Some groups headed straight to the park, while others spent time earth surfing on the groomers, slashing the slushy snow and perfecting their tripods and butters. Regardless of where they were on the mountain, girls were expanding their on snow skill set, and all while having a blast. During the afternoon session, the ladies were free to work on any individual goals that were still on their to do list. There were coaches stationed all over the park and the women hiked their hearts out.

Ladies really took it to the next level in the afternoon. Some of the more intimidating features (the pole jam and barrel bonk) started to get some attention, and fear gradually disappeared. Additional 180′s were added to spins learned just a few hours earlier. Serious air time was being logged in the halfpipe.

The girls were on fire and the energy was absolutely contagious. It’s an energy that is sourced from all those involved with OPS. “Everyone is helping everyone,” explained Keriann Clinton “…coaches, skiers, riders, participants, park staff.  And everyone is so positive.” Oakley athlete Chanelle Sladics explained it from a coaches perspective. “We [the athletes and coaches] are a rad little family that cares a lot about the riders and their experience. The riders seem to care equally about us- so there is a lot of love and appreciation that breeds a very fun and successful weekend for all!”

The weekend’s many achievements were celebrated at the awards ceremony. Team Fun gave out their second annual “Coaches Awards”, but upgraded from paper plates to flower pots this year. Head Coach Mary Walsh spoke with complete and utter sincerity when she said “We [the coaches] wish we could give all of the ladies of OPS an award.” As stories from the past two days were rehashed and laughs were shared, talk quickly moved to next year’s Droppin’ In. The countdown to next year’s Oakley Progression Sessions starts now.

This particular stop of the OPS tour is always a reunion for these girls, many of whom have been participating in Droppin’ In for multiple years now. After all the hellos and hugs had been exchanged, it was time to get geared up for the day ahead. Loon provided their famous Egg McLoon breakfast sandwiches. Chanelle made sure all the women were mentally and physically prepared for the day ahead courtesy of a well rounded yoga session. With a full stomach and a clear mind, these ladies were ready.

After some warm up laps, the girls made their way to the park and were greeted with quite the masterpiece. The Loon Mountain Park staff never disappoints, and 2013 Droppin’ In was definitely no exception. The private Oakley Progression Sessions park left outsiders jealous with its’ seven option jib section, three perfectly built jumps, barrel bonk, and hip. The ladies started seasoning, and the jib section and jumps were the hot spots of the morning. Before it was time to head to lunch both had been conquered and a long list of tricks had gone down at each.

After refueling on the delicious catered lunch, it was time to race back to the hill. The ladies clearly had goals set, and they got to working on them right away. No hiking was necessary in the afternoon, as the girls had a private lift spinning solely for them and their park. Groups were taking turns heading to the pipe to be taught the ways of the stunt ditch by halfpipe masters Gretchen Bleiler, Ellery Hollingsworth, and Maddy Schaffrick. The jib section was going off as ladies were moving their newly mastered tricks from one feature to the next and then advancing to the next skill on their wish list. At the jumps, skiers and snowboarders were stomping first time 180s and 360s.

The sun was out, the music was blaring, and both the progression and good vibes were at an all time high. Determined and hungry, it took more than the chairlift closing for these women to call it a day. It wasn’t until well after the resort’s closing time that the final OPS ladies made their way back to the Droppin’ In home base. with accomplished smiles on their faces, already looking forward to Sunday.

Mais il restait des exploits à réaliser et personne n’a perdu de temps pour attaquer les pistes. Les skieuses OPS et les planchistes avaient hâte d’apprendre et elles ont rapidement oublié leurs courbatures alors qu’elles amorçaient leurs activités. Réchauffement sur les petites boites et sauts afin d’acquérir de nouveaux tricks pour se lancer dans des exploits plus sérieux en après-midi. Les encouragements fusaient de toute part et l’adrénaline coulait à flot. Près des sauts, les filles qui n’avaient pas expérimenté la chose y allaient de spinnings. Près des boites se déroulait une clinique front board alors que de nombreuses filles essayaient pour la première fois des nouveaux tricks ensemble. Le temps de réaliser les objectifs qu’on s’était fixés, l’heure de la pause a sonné. Tout le monde est arrivé au diner plutôt satisfait mais avec un peu de retard.

Si on croyait que ces dames avaient tout donné le matin, on allait être surpris par leurs exploits de l’après-midi. Chacune relevant la barre, une longue marche s’est organisée près d’un des plus importants sauts en contrebas du parc. « Ce week-end, les filles ont démontré qu’elles avaient beaucoup de talent et en groupe, elles ont affronté un saut majeur au parc OPS, d’expliquer l’entraineure-chef Mary Walsh. Même celles qui n’avaient jamais encore déposé leurs planches dans le parc parvenaient à exécuter des grabs et des spins dimanche après-midi. C’était vraiment formidable! » Ce saut était celui qui avait intimidé la plupart des filles la première journée, mais ce dimanche elles l’avaient dominé comme jamais avec des front et des backside 180. Elles accomplissaient des throw down et des 360 parfaits. Près des jibs au sommet du parc, les techniques pratiquées le matin s’attaquaient maintenant aux rails et aux boites de plus grandes dimensions. Le moral était au max et les filles n’ont pas cessé de grimper et de se féliciter jusqu’à la toute dernière minute.

Avec de nouveaux tricks dans leur sac et des amitiés de plus en plus solides, les filles ont finalement clos la journée pour se réunir à l’intérieur pour la remise des prix. La tâche était ardue, mais après délibération les entraineures sont parvenues à choisir les participantes qui s’étaient distinguées et qui symbolisaient vraiment les sessions Oakley Progression Sessions. On s’est serré, on a échangé ses coordonnées et planifié se revoir pour skier ensemble dans un proche avenir. Marie-Pierre Cantin, à qui on a demandé ce qu’elle pensait de l’expérience, sa deuxième, avait ceci à dire : « Les sessions OPS représentent l’environnement par excellence pour apprendre. Je suis tellement à l’aise à ce camp. Aucune pression, personne pour nous juger et chaque participante progresse à son rythme. Les entraineures et les filles sont toujours prêtes à nous encourager. Depuis le début de l’hiver que j’attends ce week-end et maintenant que c’est chose du passé, j’ai déjà hâte de répéter l’expérience! »

Le quatrième et dernier camp des Oakley Progression Sessions aura lieu ce week-end à Loon Mountain, au New Hampshire.

Le froid était au rendez-vous, mais l’ambiance était survoltée et une véritable euphorie s’installait alors que les filles apprenaient à se connaître et discutaient des activités à venir. Laissant leur chalet derrière elles, elles se sont présentées à la gondole pour se diriger vers le sommet de la montagne où les attendaient un sac-cadeau bourré de surprises, un tapis de yoga et un bar à lunettes de ski sur mesure. Après avoir choisi les couleurs et les lentilles de leurs Crowbar d’Oakley personnalisées, l’heure de la détente a sonné et une séance de yoga bien menée par Dominique Vallée a permis aux filles de se réchauffer et de se centrer sur la journée qui s’amorçait.

Les filles ont attaqué les pistes sous les conseils experts des athlètes d’Oakley Marie-France Roy et Dominique Vallée et des entraineures Mary Walsh, Christine Savage, Maude Schneider, Josée Charbonneau et Marina Torreblanca. La séance matinale a débuté par des techniques de base: s’exercer aux ollies, aux switch ridings et aux flat-ground 180. Chacune a progressé sans attendre et après les quelque premiers tours, bon nombre d’entre elles avaient tenté et réussi leurs premiers tripods. Avec les techniques de base maitrisées et la confiance au maximum, elles étaient prêtes à prendre d’assaut le parc.

Après que l’équipe de professionnels du parc du Mont-Tremblant ait mis le paquet pour créer un superbe terrain de jeu, les filles disposaient d’un vaste parc privé pour y affiner leurs habiletés. Il était parsemé de flat boxes, de rails et de sauts de toutes les dimensions. Les filles avaient hâte de les attaquer. S’encourageant mutuellement, elles voyaient fondre leurs craintes à mesure qu’elles les maitrisaient et qu’elles essayaient de nouveaux tricks. Quand l’heure du diner a sonné et qu’elles ont dû faire une pause, elles avaient maitrisé les 180 et peaufiné les boardslides, et les débutantes en saut avaient appris les grabs avant de passer aux spins.

Après le diner, ce fut l’heure d’attaquer les pistes de nouveau. Les activités ont débuté sans attendre et les participantes étaient déterminées à ajouter des tricks à leur répertoire avant la fin de la journée. Les objectifs ont été bien atteints et dès le samedi après-midi, plusieurs premières avaient déjà eu lieu des tout premiers virages inclinés alternes (switch banked slalom turns) aux premiers front boards. Le temps a passé très vite pendant que naissaient nouvelles amitiés et nouveaux tricks. Puis est venu le moment de clore la journée, mais pas avant de s’activer un peu sur le plancher de danse. Dans le style typiquement OPS, la journée s’est achevée par une séance improvisée de la danse du verre de terre avec comme projet de passer au niveau supérieur pour le jour 2.

The OPS women arrived at Tremblant for Day 2 and slowly and quietly began unrolling their yoga mats. The previous day had left them tired and sore, but it was nothing a little yoga couldn’t fix. Oakley athlete Dom Vallee led the ladies in a thorough session, which worked out all the kinks while gently coaxing the girls out of their sleepy state. Dom’s yoga left the ladies feeling rejuvenated, and it was clear that they were ready to get riding. The sun was still hiding behind some clouds, but was set to come out as the day went on, and the temperature was noticeably warmer than the day before. Day 2 was shaping up to be a perfect day to learn some new tricks.

There were many goals yet to be accomplished today, and no time was wasted as the ladies headed out on the slopes and straight to the park. The OPS skiers and snowboarders were anxious to learn, and quickly forgot their tired legs as they began hiking features. The girls warmed up on the smaller boxes and jumps, wanting to dial in new tricks there before taking them to bigger features in the afternoon. Cheers could be heard throughout the park and the stoke level was high. Down at the jumps, women who had never jumped before were spinning. Up at the boxes, there was a front board clinic going on, with many of the ladies trying the trick together for the first time. Time was lost as goals were checked off the list and everyone arrived at lunch a little late, but thoroughly satisfied.

If you thought these women were going at it hard in the morning, you wouldn’t believe what went down in the afternoon. Everyone took it up a notch and a huge hike session formed at one of the larger jumps at the bottom of the park. “The women this weekend were really strong riders and as a group, they stepped to a big jump in the OPS park.” explained Head Coach Mary Walsh. “Even women that hadn’t been in the park before were grabbing and spinning by Sunday afternoon. It was so awesome.” This same jump had seemed rather intimidating to most of the ladies on Day 1, yet now these same girls were sending front and backside 180′s off it. The skier women were throwing down, and riding away from clean 360′s. Up at the jibs at the top of the park, the skills practiced that morning were being stepped up to the larger rails and boxes. Morale was at an all-time high and the ladies hiked and high fived until the very last minute.

With new tricks up their sleeve and new friendships growing stronger, the girls called it a day and came inside for the awards ceremony. It wasn’t an easy task, but after some deliberation the coaches were able to choose a few standout participants who they felt embodied the heart and soul of Oakley Progression Sessions. Hugs and contact info were exchanged, as plans were made to continue riding together in the future. When asked about her experience, second time participant Marie-Pierre Cantin had this to say about Oakley Progression Sessions: “It is the ideal place to learn. I feel great in this camp. There is no pressure, no judgement, and each participant proceeds at their own rhythm. Both coaches and other girls were always there to encourage us. I waited for this weekend all winter and now that this wonderful experience has passed, I am already anxious to repeat it!”

The fourth and final stop of Oakley Progression Sessions will hit Loon Mountain, New Hampshire this weekend.