Posts Tagged ‘ Just 4 Girls ’

Tweet

.

So the last snowboard camp of the season is over and what a fun week it was! It was cool to have a camp filled with Just Snowboard camp returners who were back for the 2nd, or even 3rd, time and all solid riders. From NYC gangsta Mariesa, surfer Manon, ever-smiley Fi and the original camp legend Glenda there was no shortage of friendly faces and giggles in Morzine that week.

It was a week of soft, slushy snow with even some fresh and spring snow thrown in… so perfect conditions for heading to the park for some freestyle progression. The soft snow was great for learning new tricks and the more and more the boards were flexed the better the jibbing got.

The one bad weather day (and believe you me, it was seriously fogging and dumping with wet snow) was far from being a lost day at the pub and instead turned into one of the best riding days of the week! After a few runs of freestyle jibbery there was time for a quick hot chocolate stop at Avoriaz’s well known Changabang whist Mint coach Tammy got to work taking everyone’s highbacks off and readjusting their bindings! Everyone’s fears of riding without highbacks were quickly thrown out of the window and despite zero visibility the progression in everyone’s riding was insane. Quote “In all my years of teaching snowboarding, I have never seen such massive progression in such a short space of time” Tammy. In the afternoon the gang didn’t bat an eyelid to one of the infamous ‘Olly Challenges’ which involved some rather adventurous off-piste… and all done no-back style! Hellyeah girls!

Mid-week on the camp; tired bodies (even after a stretching session with the fantastic Sarah) and a day off from coaching with Tammy. A day to relax? Not a chance, there is always more fun to be had and new challenges to enjoy. This time the gangsta mob were given a 24 hr challenge to film, produce & edit their own snowboard movie. They were give a tiny Flip video camera and limited instructions or rules… and what an awesome video they came out with! See below. Thank you to Glenda for the editing.

Enough chat, but it is fair to say that the rest of the week continued in the same style: jumps, tricks, adventure, photo shoot, progression, smiles, laughter, cake, mutzig, aching bodies, gangsta moves and much more…!

Thanks to Herd Headwear, Bluebird Wax, the Keep a Breast Foundation, Flip Video & Les Ettes for their support in the Just 4 Girls camps this winter.

Check out some of the photos from the week as well as the video challenge movie:

www.just-snowboard.com

Tweet

We are stoked to announce a new partnership for the Just 4 Girls snowboard camps… and to introduce you to Herd Headwear!

Herd Headwear is a local Whistler grassroots company created by a Norwegian snowboarder who came to Whistler, B.C. in 2001.

From the love of the Canadian Mountains and the snow community she decided to create a company that would incorporate local talent as well as international influences to create unique products.

Herd Headwear started in the fall of 2008 having its first toques sold out of a sauna known as “the sauna shop”. Since then Herd has grown up to find itself herding around the world.

Herd Headwear is primarily a headwear company but this season sees an incorporation of clothing and artwork on the agenda.  Local Calgary based artist Mark Kowalchuk  and Squamish based artist Darren Camplin have both been creating one of a kind Herd pieces.

Check out the catalogue and get your Herd on!!! www.herdheadwear.com

The next Just 4 Girls snowboard camp will be running in Morzine / Avoriaz, France, from 2nd – 9th April. So for any of you shredettes out there who are wanting to step up their riding, get progressing and have a whole load of fun… check out www.just-snowboard.com for more info. And of course you can look forward to a goodie bag from Herd as well as helping support the Keep a Breast Foundation.

Tweet

On 11th December, 25 snowboarders rocked up on the doorstep of our two chalets in Morzine for the Just Performance Lab and the Just 4 Girls snowboard camp.

Having been blessed by great snow and then cursed by rain the week before the camps we were slightly unsure of what to expect when the lifts opened again in Avoriaz on the Saturday. We were pleasantly surprised at how good conditions were, although the off piste was a no, the pistes were perfect for the first couple of lessons with instructors Dave & Tammy from Mint Snowboard School. The week started with getting straight down to technical progression for both the Just4Girls and Just Performance camps… breaking down the riding techniques and then building it up again, properly.

With both camps full we had a good mix of riding levels (with 4 coaching groups) and some great personalities. The Slopestyle party on Monday night in Morzine gave some of the boys the chance to brush up on their chat up lines as well others to win raffle prizes!

Mid week, right on cue, it snowed, allowing us to get more adventurous and test the new skills learnt over the previous days. There were a good number of campers who had never really ridden powder before… they thought they had, but when you’re getting first tracks off Cubore in Avoriaz it soon opened their eyes to what the good stuff is compare to those few turns at the side of the piste! New skills and techniques were adjusted accordingly to the off piste conditions and it was definitely the girls that got the best of the powder riding (hehehe)!

We took advantage of the fine snow and sunshine to bring Damien, our resident photographer, along and take some shots. This led to hunting out good terrain on which to bag a banger, and take it home to show mom! The photos can be seen on Facebook.

For the end of the week Mother Nature blessed us with an almighty dose of snow. So in preparation everyone waxed their boards (with Bluebird wax from their goodie bags!), or at least got shown how to, discussed the options and advantages of shifting your bindings back, borrowed longer boards from the Lib-Tech demo fleet and went to bed excited to see what the morning would bring.

And it brought snow, loads of it, easily 50cm… booyeah! There were strong winds and poor visibility, so to the trees was the cry and off we went. Even if you have ridden a fair bit of pow, over half a meter of light and fresh is still hard work to keep yourself going in. However there was no question, the grey conditions were irrelevant, it was an epic day all-round and tree riding a great experience for everyone.

The Perfomance Lab gang had Quiksilver pro rider James Stentiford along to show them what could be done if as talented as he is (which is incredibly). That didn’t perturb them from teaming up against James and the Mint Team for a pro vs am competition through the Stash. Although there is some debate as to who won, the performance level was definitely raised a notch or two and the fun factor was off the hook!

The girls and Olly stepped it up laying lines all across Lindaret to make a finale of a route down under the Abricotine chair. A super fun off piste section that normally gets tracked pretty quick, however end of the day and they were the first down it. This may have something to do with the flat track to get to it, which when waist deep and untracked took some effort. But with a thirst for adventure the girls followed, a track was put in and waist deep first lines were scored. They made it to the lift 5 minutes before it closed it after a full day (9am start) in super deep snow. Laughing muscles were aching as much as the legs… true sign of a great day!

After such an epic poweder day, there was zero desire to go dancing for an end of week party! Instead everyone enjoyed viewing of Damiens awesome photos, the various videos taken during the week, an award ceremony, a few ding repairs, drinks at the chalet and a well earnt good night sleep.

Now normally the story ends there, but due to snow in the UK and cancelled flights many had a night in Geneva, whilst others came back to Morzine and even got to shred another day!

Thank you to Quiksilver for their continued support of the Just Snowboard Camps. Thank you to the Keep a Breast Foundation and Herd Headwear for supporting the Just 4 Girls camps.

Check out a selection of the photos from the camp below (click on them to enlarge)…

Tweet 

First things first… we have just had a RAD facelift to the website for our snowboard camps, check it out www.just-snowboard.com. We just love the graphics (thank you to the guys at www.origincreativedesign.com)!

As I am sure everyone knows… its SNOWING! We have tons of snow in Morzine (let alone higher up in Avoriaz) and we hear that it is snowing in England too. Best start to the season in years and so excited to kick off with two of the Just Snowboard camps running in the first week of the season.

On that note we have a couple of spaces left on the Just 4 Girls camp, 11th – 17th December. Get in touch if you are itching to get out to the snow… info@just-snowboard.com. There are also still spaces on the January Performance Lab and the January Freestyle camp. Coaching is from our pro instructors at Mint Snowboard School and accommodation in the fab Mountain Mavericks chalets.

We would love some feedback from you guys… Which is your favourite graphics on the new site (think ours is the cable car)? Who is your favourite of the Just characters? Who do you want to see more of?

Tweet

Just Snowboard Camps & Mint Snowboarding are stoked to announce a new collaboration with the Keep a Breast Foundation (www.keep-a-breast.org).

The Keep A Breast Foundation™ is a non-profit organization that uses art, events & educational programs to raise awareness of methods of prevention and early detection of breast cancer among young people. Their mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support as well as inspiring young people to adopt lifestyle choices that have long-term health benefits.

There will be two Just 4 Girls snowboard camp weeks running in association with Keep a Breast this winter:

• 11^th – 18^th December 2010, Just 4 Girls
• 2^nd – 9^th April, Just 4 Girls (Progression week)

Proceeds from the camps will be going to this very worthwhile charity and campers will receive info packs including a Breast Self Exam cards, as well as receiving a trendy bracelet from the ‘I ♥ boobies’ campaign. There will also be the option of becoming a member of the KAB Foundation.

For more info check out www.just-snowboard.com & www.mintsnowboarding.com