| Author |
Message |
SquishyBG 
|
|
Post subject: Girls Snowboard Camps - Anyone going?
 Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 12:21 PM
|
|
First post: Nov 13, 2005
Total posts: 1371
Status: Offline
|
|
I think I'm gonna book myself on a girls' camp this winter, I feel like I've plateaud a bit with my riding and I need to do something to push myself to improve. Is anyone going on any this winter? If so, who are you going with? I'll be going on my own so it'd be nice to at least know a person or two who's going along, even if I only know them in internet-land.
And for anyone whose done them before, any advice or tips? |
_________________
Member of the Judean Riders' Front
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Shameless72
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 30, 2009 - 11:42 PM
|
|
First post: Sep 30, 2009
Total posts: 2
Status: Offline
|
|
Hi SCUK! First post for me but I'm not that new to the forum as read on and off for the last few years. Suddenly felt inspired by this thread and felt I had to share my experiences as I bet lots of girls are considering camps at this time of year.
I went on Our Camp last year. I was totally hyped about it before I went and was really gutted about the experience and I think a couple of the other girls were too.
I had great fun and met a great bunch of girls that I've kept in touch with but I was really let down by the standard of coaching and organisation. In retrospect I think it's highlighted that being a good rider doesn't necessary make you a good teacher. The pros gave great demos and heaps of encouragement but that's where it ended. They found it difficult to explain what we needed to do beyond showing us. Some girls got it and some didn't and those that didn't got pretty stuck.
The camp also pitched itself as a freestyle camp and I was told before I booked that we'd spend half the day in the park and half in the pipe. We never made it to the pipe once and some days didn't get into the park at all.
They advertised that they kept groups small with a coach for each group but we frequently all boarded together as one group. There were 2 coaches between us but it was pretty chaotic trying to keep everyone together as we rode around. Several times girls got left behind and nobody realised for quite a while. The group size issue probably wasn't helped that in addition to the campers we had a another girl ride with us all week under the guise that she was a journalist reviewing the camp and one of the chalet hosts - basically both were on a cheeky freebie.
A few days before we went we were told that the usual trio of pros that founded the camp weren't available and that we'd have just one of them with guest coaches throughout the week including one lad who was BASI qualified. I was initially surprised that a male coach would be booked for a girl camp but reassured myself he'd probably be the type of character that thrived in a girly environment and would be a great laugh. I couldn't have been more wrong, he was a nice chap, but rarely interacted with the girls unless he was pushed to respond to their queries. He didn't actually do any coaching but just seemed to follow us around or occasionally lead the way when we pointed out we didn't know where we were going. He was a great snowboarder but how anyone can get their BASI without demonstrating some teaching skills is beyond me.
Probably the worst thing of all is that quite a few of the girls tried several times to give feedback to Our Camp about their experiences in the hope that they might make a few changes for the benefit of girls on future camps, but Our Camp weren't really interested in listening and seemed to take offence.
So, my advice would be to think hard about what you want to get from a camp. If you want a great holiday and the chance to hang out with some other girls then it could be right up your street. But if you want to seriously progress your riding and get some really good direction on how you need to progress you might be better off considering an instructor run course than a pro-rider one. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
lilly
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 09:38 PM
|
|
First post: Sep 13, 2005
Total posts: 19
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
|
|
Hi,
Sorry you had a bad experience with us, I had no idea there were complaints, I thought the only disaster that week was with the video when the tape was chewed and turned into an editing nightmare.
Quotes like 'the best holiday of my life' were taken from the same week so I assume not everyone had a bad experience. I'm sorry that you didn't have a great time, it's a surprise to hear.
I'll see if I can get the other girls to write their thoughts on here, I'd hate to think this is the only viewpoint, I assure you 'SquishyBG' (hehe good name) that both camps run by instructors and pro camps are an ace way to progress with your riding.
Please also see our 'testimonials' page on the Ourcamp.co.uk site for more thoughts from campers.
Whatever you choose to go for, you'll have a great time, it's so much fun in the chalet and on the hill meeting new riding buddies and learning new tricks together.
(P.S -if there is powder, a freestyle camp WILL NOT stay in the park, who would? and if the pipe hasn't been cut, they won't be there either) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
jdderbys
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 09:59 PM
|
|
First post: Oct 08, 2007
Total posts: 616
Location: Coventry
Status: Offline
|
|
i was on a mixed our camp last year and can honestly say the coaching i recieved was first rate and pretty amazing to be honest. They went out of their way to help out and tweak every thing holding me back.
It was one of the best snowboarding experiences iv had and can honestly say i will be returning with our camp as soon as they have a week that doesnt clash with the SCUK bash (which this years mixed camp does).
Gilly and Sonia were amazing. Both as coachs and people and extreamly helpful and always willing to stop and take the time to talk and analyse where things were not going as well as they should. I cant comment on Emma as she was not their when i was. The guest coachs all worked out really well and all brought something very likable to the table. Ben was amazing with the freestyle ground tricks, josh great at makeing those little tweaks and breaking down every aspect in the pack, rich relaly laid back and helped improve general riding and euro carves as well as flatlining. All the coachs were very skilled at breaking down the movements and body posture needed and it really helped alot.
We also visited the pipe and spend a good few hours each day there on 4 of the 6 main days and there was always the optiong to go their early. The groups broke off into ability but also desired activity. It was very flexible with the approach and what we as a camp wanted to do.
My recommedation would be to give a camp (our camp especially) a go. I really was a great confidence booster for everyone. The ones with less confidence or ability were given all the extra help they needed and apart from one or two negative people (who were only negative untill they nailed it and then completely changed) i didnt hear a bad thing said on reflection.
It really is how you approach the experience i found |
_________________
You're Moaning? On The Internet? Again?
No One Cares.............Fact!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dinalli
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:05 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 11, 2004
Total posts: 2526
Location: Back in Leeds
Status: Offline
|
|
Being male ive been lucky enough to have had some coaching from one of the organizers/ coaches of the our camp for a day when i was out in morzine.
I found the instruction to be spot on, and didnt feel pushed to do anything beyond what i could manage, however enough encouragement was given to me to make enough progress. It was a thouroughly enjoyable day.
I could only assume the coaching on the camps would be the same, and have recommended them to a few female friends.
As for the OPs question about doing a camp. I did my first camp in 2006 with csb, i turned up alone, but left with alot of good memories and friends. Ive found camps to be very enjoyable and great way of getting on the mountain and getting pushed a little bit more than maybe your mates do. |
_________________
Flys like a Beagle, lands like a pie
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
eazyriderz
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:39 PM
|
|
First post: Jun 14, 2008
Total posts: 36
Location: Morzine
Status: Offline
|
|
Hey Squishy BG...
Going on a camp is a great way to progress your riding, meet other like minded girls and just in general have a laugh!!...
There is a few options out there, girls camps or the mixed camps, it really does depend on what kinda of enviroment you get on best in, I personally like the idea of the mixed camps, only because im quite competitive and see it as a challenge to beat the boys.haha!...Why not, its suppose to be a laugh after all....
I think if you go on a camp and be too hard on yourself then you will find it hard to progress, if you do go, my only advice from previous experience is have fun, make friends, memories and you will find that your riding is waay better at the end of the week.
The Our Camp girls are an awesome, laid back bunch, being a female rider...I really look up to these gals... everyone has their own ways of teaching, so you will find each coach is different, but that isn't a bad thing, and being a little bit biased they are based in Morzine..couldn't really get any better!
Wherever you decide to go...hope you get lots of snow and lots out of the camp.....and good for you for wanting to improve....we have to get up there with the boys..right?! |
_________________
Eazy Riderz, ...."an easier ride at an affordable price!"
WWW.EAZYRIDERZ.COM
Funky, fresh, spacious, VERY central....why would you want to go anywhere else?!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SquishyBG
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:42 PM
|
|
First post: Nov 13, 2005
Total posts: 1371
Status: Offline
|
|
Well I'm now double camping this season!! I'm booked on the Just4Girls week in December, and Our Camp girls week in April, with a week's holiday with friends in Serre Chevalier in the middle!!! Now completely broke, but I've spent 3 years going on boarding holidays not getting better and generally dawdling behind so this year I'm determined to change all that. Xmas is just gonna have to be cancelled this year 
Anyone been to the J4G camp? Or anyone going on either camp this season, if so it'd be cool to go to a fridge and have a drink beforehand and try and get rid of some of the cobwebs and nerves. |
_________________
Member of the Judean Riders' Front
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
eazyriderz
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:49 PM
|
|
First post: Jun 14, 2008
Total posts: 36
Location: Morzine
Status: Offline
|
|
Amazing!!!..You will probably get more snow time than me, and im here all season..haha!
J4G is awesome camp, Tammy who runs the camps is a bit of Legend...you will get loads out of both J4G and Our Camp......and your going to Morzine....whey!!..
Enjoy! |
_________________
Eazy Riderz, ...."an easier ride at an affordable price!"
WWW.EAZYRIDERZ.COM
Funky, fresh, spacious, VERY central....why would you want to go anywhere else?!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dinalli
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 01, 2009 - 10:56 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 11, 2004
Total posts: 2526
Location: Back in Leeds
Status: Offline
|
|
| make sure u visit bar robinsons every day. Its the law |
_________________
Flys like a Beagle, lands like a pie
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
gem82
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 08:44 AM
|
|
First post: May 11, 2009
Total posts: 8
Status: Offline
|
|
[quote="eazyriderz"]Amazing!!!..You will probably get more snow time than me, and im here all season..haha!
J4G is awesome camp, Tammy who runs the camps is a bit of Legend...you will get loads out of both J4G and Our Camp......and your going to Morzine....whey!!..
Enjoy![/quote]
Just a short note to say I was like you last year what to book and who should I go with. I also booked J4G last December and had a great laugh, you wont be disappointed.
I also booked onto Our Camp in January of this year and again I had so much fun. I only had a weeks snowboarding under my belt before trying a freestyle camp and loved it! Initially I was a bit worried when I got to the Chalet and found out that people had been riding for for quite a few seasons, some for around 12 seasons OMG, but then once on the slope that didnt really matter. I learnt so much and came away a better boarder and having tried things I had only seen other people do. The encouragement from the girls and couches was really good and helped when we were a bit worried about trying something new.
I had trouble mastering the box at one point and finally, after quite a lot of frustration it clicked and I was loving it. Yer there were things I couldnt do but Im human like everyone else, some things are easier to pick up than others. The coaches always tried to encourage us to try things and if we didnt want to then fine that was our decision. I didnt feel I was left behind at any point or forgotten about.
Its right that we didnt get to go in the Half Pipe, I must admit I was worried about that as Ive never done that before, but that was due to the weather and the pipe not being shaped. That was not the fault of the camp.
I think there was only one day we didnt manage to get into the park but to be honest it wouldnt have been safe to do so. The fog was very thick and you couldnt really see 10m in front of you. Instead we had a powder day which was ace. this was my first itme in powder and I loved it save for the digging myself out and swearing a lot as everytime i stood up i was then on my backside, funny for the people watching but not for me lol... looking back I can laugh though which is the main thing.
I had so much fun on this camp and learnt so much that I wanted to book up for next year but unfortunately due to money constraints it was not possible. I would recommend this camp to anyone! I have a big thank you to all the guys at Our Camp!
The quality of coaching was good. There were times when I didnt master something and one of the coaches came over and gave me one to one tuition. I have no complaints about the teaching from the Our Camp coaches. They have the patients of a saint lol. I personally progressed in more ways than I thought I would, I now go to park nights at Hemel and am not afraid to go near the jumps or boxes. In fact Ive even started going over rails which I would never have done before this camp.
Our Camp coaches sometimes do a winter course at Tamworth. Maybe they will do one this year prior to the camps to put your mind at rest. I was NOT disappointed at all. If Our Camp read this please do a camp at Hemel |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SquishyBG
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 09:48 AM
|
|
First post: Nov 13, 2005
Total posts: 1371
Status: Offline
|
|
| How did you spend most of your time at J4G? Was it a lot of freestyle or a fairly even mix of piste and park? |
_________________
Member of the Judean Riders' Front
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
lilly
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 11:42 AM
|
|
First post: Sep 13, 2005
Total posts: 19
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
|
|
Wow, you really went the whole hog!! well done.
I think there maybe 2 other girls doing both J4G and the April Our Camp, you guys'll have your own 'crew' before you even arrive in April, that's great!
See you out in the fluffy white stuff soon : ) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
snowbroad
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 12:13 PM
|
|
First post: Jan 16, 2009
Total posts: 14
Status: Offline
|
|
|
SquishyBG wrote:
How did you spend most of your time at J4G? Was it a lot of freestyle or a fairly even mix of piste and park?
stupid question sort of linked to that one: all the camps I’ve looked at seem to focus on park/freestyle, are there any that are more about general riding skills on and off the piste? I might be going abroad on my own next year (my usual boarding buddy caught an edge and fractured her coccyx this year and has decided to take a year out, the freak) and the idea of a girls camp appeals. But I did a fair bit of park-type stuff during my lessons this year and it really didn’t float my boat at all - I’m pretty much in seventh heaven going down the mountain in a vaguely s-shaped line and I think I’ve decided that’s what I want to focus on improving for now.
Am I likely to find a camp to suit, or am I just being dense and missing the whole point of camps in the first place?!  |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SquishyBG
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 12:25 PM
|
|
First post: Nov 13, 2005
Total posts: 1371
Status: Offline
|
|
| I think the just snowboard performance labs are a bit more freeride focussed, unless someone wants to correct me? |
_________________
Member of the Judean Riders' Front
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
MissBint37
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 12:29 PM
|
|
First post: Sep 01, 2008
Total posts: 1062
Location: Sunny (I wish) Sheffield
Status: Offline
|
|
I'm off to Bansko in January to do a freeride course with Method - Same guy that does the Snowbordcoach stuff here......so I have high expectations, should be great, its also very reasonably priced!.....soooooo excited  |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowboard Club 
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Maximize
RSS Feed
