"Big Jim" hosts state championships
“Big Jim” Mullins, left, greets Mark Faulkner, Placer High snowboarding coach, during a rail jam at Mount Shasta last Tuesday. Many Auburn-area residents might recognize Mullins as the former longtime general manager of Auburn Honda. Mullins now lives in McCloud, near Mount Shasta ski resort, where he is the marketing director. Mullins and Mount Shasta treated Auburn-area ski and snowboard teams to a well-organized four-day state championship skiing and snowboarding competition with more than 40 high schools and 320 athletes participating. Mullins also put on a rail jam in a downtown Mount Shasta shopping center parking lot that hundreds attended. Colfax High and Placer High athletes were among the competitors who wowed the crowd with 360-degree spins off a 25-foot snow-covered ramp that led to big jumps, which landed onto an iron railroad tie and steel box. “Big Jim and Mount Shasta treated us extremely well,” Faulkner said.
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Not surprisingly, the Auburn Journal failed to mention in this article that Colfax high school won the Central II Division title by beating, among others, Placer high school. If Placer high won it, the AJ would be slobbering all over them.
Colfax did do an outstanding job at the CNISSF Champs! Austin, Danny, Macky, Nellie and all of the others were at the top of their game, to loose second place overall on the podium (North Tahoe) by 6 points was a heart breaker. But the bottom line was that Jim Mullins did an outstanding job of assisting with the race. He did a great job promoting the event and making sure all schools were welcomed to the city of Mt.Shasta and the Ski Park. His efforts to create a "rail jam" for all of the visiting skiers and snowboarders was a first of its kind. He offered a discount to ALL of the local kids who entered the "rail jam." Jim went above and beyond what any marketing director has done so far for these high school kids and his efforts should be recognized!
I agree, Faulkdiddy!!! Big Jim, whom I nicknamed “Mr. Shasta,” is a great guy with a big personality. Mt. Shasta might not be the biggest mountain to ski at in California, but in my opinion it is No. 1 on the chart for the friendliest, which I believe has a lot to do with Big Jim himself.
Big Jim also arranged rides via a caterpillar to take spectators who chose not to ski up to the bottom of the race course and back down to the lodge all day throughout the races at no charge.
I will never forget our run down the mountain with Deric, you and I. You would have earned the silver medal but for the DNF. It was the most spectacular crash I have ever witnessed live, ejected out of both skis, poles and walkie-talkie left behind with a triple somersault. Ouch!!! Seriously, though, glad you are okay.
Thanks again, Big Jim, for your efforts of showing us all a good time. I think I can speak for the entire Placer High ski team, parents and coaches that we all had a blast.
Next time you are in Auburn, look me up and we can get together. I would enjoy spending time with you again. You make me smile and laugh. You’re a special kind of guy!!!
Oracle, It is called the AUBURN JOURNAL for a reason. NOT the Colfax Journal. Don't you have your own newspaper? The Auburn Journal should be supporting its local High School.