If I can, you can – experience of a freestyle virgin at the Girl’s Academy, Sno!zone

As someone who started boarding as a ‘thirtysomething’, not very talented, slow to learn and a bit of a coward, I thought freestyle was not for me. As far as I was concerned jumps and tricks were something done by testosterone fuelled, young men or professional, confident female boarders. How wrong was I?!

Sno!zone real snow slopes at Castleford, Braehead, near Glasgow and Milton Keynes run a Girl’s Academy at each venue once a month. The Academy is designed by women, instructed by women and is exclusively for women (no men allowed).

In October 2008 I went to Castleford on some business and was persuaded to spend an evening on the slope. I presumed I was having a ‘normal’ session and it wasn’t until I met the instructor and the other women that I realised what I had signed up for. A feeling of mild panic and apprehension set in. However, as I was there I thought I’d give it a go, and I’m glad I did. In fact I enjoyed it so much I went back in December.

Learning in a female orientated environment means greater support and less pressure to perform. The instructor, Ketia was fantastically calm, knowledgeable and encouraging. All the other women on the course varied in experience and ability but everyone supported each other.

After we had warmed up Ketia taught us to ollie and we did a three foot kicker: no air for me but it was an achievement in itself just to get over the thing without breaking an arm or looking like a complete donkey. We then did a small box rail which was far easier than it looked.

In December the ‘toys’ looked much bigger and more intimidating but as Ketia says confidence is a big factor and the worst that can happen is a fall. This time I did a bigger box rail and eventually managed to land it without ending up on my backside. However, some jumps I really didn’t want to do, and even if everyone else had a go I never felt pressured to do anything that was well beyond my comfort zone.

For those of us not wanting to attempt something we were given alternative things to do such as practising fakie / switch or ollies. The Girl’s Academy runs for three hours and includes a drink at the bar with video analysis of the time on the slope. Hmmmm – all errors and falls can be replayed in glorious techni-colour again and again! Despite some cringing this proved really useful as Ketia was extremely diligent in pointing out how to improve on riding techniques. We all needed to bend our knees more and I had to speed up (yikes –something I must practice next time) and stop ‘swimming’ with my back hand when coming into a jump or rail.

This type of instruction has allowed me to do things that I thought were well beyond my abilities and each time I have been I have made progress. All the women on the course were fantastic. Despite varying in ages from early twenties to late thirties everyone had a positive attitude and gave encouragement to each other. I can’t wait for the next session and hope to improve my confidence and technique.

If you are someone who has wondered about trying freestyle there could be no better environment to have a go. If I can do it, you can do it! Have fun......

For more information go to www.snozoneuk.com

You can also get trick tips but checking out SNO!zone's podcasts at www.snozoneuk.com/html/uk-home/gallery/podcasts/