All-girls camp
What have I been up to? Mucho.
I’m now flying back to California from Munich. My last 8 days were spent in Germany and Austria with Oakley for a media trip in Munich and a 3-day all-girls snowboard camp in Hintertux, Austria. We had such a fun crew; the ever entertaining and beautiful Miss Anne-Flore Marxer, Silvia Mittemuller, who has the all-time best pout in the business, Liesl Holtz our ringleader and Alex, Oakley’s new German snow sports marketing manager fondly known as Mr. Muscles because he always carried our luggage, loaded the car, drove the car and partially because we wanted to make him happy because he said “yes” to every one of our requests, and believe me there were quite a few with this group.
During a photo shoot in Munich, Silvia, Anne-Flore and I got to act out a childhood dream. Except in my case, it’s a current dream especially after this shoot. Anne-Flore was a circus performer, Silvia, an ice cream scooper girl and I was a cowgirl, enough said right?! This was my top 5 photo shoot of all time for sure. I mean, how often do you get to be professionally made up to look the part of your dream? Only in my photo, I looked way more glamorous than I ever pictured myself being as a cowgirl. The look was dark, sort of tough, stylish saloon girl meets cowgirl, and I loved it; and I learned how to throw a lasso pretty well too. The photos will turn up in the book Useless, which is a book that blurs athletes and fashion. It’s given out in Europe’s major snow trade show of the year in Isbo … so be sure to look for it this January/February if you happen to be there!
On to the all-girls camp portion of the trip. Raddler, wellness center, bread and cheese. Shredding in the snow, sun and fog, schnapps (see attached photo), motivated, open minded and progressive girls, our token men photographers, filmers and organizers (see our boys attached), new friends, schnitzel, late nights, and table/bar dancing (see attached photo) and singing pretty much sum up the three day camp … and, oh wait, of course the YEEHAA, which if you needed to describe this experience, that one sound alone would work just fine.
These all-girl sessions are so inspirational and make such an impact. When a girl is put in an encouraging and comfortable learning environment, it’s so fantastic what can be accomplished and the confidence that is gained. And when a woman is confident and happy, the world REALLY is a much better place. I bet our guys on the trip would agree! But seriously, I actually heard this before I left for Germany when I was in NY for the annual Women’s Sports Foundation dinner (see attached Stanton Shade girls photo with Chelsie Memmel gymnast, Jessica Mendoza soft ball, Amy Stanton of Stanton Shade who represents all of us, myself, and Angela Ruggero, ice hockey). We were told that when women are confident, they’re naturally happy and when they’re happy, they create a warm and kind family environment. And when kids grow up in this kind of environment, then they too tend to exude general positivity and confidence in their lives, which affects others, etc. It’s like the phrase “pay it forward,” and I think camps like these are doing just that through snowboarding.
So thanks to Oakley for really making a strong women’s initiative in everything from their apparel and eye wear to getting girls out onto the mountain and encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle. And thanks to all of the girls for such a great experience to start the winter season. YEEEEEHAAAAA!