Remember the incredible photo comp Nikita set up last year to take one lucky girl back to their roots in Iceland? We most certainly do (especially because we kept on entering desperate to win) and are more than excited (and very jealous too) to read all about the adventures winner Carmen Urban experienced between enchanted volcanoes…
On 8th February the winner was chosen and notified. We awaited a response; Carmen Urban….ITS YOU!!! That same day we heard back from her and boy was she excited. The 27 year old French girl was doing her third season in Val d’Isère as manager of a bar and was thrilled to hear the news. Keeping in touch meantime, the day finally arrived when Carmen would be welcomed at Keflavik Airport, just outside Reykjavik. David, NIKITA’s Art Director met her and drove her straight to NIKITA HQ to meet everyone, then onto the flagship store downtown with free reign on choosing a brand new outerwear and streetwear outfit.
Then the roadtrip began. They picked up Geiri, NIKITA’s Marketing Director, Esther and Jill from the office and Arndís the manager of the store for a northbound journey headed for Akureyri and the AKX festival. En route Carmen was in awe as she experienced the breathtaking Northern Lights in full display.
Carmen got to ride next winter’s outerwear and soon to be launched NIKITA snowboards, hitting the slopes with Heida Birgisdottir in fresh snow and tracks off piste. Watching the big container jumps at AKX was ‘totally crazy’ and partying with Geiri and the crew wouldn’t be forgotten, with Icelandic beer flowing and a cross section of music from Icelandic rap, electro and rock to be mashing up to. NIKITA team rider Gabby Maiden was taking part in the jib sessions and joined Carmen for some mountain riding and park jibbing during her stay. Encouraged by both Gabby and Heida, Carmen had the best park day she’d ever had as she tried new things she hadn’t dared to before.
The whole time, Esther was also taking photos of the forthcoming winter outerwear and streetwear collections which Carmen was privy to; locations on the slopes, road tripping along coastal roads and stopping at small towns and fishing villages. They got to dip in just a few of Iceland’s many outdoor, naturally heated geothermal pools, admire the multitude of graffiti throughout the country’s towns and capital and finally when they returned to Reykjavik, Carmen stayed at the NIKITA house above the store downtown, with Gabby. Friends, trampolines and more partying til dawn continued until the final bus ride to the airport for Carmen’s return flight. Opening the board bag she hadn’t used all week, she found the very same snowboard she had been riding all week, a little surprise present from all at NIKITA.
Our thanks go to Carmen for entering the comp and being a fun person to hang out. We know she appreciated it too.
