We’d been hearing rumors about this event that’s returning to Carinthia Parks at Mount Snow in March. All we knew for sure was that badass snowboarding chicks were involved and the guys weren’t invited. So we decided to find out just what the heck Girls’ Day Out is all about.

The girls get some pointers from their coach. Photo Courtesy of GDO.

After quizzing event organizer Jessica Trimble with a series of character-assessing questions — Michael Jackson vs. Janet Jackson, favorite ice cream and whether or not she’d return a wallet full o’ cash she found the street — we moved on to the upcoming GDO snowboard clinic at Mount Snow. Here’s what she had to say about it.

Ride Vermont: Where did the idea for Girls’ Day Out come from?

Jess Trimble: I grew up riding at Mount Snow, but didn’t know many people who wanted to ride park. I knew that there were more girls like me that wanted to break into the park but needed some guidance. Learning basic tricks like ollies, boardslides and 180s can be daunting for a total novice, but once you have those moves down it’s easier to progress to the next level and feel more comfortable riding in the park.

RV: How’d it get started at Mount Snow?

JT: Last year I was an intern in the marketing department at Mount Snow. I came to them with my idea for a women’s park clinic and they loved it. With some guidance from everyone in the department, help from friends who volunteered to coach and the Carinthia park crew for building the best park, the first-ever Girls’ Day Out came together on a partly rainy, partly sunny spring day.

Last year's event had a huge turnout. Photo Courtesy of GDO.

RV: What was the response like?

JT: The response has been amazing! Last year we had around 45 women aged 13 to 40 something. After the event I got so many emails from girls saying thanks for having the event. This was why I had to bring the event back for another year.

Now I see even more girls riding at Mount Snow and many of them are friends because of Girls’ Day Out. One of them even came up to me and told me that Girls’ Day Out changed her life and that her coach, Tanya Schmidt, was such an inspiration. That same girl got first in the Red Bull Butter Cup at Mount Snow.

RV: Wow, that’s awesome. You must be stoked. So what’s your background in snowboarding anyway?

JT: I switched to snowboarding when I was eight and since then I have done everything I can to be closer to the mountains. I was an instructor at Mount Snow for a while. I lived in Utah for 6 months to shred and go to school. Snowboarding has allowed me so many great opportunities to travel and meet incredible people who share my love for the sport. I owe a lot to snowboarding, so I hope that Girls’ Day Out helps other girls realize their passion.

With a little help from my friends. Photo Courtesy of GDO.

RV: Do you think it’s hard being a girl trying to break into the snowsports scene?

JT: In some ways I think it might be easier for girls to be noticed and get sponsored because there is less competition. However, there’s still a lot of barriers like the cost and time commitment needed to pursue snowboarding. I think that with more events like this one, that give girls the opportunity to break into the sport at a young age — and the continued progression of women’s sports in general, in the future we’ll see more and more females going pro.

RV: What should girls expect from GDO and what should they bring to it, mentally?

JT: Expect to make 50 new friends, fall hard, smile harder, and ride away with a few new tricks in your bag. It’s helpful if the girls know what their ability level is and what they would like to learn; that way their coach will be able to maximize the time they have with their group. Most importantly, a positive attitude and the willingness to learn will get you a long way on your snowboard and in life.

Interested in taking part? Here are the deets.

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2012

WHERE: Carinthia Parks, Mount Snow

WHAT: Girls’ Day Out is a freestyle snowboarding clinic for female snowboarders aged 13 and up. This is a chance for beginner and intermediate park riders, to learn to slide, jump, spin and jib in a supportive, no-pressure environment from top female riders and coaches. Private park just for the GDO girls, free pizza lunch and sponsor swag bags for all participants. Space is limited; don’t miss out on all the fun at Girls’ Day Out at Mount Snow.

COST: $40 registration fee includes a full day of freestyle coaching, free pizza party and sponsor swag bag. No season pass? Add your lift ticket for only $49.

REGISTRATION: Click here. After registering, email Jess Trimble at jtrm085@mac.com with your ability.

SCHEDULE:
8:00-9:30AM:  Registration in Carinthia Lodge basement
9:45-10:00AM:  Meet up with coaches on the Carinthia Lodge deck
10:00AM:  Head to the Park
12:00PM:  Free pizza lunch in Carinthia Lodge basement
12:45PM:  Head back to the park
2:45PM:  Awards at Carinthia Lodge deck
3:20PM:  Call it a Day or Free Ride

Got questions? Email Jess (jtrm085@mac.com) or visit Girls’ Day Out on Facebook.
Here’s a little teaser to help stoke you up.

In winter, it’s important to always be prepared. You never know when a sudden Nor’easter may roll up and dump massive amounts of fresh or a sudden rail jam may be announced on Twitter. You heard right.

This week at Carinthia Parks at Mount Snow, it’s about being waxed and ready for rail jams at the drop of a hat. Welcome to Pop-Up Jams.

On Tuesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 29 the parks crew are randomly picking a feature in Carinthia and hosting a 45 minute jam sesh on it. There will be one jam each morning somewhere around 10-11am and one each afternoon somewhere around 1-2pm. That’s all the info you get.

Keep an eye on their Facebook and Twitter accounts for the location announcement and be ready to pounce.

Here’s the deets:

-There is no entry fee! But, you must register for this event.  Registration will take place in the Carinthia lodge each morning from 8am – 9am.
-If you over sleep, yes you can register at the jam, but that will cut into your time to compete.
-Once you register you will get a little sticker to put on your pass or lift ticket.  This sticker can be used at any of the Pop-Up Jams that week.
-You don’t have to register to join in, however no registration = no awesome prizes.
-It’s open to both skiers and riders!

Photo Courtesy of @carinthiaparks on twitter.

1. His name is Day. That’s a rad first name.

2. He  founded, owned and operated Kingvale Mountain in California, one of the first all-park mountains in the country.

3. He worked extensively with Johnny Knoxville and crew for the Jackass 3D movie, building snow features that grown men proceeded to wreck themselves upon.

In other words, Day Franzen is legit. And now he’s steering Carinthia Parks at Mount Snow.

Read a full interview with Day at onthesnow.com to learn all about Vermont’s newest celebrity.

And while you’re at it, watch “C The Movie”, a feature-length shred flick straight from the boys and girls who keep Carinthia’s parks populated, below.