It’s hard to believe, but the Burton Snowboards US Open Snowboarding Championships turns 30 this year. Officially kicking off on Monday, March 5th and running through Sunday, March 11, the event will once again take over the Sun Bowl area of Stratton Mountain.
So what’s on deck? The best halfpipe and slopestyle snowboarders in the world have confirmed they’ll be competing, including Shaun White (who missed last year’s US Open), Kazuhiro Kokubo (last year’s men’s pipe winner), Iouri Podladtchikov, Louie Vito, Mark McMorris, Danny Davis, Scotty Lago, Sebastian Toutant, Kelly Clark (last year’s women’s pipe winner), Hannah Teter, Enni Rukajarvi, Jamie Anderson and Gretchen Bleiler, to name a few. Check out a full schedule of all the events.
Secondly, in honor of the 30th anniversary, the Burton US Open has stepped up its late-night entertainment to a whole new level. Headlining live acts include popular mash-up artist dream team, Super Mash Bros, performing Friday at the Burton x Mountain Dew Party. And Saturday night, hip-hop superstars Method Man (of Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (of Def Squad) will perform at the ‘30th Love’ party.
The best part? It’s all FREE. The competition, the live music, the free swag being tossed out by vendors — it’s all at no charge. Thanks, Burton.
Slopestyle finals go down during the day on Friday, March 9th, followed by a retro-themed ‘slingshot’ race for legendary Open competitors called ‘The Washed Up Cup’ taking place on Friday night. On Saturday, the signature US Open halfpipe finals go down, followed by an invitational ‘Night Jam’ being held under the lights on Saturday night. All free.
Can’t make it to Stratton to experience the 30th anniversary of the US Open in person? Tune in to the internets for live webcasting on Redbull.tv. Men’s and women’s finals will also air live on good ol’ fashioned TV on Friday and Saturday on Universal Sports. After the event is over, highlights of winning runs and full webcasts will also be available for on-demand viewing at www.redbull.com/snowboarding-live
For classic US Open photos, event highlights, quotes from the legends, and the boards beneath the riders, go ‘head and download the US Open History iPad App.
Complete event details, including schedules and spectator info are at opensnowboarding.com.
We think it goes without saying, but its about friggin’ time that southern Vermont got some serious snow love. And today, the lovin’ is good. We’re talkin’ a foot plus of freshies and it continues to dump on the smiling faces of starving powder hounds.
Luke gets stylie under the Black Lift at Magic Mountain.
The Ride Vermont crew hung the closed sign on the office door and hit the hill early to tear it up at nearby Stratton Mountain. After our fill of faceshots (okay, there’s really no such thing as enough, but you get what we’re saying) we packed up the rig and took off to the north to find epically deep stashes throughout the gnarly wooded terrain at Magic Mountain (or as we like to call it, the trail less traveled.)
Long story short, it’s fair to say winter arrived in Vermont. Sure it’s a few months late, but we’re in no place to complain. In fact, these could easily be the best conditions we’ve seen (and maybe will see) all season. So get out, shred hard and don’t forget to button your powder skirt.
Here’s a few pics from ’round south. Post your pow pics on our Facebook wall or tweet that ish to @ridevermont. Cheers.
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.
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.)
Three songs got stuck in my head after interviewing Brittany Horowitz, a University of Vermont senior who somehow finds time to run the all-female Mascara Militia snowboarding crew: “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” by Cyndi Lauper; “Jamming,” by Bob Marley; and “Come As You Are,” by Nirvana.
It makes sense. Horowitz is a young Vermonter on a mission: to have fun and snowboard as much as possible, to inspire other young females to unite and feed off of each other’s energy, and to do it all with a punk-rock attitude that says, “Be you.”
Ride Vermont caught up with Britt as she was making final preparations for the Not Your Girl Rail Jam, held recently at Bolton Valley. She also happened to be recovering from a snowboard-related elbow fracture. Badass.
Ride Vermont: Where are you from and where are you now?
Britt Horowitz: Originally from East Quoge, NY. Now I’m in Burlington and going to school at UVM.
RV: Tell us about the Not Your Girl Rail Jam you helped organize at Bolton.
BH: It’s all-girls and open to skiers and riders. We aren’t out to make money so with this jam we are basically making it the purchase of a super discounted lift ticket just to give back to the snowboard community. [Entrants received an all-day lift ticket, plus entry fee, for just $20].
Any day on a snowboard is worth smiling about. Britt Horowitz / Photo: Shannon Scarbrough.
RV: What is Mascara Militia? Why did you start it?
BH: I always felt like I had no girls to ride park with. I’d go to competitions and only see one or two other girls there, and it was hard to get taken seriously. You can go online and find tons of videos of guys riding around having fun, but you can’t find any videos of girls.
Then I met a couple girls who ride Sugarbush and Bolton and thought, “We should form an all-girl crew and promote women’s riding.” We figured we could inspire younger girls and tell them, “You can do this, too.”
RV: Since then the Militia has grown, and you have something like a dozen girls in the crew. So who are these girls?
BH: They’re girls who just live to ride and are not only promoting women’s progression in freestyle snowboarding, but positive attitudes and good vibes. Not all of our girls are the best of abilities, but I’ve chosen them based on both ability and inspiring attitudes. Most of them ooze confidence and you can tell on-hill that other people look up to them.
A third of the Mascara Militia. L to R: Sullivan Mclaughlin, Victoria Ashley, Britt Horowitz, Jessa Gilbert and Bekah Ashley at Sugarbush. Photo Courtesy of Mascara Militia.
Some notable results for Militia members this season:
Jessa Gilbert: 1st Place, Loaded Turkey rail jam at Killington.
Bekah Ashely: 2nd Place, Loaded Turkey jam. 1st Place, Pipe Dreams at Loon Mountain. 2nd Place, Transworld Trans Am at Waterville Valley.
Britt Horowitz: 1st Place, People’s Jam at Sugarbush.
Photo Courtesy of Mascara Militia.
RV: It’s not all about competitive skill, so what else does it take to be in the Mascara Militia?
BH: We are not fans of girls staring down girls in the park, complaining about the results of competition, or talking trash about other riders. We are promoting friendliness and encouragement between girl riders. We aren’t looking at other competitors as competition, just potential friends!
RV: What lies ahead for Mascara Militia?
BH: We are trying to increase numbers at competitions and put out videos of girls throwing down. We aren’t quite a brand yet but we will most likely be selling gear later on, and the scraps of cash we make will go straight back to the girls for their competition fees, traveling, lift tickets, film equipment, etc.
Keep an eye out for Britt at Sugarbush, her adopted home mountain (she should be cleared by the elbow doctors any day now). And don’t be surprised if you find yourself muttering “daaaamn” when you see here in the park.
Front board at Sugarbush's People's Jam. Britt Horowitz / Photo: Shannon Scarbrough.
Swag ain’t just for the fellas. So in honor of our very special Ride Grrrl week here on Ride Vermont, we’re hosting a very special photo contest that’s just for the ladies.
We’ve got some sweet gear from Anon Optics and Burton/R.E.D. up for grabs, so read on to learn the rules and get ready for your close-up.
Here’s how it works:
Strike a pose: Snap a picture while striking the official Ride Grrrl pose (above).
Share it: Tweet your picture to @ridevermont and include the #ridegrrrl hashtag, or post it on our Facebook wall and tag RideVermont in the image.
Win some stuff: We’ll pick our two favorite images to win some free product (one winner will be chosen from each of the categories below).
BEST LOCATION…
In the lift line, on your Subie, with a Long Trail, hiking some backcountry line, at the summit of Jay Peak… the possibilities are endless. Impress us.
BEST RE-CREATION…
Maybe you dye your hair red for a spot-on replica, maybe you put your own spin on it. Maybe you’re an instagraming hipster, maybe you prefer shooting in black and white. Maybe we have no idea what we’re looking for. Get creative.
Submit your photo(s) anytime during Ride Grrrl week, through next Sunday, Feb. 12. We’ll announce the winners online Monday morning. Good luck.
We know what you’re thinking. This looks an awful lot like some of the conditions we’re seeing outside right now. But, true as that may be, the thing to remember is regardless of the conditions beneath your board, the fact that you’re strapped in is what counts. After all, no day on a snowboard can really be a bad day.
Come early spring, sugar season has two meanings in Vermont. Trees start giving it up, and the soft snow is equally sweet. But it doesn’t last long, so anything outstanding is usually checked off the ride list—like Gary Land’s photo of Ian Spiro dropping this Killington cliff/waterfall in 1995.
Each Thursday we present a photo from the annals of snowboarding history in Vermont.
Maybe you’ve heard of this girl. She’s a native Vermonter, raised on the slopes of Mount Snow and oh yeah, she’s freakin’ unstoppable in the pipe. Easily one of the most consistent female riders out there, Kelly Clark is a force to be reckoned with and she proved it yet again this past weekend by annihilating the competition in Winter X Games Superpipe in Aspen.
Check out her victory lap where she threw down a huge frontside 1080, hitting a new height record of 14′ 3″ outta the 22′ Superpipe. Yeah, that’s big.
This chick’s got C-A-J-O-N-E-S. Video Courtesy of X Games.
“I approach every contest, every run, every trick in that moment, one run at a time,” Kelly told ESPN after her win. “I’m coming out here to achieve my goals, not to win the contest, that’s just a byproduct.” (A totally awesome byproduct, not like ones they make McNuggets out of.)
Coming off her recent Gold medal victory at the Dew Tour Superpipe in Breck, Kelly’s win in Aspen marked her fourth Winter X Games gold and the 13th consecutive competition she’s won over the last two years. Bad ass.
“I came off the best season I’ve ever had last year,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it to keep going. I’m kind of in awe of my streak right now.”
You’re not the only one, Kelly. Sick job and keep reppin’ Vermont with pride.
Local Stratton Mountain protege Mr. Forest Bailey threw down a sick couple of runs at the Winter X Games in Aspen, CO this week. And wouldn’t you know it, he took home the gold — not bad for an X Games Rookie.
“I definitely can’t believe it,” he told ESPN after Thursday’s final.
Bailey lead after Round 1, making it into the five-man final with Ryan Paul, Nick Visconti, Ethan Deiss, and Phil Jacques. His 270 to frontside on the cargo container was a highlight of the competition, and his win was doubly impressive because — in true snowboarder fashion — he missed practice on Wednesday and showed up on course just one hour before Thursday’s elimination round.
“I never thought I’d even come to X Games in my whole life, but I guess we’re here and I guess gold will do,” said Bailey.
Smooth, Forest. Take a look at the highlights from Snowboard Street and plan on catching Forest back at his home mountain for the US Open in March, unless he forgets to put it in his planner.
Doesn’t matter who you’re rooting for, when it comes time for Big Game Weekend there are always cheer-worthy deals at Vermont resorts allowing every pigskin-fan to score. (Not to mention, game-time is the best time to hit the deserted slopes for some private laps — that is, if you hate football or something weird like that.)
We’ve done the hard part and drafted some of the best deals from around VT, all you have to do is make the pick and “hike” to the hill. (Sorry, it’s all of those mind-numbing Superbowl commercials we’ve been subjected to over the years.)
Okemo $99 Two-Day Weekend Warrior – valid for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4. Print-at-home tickets must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance.
The Big Game Sunday Solution – takes an additional $10 off Okemo’s already-reduced Sunday Solution rate. Valid 8am to 1:30pm for only $64 for Adults, $54 for Young Adults and Seniors, and $40 for Juniors. Available at any ticket window.
Monday-Morning Quarterback – On Monday, Feb. 6, the price of a full-day lift ticket will be charged at $1 per point, based on the total combined points scored during Sunday’s Big Game. Pray for great defense.
Stratton The Super Bowl 2-Day Ticket – Buy one day and get the second day at half price. Lift ticket for all ages and is valid Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4 and 5, for just $130.50. Book online.
The Super Bowl Sunday Four Pack – Get four all-day, any age tickets plus one cheese pizza from Double Diamond on Sunday, Feb. 5, for $199. Book online.
Mount Snow
All deals available at the ticket window. No price changes for Youth / Senior. $99 2-day Super Sunday Plus ticket – valid Sunday and Monday, Feb. 5 and 6.
$59 Super Morning Ticket – valid from 8am to 12:30pm.
$25 I Hate Football Ticket – (Crazy, we know.) valid Sunday afternoon 1/2 day.
