Q: Diva! How has college been treating you at University of Vermont?
A: I’m so stoked to be on the east coast! UVM has such a beautiful campus and very friendly and laid back people. I really wanted a college with a strong academic record, a community of snowboarders and skiers plus a great college town and UVM has all of that. Burlington is very unique and has many opportunities for someone like me who is interested in action sports media.

Q: What are you majoring in?
A: I am majoring in Public Communication and I am soon going to declare a minor in Applied Design. The classes I am taking now have a lot to do with public relations and how to send messages through dynamic mass communication and interpersonal communication. Later down the road UVM even offers a class for event planning in sports for my major, which is awesome.

Q: How did Windells Academy prepare you for the college workload?
A: Windells taught me how to balance my academic goals with my athletic and media goals. College is independent learning and Windells taught me how to better prepare for completing my work on time while still doing the things I love to do.

Q: I know this is a couple years down the road, but what are you hoping to do after college?
A: When I graduate college I would like to have a public relations, social media marketing or design job for a snowboard company. I am extremely interested in action sports events so hopefully I’ll get an opportunity to work with them when I graduate.

Q: Are you getting involved in any clubs or teams?
A: I just made it on the UVM Snowboard Team, which is a great accomplishment for me. I am so happy and proud to be on a team with such cool people and a strong program to improve my snowboarding and filming/editing skills with professional coaches and media resources.

Q: You suffered a pretty nasty knee injury last year. How are you doing now?
A: I am doing great! My knee feels amazing and I am approved for unrestricted activity. My knee injury and the resulting physical therapy taught me a lot about myself and how to take my strength training and injury prevention seriously as an athlete. It gave me even more drive to improve this year on the mountain.

Q: Where are you getting your season pass?
A: Stoweeeeeeeeeee!

Q: Are you working on any side projects?
A: Besides my film making I am currently starting my own actions sports accessories company. My first product will be manufactured and distributed soon so I can’t wait to show you guys as soon as I can!

Q: Can we expect to see you back in Mt Hood anytime soon?
A: I’ll be back at Mt. Hood within the next few months! I miss everyone at the academy and I can’t wait to get some footage!

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Diva, and good luck this season. Now, get back to class! Stay tuned for more Student Spotlights as we catch up with our Windells Academy graduates all across the country. Until next time!

Camp is in session and riders Nial Romanek, Will Bateman and Johnny Lazz have helped us kick off the summer.  Despite some variable weather everyone is excited about getting to ride Mt. Hood in June with tons of snow coverage.

The tow rope is spinning and the grill is hot.

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Counselor Gared Schnieder getting the first shot of summer, despite imperfect conditions.

Dodgeball!

Some new renovations to the Concrete Jungle and Bob

This was what it looked like atop the scaffolding at the Denver Big Air. Windells Academy Student Easton Gilman was one of the 10 riders from the US to be invited to compete on January 26th. Easton was able to make it through the qualifying rounds and advance to finals.

Finals consisted of each rider getting 3 hits. Here’s Eastons first, a backside double rodeo 900. Not bad for being 16.

Easton on the monitor spinning a FS720 and to the left getting advice from another rider and Academy coach Miah Wheeler.

Eastons final trick was a FS10, he didn’t quite get it clean but the TV cameras didn’t seem to mind! Easton ended up finishing the event in 7th place with Rocco Van Straten in 1st, Zak Stone in 2nd and Michael Macho in 3rd.

Bobby Brown takes 1st,Elias Ambuhl in 2nd and Goepper takes 3rd!

This is the 2nd consecutive podium for the Indiana native within the past two weeks. After getting 3rd place at the North Face Open and his performance at the Dew Tour qualifiers, Goepper was invited to compete at Killington as a “wild card”. Goepper proved to be just that and impressed the judges when he went big for his final run of the slope style event; lipslide 270 on the down rail, 540 switch up on the flat down box to cork 630 out on the up box and a left 9 and switch right double 9, to right 12 on the jumps. Goepper is currently ranked 14th overall in the Dew Tour.

Slope Style Results

As the Dew Tour packs up and heads to Utah for its final stop, Goepper will be back on the road as well. Colorado, Utah, New Hampshire, Vermont and even France are on the list of destinations for Goepper this season. Colorado is the next stop where the SIA, Big Air competition will be held in Denver. As he continues to compete in professional events the possibility of attending major competitions like the X Games and Deer Valley World Cup could very well become a reality for Goepper. The 2010/11 season is the year of the “wild card” and we are excited to see what Goepper has in store for the remainder of the season.

So stoked on 2nd and 3rd! Goepper and Elias Ambuhl

From your family here at Windells Academy, congratulations, Nick! You’re doing great and we are so proud of you! Check out Goepper and other highlights of the Dew Tour here!

Goepper bringin' it home

WA: Congratulations on placing 3rd in the Burton Am Open competition! How was it and what kind of tricks landed you a podium position for half pipe?

Nicole: Thanks! I threw in a front 3, cab 3 and switch back 3. It was so rainy but so much fun. I was happy to be there!

WA: While traveling and competing you’ve been killing it on the mountain and in the classroom. How do you manage to juggle training, competing and doing school work while on the road?

Nicole: I try to focus on snowboarding while I’m riding and then only focus on school when I need to. Sometimes it’s difficult when I have competitions but I just try and get done with my classes as fast as I can.

Nicole gets 3rd place and an award handed out by Olympic Gold Medalist, Ross Powers!

WA: What kind of playlist are you working with to get you stoked on the mountain?

Nicole: Fireworks and Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, Rabbit Heart by Florence and The Machine, We R Who We and Cannibal by Ke$ha. Girly music pumps me up, so sweet!

WA: What inspires you to ride, progress and compete in the sport of snowboarding?

Nicole:The kids that I ride with who push me, my coach Miah, and I want to show people what girls can do in snowboarding.

Nicole McNulty

WA: Speaking of girls who can ride, which lady rider do you look up to the most?

Nicole: I would have to say Hana Beaman because she keeps up with the guys and drops the same cliffs as they do and it’s way sick. I really enjoy watching her ride and her style is sick too.

WA: When you manage to get some free time what do you like to do?

Nicole: I like to skate! I can’t wait until the outdoor park at Windells dries up so we can skate it . My friend and I have jam sessions where she plays guitar and I sing, that is way too much fun.  Also, me and the girls at Windells watch Jersey Shore cause we love t-shirt time!

Nicole and Jared Karon at Newberg Skatepark!

WA: So, Nicole what does the future hold for you? What plans do you have for the rest of the season? Any summer plans?

This season I want to do well in the next Revolution Tour and Nationals coming up in April. Im working on 5s in pipe, back 5s in slope and lots of rail tricks for now. This summer I’ll be home in Colorado for a little bit and then hopefully back here at Windells for a month or so. I might get to to go to New Zealand too and that would be way sweet.

Mike Hornbeck. Summer 2010… from Windells on Vimeo.

Be sure to stay up-to-date with the Windells Blog for all sorts of news, contests and camp updates!

Finally, the winner of the “where in the world are your Windells stickers” contest…for being creative and defacing their parent’s dictionary…Nick Gates!

Check out some of the other submissions below!

Dedication.

“Whatcha lookin’ at!”

Merry Christmas!

Thank you to all that participated!  If you want to get a hold of some new Windells Stickers please feel free to email us your name and address and send it to info@windells.com

Windells Academy Teacher: Catherine Coulin

At an early age, Catherine began pursuing a career in education. Almost immediately after graduating high school in Detroit, Catherine worked as a teacher assistant at an elementary school on a Navajo Reservation in Leupp, Arizona. After some time in the desert, Catherine opted to travel to the mountains for snowboarding and work towards a Bachelor’s degree in Colorado. It was here that Catherine met her best friend, future husband and lifelong skate partner, Billy. Together, Billy and Catherine made a move to Hawaii where Catherine found her passion for skateboarding.

Catherine skating at Newberg Skate Park

Hawaii is home to beautiful beaches, beautiful people and even skate parks. “It was in Hawaii that I developed my love for skate boarding” says Catherine. “In between studying and teaching I found myself at local skate parks. I’ve been hooked ever since”. During her 3 year stay in Hawaii, Catherine taught at a local school and graduated from Hawaii University with a degree in English literature and Writing. After graduating, traveling and skating in Hawaii, Catherine moved back to the main land with Billy where they landed themselves positions at the “funnest” and “smartest place on Earth”.

Catherine and Billy in Hawaii

Between the two, Catherine and Billy create a “dream team” for the action sports community, contributing on multiple levels.   As a concrete builder and designer Billy has helped to make Windells “concrete jungle” one of the best skate parks in the country. As an Academy teacher, Catherine pushes student athletes to perform at their best in the classroom and skate parks during Academy skate trips. “Catherine is an awesome teacher. Not only is she awesome but she skates too!” says Michelle Lu, Academy senior. “It’s really neat that we have teachers who skate and ride with us.”

Catherine skating Windells "Concrete Park"