Diamonds in the rough: The girls of Windells Camp

The ever-elusive female shredder; we’re usually outnumbered and sometimes we’re underestimated, but we are always, always stoked. It happens often; a group is huddled at the top of a jump line and when a small high pitched voice chimes in, “Dropping!” the boys immediately crane their necks to find the culprit. She hits the line, nails her spins and the group nods in approval or clanks their ski poles. If you’re looking for a 100% female friendly snowboard or ski camp, Windells is your spot for the summer!

The girls competing to “win a date” with Zak Hale.

Windells has hosted most of the top female snowboard and ski athletes to date. Some were campers and now return to Mt. Hood every summer as coaches or to host their own Team Takeover Sessions. Some are Olympic athletes and choose Windells as their summer training facility. Whatever the reason they come to camp, our professional female athletes are positive role models for young campers ready to dive into the world of action sports.

Windells holds a variety of girls only activities throughout each session. Our skate coaches and friends at Skate Like a Girl round up campers for a girls only skate session to comfortably ease some into their first time shredding concrete. Betty Rides, a long-time camp sponsor, hosts an 80′s ladies night every session and brings in team riders from around the world to hang out with the girls, watch movies, eat candy and do manicures. The Burton Girls team visits and hosts a giant girls only Q&A.

Hannah Teter, Gabi Viteri, Spencer O’Brien, Kelly Clark, Ellery Hollingsworth and Natasza Zurek talk about how Windells Camp has shaped their careers as pro shredders.

A standout moment of 2012 was Hana Beaman‘s 720 over the Baker road gap on the way to Mt. Baker, Washington, naming Hana the first and only female to hit the gap. Hana was a skate coach at Windells and she returns in the summer time to hang out with campers on hill and on campus and compete in the annual Bonfire Pipe to Pipe.

This past week, Elena Hight became the first female to throw a double backside alley-oop rodeo in the pipe. Elena said in an interview with ESPN, “We went to the training center in Park City, worked on doing it into the foam pit. Then in Mammoth I did it into the airbag, and then tried it on snow. Being able to progress the trick that way, I felt way safer and more prepared than if I’d tried to do it for the first time on snow.” Windells Camp has all the amenities to ease into learning new tricks just as Elena did; on hill and on campus BagJumps, Olympic style trampolines, and a 9×9 foam pit.

In March, our ski coaches and friends Ashley Battersby, Keri Herman and Kaya Turski skied the dreamlike feature known as “the Chateaux” at NINE QUEENS 2012 in Fiss, Austria. NINE QUEENS is arguably the biggest and best of its kind, a female specific freeski jib and big air competition, and the Windells staff held it down.

Girls, register for your session at Windells to improve your skill, have the experience of a lifetime, and make lifelong, like-minded friends at the “funnest” place on Earth!

 

 

 

 

Windells at the 30th annual Burton US Open

The Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships turned “29 again” this winter. Superhumans Elena Hight, Jamie Anderson, and former campers Shaun White and Louie Vito topped the podiums while common folk grazed for free stuff at the sponsor tents. Method Man and Redman played a concert for VIP Open goers and, as always, too much fun was had.

[Read more...]

How to: Get your butt to Windells this summer

Now is the time to think about summer camp! Tons of you are asking about scholarships and discounts. Let’s shine some light on the issue here. We do offer the following discounts:

1) “Good Grades” Discount (mostly A’s and B’s or a 3.4 GPA and up!) Fax us a copy of your report card or transcript and we’ll knock $50 off your camp fee just for being smart.

2) “Bring a Friend” Discount In your registration paperwork (under “How’d you hear about camp?”) persuade your friend(s) to put your name down and you’ll get $50 off for every friend that’s new to Windells. Over the years we’ve discovered friends respond well to bribery with candy.

3) USASA Discount Are you a USASA member? That’s neat. We’ll give you $151 off of camp.

Windells Camp is accredited by the American Camping Association. What does this mean for you? There’s money floating around the universe waiting to be scooped up! Search for federal grants. They’re out there.

[Read more...]

Windells Weekend – Game of Skate & Bike

This past weekend Windells staff decided to organize a couple games of Skate and Bike for the kids that come to Open Skate.  We enjoy putting on contests for you to win prizes so what better way then a good old fashion game of S-K-A-T-E.

Hours of Open Skate/Bike are as follows:  Friday 5-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 9-5pm However we are closed when Camp is in Session!

Winners from this weekend!

The Farm Project decided to stop by and say “what’s up” too.

Leading Lady: Nicole McNulty

Nicole McNulty of Windells Academy has been hard at work traveling and competing in Rev Tour, USASA events and most recently the Burton AM where she placed 3rd in half pipe! As one of our top students and upcoming athlete, Nicole has earned herself a role as one of our leading ladies. Nicole sat with us for an interview to talk about competitions, skating, the future, and what songs on her playlist get her stoked to ride.

[Read more...]

Faculty Feature: Catherine Coulon

As the Windells Academy English teacher, Catherine Coulon knows a thing or two about both  literature and skateboarding. In the second part of our “Faculty Feature” we’d like to introduce you to the skateboarder, traveler and educator that is Catherine Coulin and share the experiences that have brought her to Windells Academy.

Windells Academy Teacher: Catherine Coulin

[Read more...]

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOUR WINDELLS STICKERS?

Do you want to win Windells Gear?!  Just send us a picture of where you have put your Windells Stickers!  Laptop, skis/snowboard, cat, it doesn’t matter we just want to see where all the stickers we give you have been placed!  Follow the simple instructions below for a chance to win Windells Gear!

  1. Take a picture of your Windells Stickers on something! (Please be appropriate)
  2. Post the Pictures on our Windells Camp Facebook Page – Simply Click Here to Link Up!
  3. Email the photos to info@windells.com – Please include your address for mailing purposes
  4. The most creative and unique sticker placement will WIN Windells Gear!
  5. YUP, it’s that easy!  Grab your camera and get to posting!

The Winner will be decided a week after this Blog has been posted – Don’t miss out!

Summer Time

Windells Media Team has released 3 new energy packed edits from this past summer, keeping the summer stoke high as another epic Winter is upon us – filling our Private Lane on Hood with record amounts of snow!  Another Sold Out Summer coming up!

Jonah Owen, Summer 2010 from Windells on Vimeo.

Surface + Windells from Windells on Vimeo.

Josh Bishop…Harry Caray? from Windells on Vimeo.

Strictly Business: MapleXO

Entrepreneur, Lindsay Jo Holmes of MapleXO came to Windells Academy to share her story. Her message for the day: do what you love! Lindsay began recycling skateboards five years ago as a hobby. Today, MapleXO is on its way to becoming a well-established business. Lindsay stopped by to tell us about her journey and offered advice for students who were looking to create their own businesses in the future.

[Read more...]

A Day of Skating at Newberg Skatepark!

It’s November 4th in Oregon and the sun is still shining! Windells Academy’s head skateboard coach Jamie Weller took the students to Newberg skatepark for the day. The smiles were never ending, the concrete was plentiful, and the sun would just not quit. All the students were so thankful for Jamie’s encouraging words and helpful tips.

[Read more...]