We always like to support events, that bring girls who ride together and inspire them to push their boundaries. So we were delighted to hear about Sheila’s Slopestyle, an amateur from girls for girls event in Tignes. Abi Yates, one of the organisers, lets us know what went down
Words by Abi Yates
Us girlies are tough biscuits and a dump of spring snow and park closure ain’t gonna stop our park day plans. The Sheila Slopestyle event, being orgainised by upflatdown and Renelle from Alliance, suffered a slight blow when we found out the evening before that the park was going to be shut for 3 days. Hmm bugger! After an initial panic, we put on some thick socks and stomped into the snow to scope out the backyard. The Alliance crew had recently had a solid, little rail custom made (with self lubricating plastic and everything), so we just needed to find a good spot to set up. We found a great kicker ridge and whilst joking that we needed a piste basher, one appeared as if commanded by the snow angels. Renelle somehow managed to stop it and convince the nicest piste basher-er in the world to help us out. This was a sign, Sheilas Slopestyle was gonna be OK!
Bribed with just a few beers and an egg butty my favourite Canadian, Nabes, and the Jam’s Paddy and Tristan were up and ready to help us out at 7.30am. The boy muscle joined Lou and Coz (Surf Affinity girl muscle) and Ben from Alliance in some serious shoveling to get our park shaped in time for the sheilas arriving at 11am. It couldn’t have worked out better. With 3 powder kickers of varying sizes to cater for all levels and the rail just below, we’d only gone and got our slopestyle format all set up. Renelle met everyone in Le Lac and brought the trail of 44 girls in, intriguing the onlookers on the lift above.
Some of the girls had never even ventured into a park before, having found them too intimidating. However, by the end of the morning, with help from the Alliance instructors and encouragement from their fellow girlies, everyone was hitting the box and the little kicker. The more experienced girls were getting into spinning and even flipping, powered by the soft powder landing. The bigger kickers looked a bit scary with a wee road gap but once the first lass hit it, they were lining up to get their turn. At lunch, Rog and his crew at the Melezes Hotel over the road (who had been keeping us motivated all morning by cranking up the tunes), let us shelter in their bar while we munched on our picnic. Andy Parant (Tignes Official X Games photographer) joined us and shared his top tips to get a good shot for the competition in the afternoon. The photography would have to wait though, as all the girls were excited by their morning session and were too eager to get back to flying and sliding to take pics.
In the evening, we all headed to the Jam bar to celebrate our brilliance with a few bottles of the pink stuff. The footage from the day was played to relive the glory and slams and we had a whole load of prizes courtesy of Nikita, Alliance, Tignes Spirit, Surf Affinity and Board B*tch to reward the best chicks from the day. Top prizes went to:
#1 Sheilas Slopestyle Superstar – Tamara
For stomping a big floaty 180 off the big kicker and nonchalently pulling a FS boardslide to switch on the rail. Tamara was also the first sheila to hit the big kicker, inspiring the rest of the group to get involved.
#2 Sheilas Shinner – Kat
This award was for the girl that improved the most and that the Alliance judges thought had the most potential. From starting with not even getting much air on the green kicker, Kat went to landing a cab 180 and pulling off a BS Boardslide. As well as the Nikita goodies, Kat also won a private freestyle lesson with Alliance.
#3 Sheilas Spinner – Sarah
Sarah hadn’t even attempted a 360 before but after getting them nailed on the green kicker, thought she’d rock em out on the big un too. Didn’t quite land them on the big un but respect girlfriend for giving it a go.
Other riding prizes went to Debs, Wendy, Verity, Rach (Melezes) and Rach (snowstar). The raffle for the Surf Affinity holiday went to the extremely excited H.
Upflatdown and Alliance would like to say a big, stonking congrats to all the girls for coming and riding their pretty lil’ booties off. Everyone did really well and we can’t wait to see you next year for more sheila shred events. A ta very much goes to everyone that helped out and Renelle says soz for being so stern with the boys that wanted to gate crash our park. Gotta work on the moobs boys.
Edited footage of the event, Andy Parants photies and the full scores from the day will be available soon at www.upflatdown.com/Tignes and on the Sheila Slopestyle facebook page! Oh and if you want a sheila slopestyle T (just 6€!) , email us at [email protected].
