February 7, 2010 E-MAIL PRINT

Shredding, for the fairer sex

by Brion O'Connor/

Loon Mountain's annual women's snowboard camp is March 6-7. (photo: Loon Mountain)

Loon Mountain's annual women's snowboard camp is March 6-7. (photo: Loon Mountain)

Ever curious about how it feels to ride a frozen wave? Well, there's no reason you can't, regardless of what Madison Avenue says. The marketing gurus of the "extreme" set have done a pretty good job convincing people that snowboarding is the sole domain of double-jointed dudes and dudettes busting big moves during the X-Games. In reality, snowboarders come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Fortunately, most New England resorts understand this, and offer lessons to suit every age and ability level (a far cry from the days when a friend of mine, an accomplished skier taking his first snowboard lesson, was told by a young instructor: "Yo, you just do it.").

One of the best of these newer snowboard-specific clinics is Loon Mountain's annual Women's Droppin' In Snowboard Camp, slated this year for March 6-7 in Lincoln, N.H. The camp is specifically targeted toward intermediate women boarders, ages 13 to 40-something, who want to improve their riding skills, whether in the terrain park, in the halfpipe or on groomed trails.

"When this camp started, there really weren’t any programs out there designed to teach women how to ride park and pipe," says Carla Hess, the camp's head coach since its inception in 2004. "All the clinics were geared toward 'learn to turn' and not how to ride park and pipe, yet there were a lot of women wanting to learn this."

Hess, Mary Walsh and their staff understand that terrain parks and halfpipes can be intimidating for riders the first time out. The goal of the two-day camp, Hess says, to not only improve the riders' comfort level, but their competency.

"Whether it’s your first time in the park or pipe, or you’re looking to land bigger spins and tricks, Droppin’ In is a fun, supportive and safe atmosphere to progress your riding," she says. "We really break down tricks and explain the building blocks and principles so after the camp participants can continue to learn on their own. I love seeing girls in the park a few weeks after camp showing me the new stuff they learned."

In addition to Hess and Walsh, the camp will feature two members of Oakley's Global Pro team to demonstrate cutting-edge techniques (there will also be an Oakley "Goggle Bar," where participants can custom-build their own pair of goggles). The weekend begins with a yoga clinic to help get campers in the perfect mindset and condition for landing their new tricks.

"Another big thing is that Mary and I don’t view 'freestyle' riding as only happening in the park and pipe," says Hess. "We show the girls how to look at the trail and find stuff to trick off of while riding around the resort. The first day on the first run everyone just rides down regular, and by the last run on the last day we have girls ollieing off knolls, riding switch, doing 180s and bonking stuff.

"It is awesome to see how their perspective changes. Snowboarding is about fun, and everyone leaves with that understanding and a bag of new tricks."

The camp costs $198, and includes a two-day lift ticket, lunch, 12 hours of on-hill coaching, two hours of video-review, and a gear-filled Oakley women's tote bag. Registration is open, but space is limited. To reserve a spot, or to get more information, call 1-800-229-LOON (5666).

E-MAIL PRINT