Westbound Boarder

Andrea has left the country! She has accepted a last minute invite to chill with the best shredders out there at the best snowboard camp in the world. That is right, she escaped to South America Snow Sessions (SASS) and after two long days of travel, she has finally arrived! In case you are not aware, camp is located at Barichole, Argentina and reforms humanity into more cultured, Spanish speaking, snowboard pros. Stay tuned for Andreas comprehensive camp review and in the meantime check out SASS for yourself. Have fun Andrea we miss you!!!

As the European Girlie’s put it themselves, ‘do you have a passion for action sports, adventure, meeting new friends or improving your language skills? Then welcome to Girlie Camps 2009!’ Girlie Camps features Ski, Snow, Skate, Surf and even Kite Surf Camps; which range from Surf camps in the South of France, and Spain, Snow Camps in Les Duex Alps and Skate Camps in the UK, Germany and Spain.

Girlie camps bring you everything you need to partake in the joy of snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding and skiing. With camps available for all levels and all ages, each girlie has her own opportunity to attend one of the many Girlie Camps. The cost of your camp includes everything you need from lodging, lift tickets, gear and even meals. The exact items included do vary slightly depending on which camp you select, although one thing is for sure; world class instruction is included!

The Girlie Camps were born when creator, Marika, decided to create an outlet for all women who share a passion for board sports. As you have already heard Andrea and I discuss in our Wicked Wednesday Camp Posts, the key to improving your board skills lies in learning with the girls. Riding with other ladies who are there to encourage you, challenge you and cheer you on is the best way to improve your skills, hands down.

Whether your skills are non existent or you want to take your spin to the next degree, there is room for improvement. Just listen to Girlie Camp enthusiast Cathrine Stiller, “This [camp] has been the most developing snowboard riding ever! Just chilling with girls and learning form each other has done so much for my confidence as a rider and as an individual person.” Ms. Stiller could not be more right! Just attend a snowboard camp and spend a week with the girlie’s to see for yourself!

So if you are up for a real camp adventure and one that is halfway across the world, Girlie Camps are where it’s at Summer 2009. Check out the web site for exact dates, pricing and details. Girlie Camps spells it all out for you, from the airport, to transportation – so if you start saving now, there really are no excuses not to attend.

Does the thought of the dwindling winter depress you? Is the spring slush and disintegrating parks getting you down? Well we understand – and boy do we have some great news! Westbound Boarder spoke with the gals at MGT last week and the land of the endless winter has been unveiled. So wipe the tears away and dust off your passport, because we’re taking you to the deep powdery slopes of Bariloche, Argentina.

The reasons are never ending as to why you should attend a South American Summer Session (SASS). To name a few – the unique Argentine cultural experience, free Spanish lessons, tours of the nearby cities (including Buenos Aires), transportation to and from the airport, the resorts 15 minutes from a private world class hospital, you get to learn for the industries very best boarders and skiers while experiencing world renowned backcountry terrain, the mountain is their park and the endless winter would be all yours. But wait there is more! With a 5:1 camper coach ratio you are guaranteed to take your skills to the next level, whether it is your board skills, Spanish speaking ability or your avalanche safety skills (because you will get it all at SASS!)

On top of the endless perks that SASS brings you, this resort has over 40 lifts and 1,500 skiable acres (and that’s not even including the endless backcountry stashes!) With 4 summer sessions, there is bound to be one that fits your schedule and your pocket book (if you start your saving now ).

So Instead of riding the slushy (albeit enjoyable!) parks of Mt. Hood and Whistler Blackcomb during the USA summers, hop that plane you never thought your would to Argentina for an experience of a lifetime at one of the South American Summer Session’s.

Well it’s Wednesday, and for those of you who don’t know, it’s time to talk snowboard camp. We warned you a few weeks ago that each Wicked Wednesday Andrea, Rochelle (our NEW contributing blogger!) and myself are going to be giving you all the dirt on upcoming snowboard camps. Last week Andrea told you all about HCSC and today it is all about Windells!

As a Windells alumni myself, I am here to tell you that this camp is legit. It is all included – from unlimited professional coaching and video review, a weeks worth of lift tickets, unlimited 2009 snow and skate demos, 3 square meals a day, all of your transportation & lodging, state of the art skate facilities - these guys will even pick you up at the airport!

On top of all of the aforementioned perks, there is more. This place is truly known for their quality terrain parks and dedicated coaches. The camp diggers work tirelessly to groom, sculpt, salt and perfect the snowboard park of your dreams, so you can really take your riding to the next level. With a low coach to camper ratio – you are assigned a coach that will work with you every step of the way, wherever it is on the hill that you want to focus your improvement.

Have we convinced you yet to get off your home hill and visit the nations only year round ski resort yet? (That’s right, Windells takes place at Timberline Lodge in Oregon, the USA’s only resort open all year long!!) Well, wait, there is more. On top of having state of the art terrain parks at your disposal and access to a plethora of coaches, you will have the opportunity to ride with the best snowboarders in the industry! Pros that we know you admire, such as Eddie Wall, Danny Kass, Todd Richards, Hannah Teeter and Kelly Clark frequently stop by camp to ride with you and show you how it is done!

Whether you ski, snowboard are young, old, boy or girl, man or woman, like spring, summer or winter riding, there is a Windells session that is just for YOU!! So take your riding to the next level and join those who for the past 21 years have made Windells the breeding ground for the best snowboarders around! (Oh! FYI, 92% of X-games medalists have attended Windells) That is right, the pros – before they were so – came from near and far to attend Windells and gain the skills and confidence in order to put themselves on the snowboarding map!

So check out the Windells home page, and get your butt to camp, because who is to say that you can’t lead the same path the pros have been blazing for the past 21 years?

Well it’s Wednesday, and for those of you who don’t know, it’s time to talk snowboard camp. I warned you last week that each Wicked Wednesday Andrea, Rochelle (our NEW contributing blogger!) and myself are going to be giving you all the dirt on upcoming snowboard camps. Our goal is to give you all the information you may need to make an informed decision about which camp to choose. So here it goes!

Do you live near the best resort in the world? Or are you planning a trip to Whistler-Blackcomb before winter is up? If you are lucky enough to answer yes to wither of the aforementioned questions, well now you are even luckier, because Whistler-Blackcomb is bringing you Roxy Women’s All Star Snowboard Camp, on March 7th and 8th and April 4th and 5th.

This is an opportunity for just the girls to, ‘get to that next level fast.’ Whether you are looking to improve your freeriding or want to excel in the park, this Roxy Women’s Camp is where it’s at. For only $179 bucks you get to spend 2 full days at Whistler-Blackcomb (lift tickets, muffins and coffee included!) with Roxy’s top female coaches and demo the latest ROXY snowboard gear. Oh, and to top it off, at the end of the day you will receive professional video analysis so you can really take advantage of the days lessons (you may even take home a few prizes!)

One thing’s for sure, you will improve your snowboard skills and make some friends. You really have nothing to loose with this one as two days of Whistler lift tickets alone would cost more than this ROXY camp. So as long as you are at least 19 (but under 100) and you are not a complete beginner (you have to be able to carve down the hill), well, then welcome to Roxy All Star Snowboard Camp!

As we find ourselves in the dead of winter and are snowboarding our lives away, it’s hard to imagine where we will all be, come summer time (okay, so it’s not that hard)! Anyways – with that being said – I am here to tell you exactly where you should be this summer.

Some call it the ‘funnest place on earth’ and some call it Windell’s – we at Westbound Boarder call it snowboard camp and are hoping that you call it your summer plans! Whether it be Windell’s or High Cascade Snowboard Camp, or one of the many other wicked winter, spring or summer board camps- we think you should seriously consider attending one.

My senior year of high school I attended Windell’s Snowboard Camp and I have never been the same snowboarder since. I rode with the pros in the sun for a week straight, refined my snowboard skills, made some new friends, learned to skateboard (something I never thought I would do!!) and was able to demo the best gear around! I look back on my Windell’s camp experience as one of the best times of my life and I cannot wait to attend snowboard camp again someday.

The reasons are endless as to why you should get on board and earn the cash it takes to attend snowboard camp – and we are here to help you make the decision a little easier! So without further ado, I introduce to you, Wicked Snow Camp Wednesday’s!

Be sure to tune in each Wednesday as we feature one of our favorite snowboard camps so you can make an informed decision about which camp you are going to attend this summer – and get excited because we have camps from all over to tell you about - so where ever you are from there is a camp that you can call home this summer!

Have you been to snowboard camp before? Tell us where and let us know what you thought by leaving us a comment or shooting us an email, www.westboundboarder@gmail.com!