SheRide taking over Steamboat Springs, CO

Shay:  What is your role at SheRide?

Julie:  I started SheRide due to the unbelievable joy I experienced riding and learning with all other women. It’s one of the most fun and empowering experiences ever. We have so much fun, laughing, singing, helping each other try new stuff. It’s so completely different than hearing a guy so, “Don’t be scared.” Well if you ARE scared, how do you STOP being?!?! It’s not that we don’t to try the stuff just cause we’re scared, we just need support.

Shay:  What made you decide to create SheRide?

Julie:  I wanted to provide an environment where the above could happen for anyone who wanted that experience.
Shay:  What does Sheride offer to campers?

Julie:  We offer 100% personal attention, support, and FUN, FUN, FUN. Every coach has a full debrief on every camper before doing the handoff with another coach. So unlike many camps where it’s all about “looking at how hot the coaches are” and wishing you could be like them (when often times they don’t even learn your name!), we know your name, your riding style, and which level we are trying to help you get to. If Sally has her weight on her back foot, or her front shoulder open, we all know it and all try to dream up the right progression to change it.

We are an AASI member school and spend lots of time going to clinics to become better and better riders, which is only HALF of the equation. The other half is to become better and better teachers. The special thing about SheRide coaches is that we all love both sides of the equation, which is what makes a coach special. We take just as much joy in the riding success of our campers as we do in our own, and I think that is so obvious to our campers- which is why at least 60% come back year after year.

Shay:  What are the main goals at sheride camps?

Julie:  When a camper signs up she tells us her goals- it is our goal to help her meet her goal while having one of the most carefree and fun times of her life.

Shay:  Does SheRide offer coaching for every level?

Julie:  YES!! First time to bump and park progressions.

Shay:  Where are the camps currently offered?

Julie:  Durango Mountain Resort and Steamboat Springs

Shay:  What is your favorite experience that came out of directing sheride camps?

Julie:  Seeing all the giant silly smiles on everyone’s faces. I love seeing my coaches progress and become better and better at their jobs. I love the “victory ride” on the last day where we all do one run together and the advanced gals cheer on the new riders.
Shay:  What makes your coaches different?

Julie:  That their joy in their students is equal to their own joy in riding. We don’t want to be an elusive, elite group who no one can catch up to, we want to do all we can to usher others INTO our group.

Shay:  How do your coaches keep up to date on their teaching?

Julie:  We’re an AASI member school and we travel to, and bring other in to clinic us, and as a group of 10 we spend lots of time riding and teaching each other. We’re never NOT learning about riding and trying new things.

Shay:  What are some fun off-mountain activities the camp does together?

Julie:  Our celebration dinner on the last night is the most fun, we have a big raffle (proceeds go to SOS) and just laugh and celebrate all the fun we’ve had. We also do a stay in night where we snack and watch video of the day and riders can SEE themselves and get analysis of their riding.

Shay:  SheRide collaborates with Bitchboards, how did that get started?

Julie:  Alex Masterson, CEO of BitchBoards contacted SheRide to ask if we would like to be sponsored by her. Alex is the first vender that has partnered with SheRide in the true sense of the word. She has given each coach a board, which we LOVE, and offered a board for auction at SheRide. We’ve all spent time with her and the respect for what we are all trying to do is very mutual. The SheRide coaching staff will be teaching the BitchBoards Beginner camp here in Durango in February.
Shay:  Has there been any backlash from working with a company that people might find the name offensive?

Julie:  There has been some controversy. Alex is a creative marketing genius, and the controversy has actually helped her rise above the noise level in the industry. She has already won several awards and is internationally known in her second year, which is quite a feat.

Shay:  Where do the proceeds for sheride camps go?

Julie:  SOS Outreach Durango. We are in the midst of taking 92 at-risk and underprivileged kids through a 5 time snowboard program built around the core values of Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom, and Compassion. It’s a remarkably powerful program that a kid can participate in for up to 6 years when they can then become a “Jr. Sherpa” youth mentor and give back to the younger kids. It takes a LOT of gear and people to pull it off, and SheRide supports SOS.

For more information on the SheRide Snowboarding Camp, go to sheride.com