowboarding or not.   Dress for the weather and bring the family.”  Following the two-hour event Malarky’s Pub, 408 Third Street, Wausau, will play snowboard videos with a DJ spinning records, ala’ ‘X-Games’.

“We appreciate the partnership and support of Badger State Games, DPW, Wausau Parks Department and Granite Peak Ski Patrol,” said Shepherd.  “Everyone involved has been willing to get creative and work together to create another entertaining event downtown.

Rail Jam Entry Form

Contact:  Theresa Shepherd, Shepherd & Schaller, 715/218-4249, Dana Wilson

Midwest Best Snowboard & Freestyle Ski 262/643-4607, Julie Holberg

Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation Marketing Coordinator

(608) 226-4780 X238

USASA: United States of America Snowboard Association