Tag Archives: freestyle

For Grrrl Eyes Only: Girls’ Day Out at Carinthia Parks, Mount Snow

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Featured Ride Grrrl: Bolton Valley Park Manager Allison Kozar

Posted on by
Reply

BUSTED. Sometimes even park managers get their passes pulled. Photo Courtesy of Allison Kozar.

The odds are pretty good that if you’ve ever taken a lap or two through the parks at Bolton Valley, the features you’re gettin’ rad on were built by this girl. (Trust us, she’s much more professional in person.) And when it comes to building parks, she’s downright serious about stoking up freestyle skiiers and riders with a well-manicured and progressive park setup for improving their skills.

As the only female terrain park manger in the state, Allison is one of the many women taking the industry by storm and proving that if the guys can do it, girls can too. Ride Vermont got the chance to catch up with her to talk marriage (yup, she’s taken), inspiration and even a little about terrain parks.

Allison Kozar

Ride Vermont: Do you feel like you face any unique challenges, being the only female terrain park manager in Vermont? What are those challenges?

Alison  Kozar: This is a hard question to answer, because I don’t feel like I have unique challenges just because I am a woman.  I feel like I face the same challenges as any other park manager. The industry is changing, and snow sports are not as male-dominated as they once were.

RV: You recently got married. Be honest: do you shred harder than your husband? Do you guys regularly ride together?

AK: I do shred harder than my husband, but he isn’t on snow everyday. He plows in the winter; so, when it dumps, he’s plowing while I’m skiing. Usually he doesn’t feel like riding after sixteen hours of plowing. Otherwise, we try to get out when we have time.

RV: That’s quite the trade off on pow days. Which female (doesn’t have to be a skier or anything) has inspired you the most in your life? How has she inspired you?

AK: I don’t know if I can name just one woman. Poet Sylvia Plath taught me not everything has to be sugar, spice, and everything nice. Famous rock star Joan Jett made me realize that girls can rock harder than boys.  Sarah Burke has been a hero of mine since I discovered freeskiing in 2001; watching her has made me try to become a better skier.

RV: What advice can you offer to all the young female snowboarders and twin tippers out there who are thinking about a career in snowsports or as a pro rider?

AK: If you are trying to start a career in snowsports, be persistent. It’s important to show that you’re willing to dive in head first and get your hands dirty. For those trying to be pro riders, push yourself everyday, don’t be afraid to ride with the boys and compete at every event possible.

One such event was the recent Not Your Girl Jam that encouraged freestylin’ females to come out and push themselves in a friendly and fun rail jam comp. Along with the crew at Mascara Militia, Allison was a key player in organizing (and building) this event.

She regularly blogs about the goings-on at Bolton Terrain Parks and helps keep the park’s Facebook and Twitter accounts fresh. So make sure to like and follow them to stay up on what new features are waitin’ at the Valley.

Here’s a short video we made with Allison during Ride Grrrl week, two years back. Obviously, seein’ as she’s hitched and all now, her name has changed. (She didn’t forget to mention her dreamy plowman.)