As soon as Officer Smith got out of his squad car, we knew we were in trouble. Looking like he came straight out of central casting with a mustache to match, it came as no surprise to see him handcuffing our filmer only 15 minutes after arrival. As snowboarders in Rhode Island, we’re used to encounters with cops when we try to hit street spots. But this occurrence was extra disheartening, and the $4,000 fine for simply sliding this handrail felt like a real gut punch.

Between the lack of public understanding and support, conservative cops and smaller snowpacks year after year, Rhode Island isn’t exactly the street snowboarding mecca it used to be. Regardless, there’s a small contingent of dedicated riders who will always call it home. Despite the challenges we face, we work with what we’ve got.

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