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26.01.2012

Elena Konz update and Girls Camp

Nikita rider Elena Konz has been busting a gut working hard building up the fvanillaz playground park in Saanenmoser and she reports that it's almost complete and looking good. 

She's off to compete at the Cat Fight contest in Finland once again with fellow Swiss buddy Andrea Binkerd and Volkl team buddy Birgit Rofner. 

..AND she is taking part in a video contest with the movie she did in the Autumn in Zermatt, go vote for it here. 

Lastly, spots are filling up at the Chicken Salad girls camp in March that she coaches at so if you're keen to take part, you need to get on it!  See the flyer above.
25.01.2012

Maria Falbo and Copson St launch

UK Nikita team rider, skateboarder and new Cooler Magazine model Maria Falbo and her Copson St alter ego have launched a brand new collaboration with Eastpak.  Sale of the bags go to a charity for Aids so not only will you be doing your bit to help others, but the bags are destined to be collector's items, sought after not only for a unique collab but for the cool Copson St link.  Definitely want to be part of their gang.  Find out more here.
25.01.2012

TeamGB and Beanie

Uk skier Beanie Milne-Home was lucky enough to go to Laax at the beginning of January to train with TeamGB in the half pipe.  She's sent over a little blog and photos from her phone to share with us...

"..it didn't stop snowing at the time so it felt a little strange to be packing my park gear for the trip.  We had perfect conditions on the first day and the pipe was well cut, everyone just got back into riding with a mellow but successul day and goals established for the week..and then it snowed and snowed and snowed.  We had one day training before the pipe closed because of the weather. 

Fortunately Laax also has a freestyle centre with ramps, drops and trampolines into foam pits, so we spent each afternoon training indoors.  The Freestyle centre is amazing and so much fun, a great place to try new tricks and learn better air awareness.  TASS also provided a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Physio who looked after and trained us for the week whilst Pat Sharples ran the coaching side of the programme.  So even with only one day in the pipe it was a great week of training!"

Back at her desk in Verbier now, Beanie is marketing and team manager at Faction Skis - we'll be seeing her at ISPO and the bar will be open!
25.01.2012

Flying High

Throwing yourself from a great height and free-falling is not for the faint hearted.  These are the first photos of new Swiss Nikita team flyer Melanie 'Mel' Goldoni - a pro base jumper.  She got 2nd place at the Pro Base World Cup and is an addict of adrenaline, also taking to skydiving and snowboarding. 

"...when I was little my parents always had to search overhead when they were looking for me."

She recalls hiking trips to the mountains with her dad and having a fascination for the flowers and animals she was shown, how fast they could fly, going where they liked and how fast they climbed no matter the terrain or obstacles in the way.  She developed a no fear attitude and IT skills which is still an area she consults in, in addition to her passion. 

She made her first B.A.S.E. jump in 2009.  "In order to get to that point, I had to develop my mind and my skills first.  So I started with skydiving in 2007 until my mentors took me to my first exit, a bridge.  I remember that a bird was flying by, I could see the horizon, the grass on the ground..time stood still..."

Now she launches herself off buildings, antennas, spans and earth with her parachute.  She gets to travel, meet new faces and share some pretty intense experiences. 

"I found my freedom.  Standing on the edge, I feel home."  Check out this recent clip here. 
25.01.2012

Daisy B Alps Tour

The talented Daisy Borthwick is an English singer and songwriter, snowboarder and slayer.  She's currently playing some live gigs in and around Chamonix and Meribel at the likes of Jacks Bar, The Den, The Kitsch Inn, Le Doran, Scotts, The Rond Point, La Taverne and the Evolution Bar in Meribel and La Terrasse and Le Jeykll in Chamonix.  If you're enjoying the epic snow conditions out there, then go a check her out - she'd very friendly! 

You can find out more about Daisy, her gigs, photos, music and more at her Facebook page here.
25.01.2012

Freeride.cz Just Ride 2012 Tour

As you may have picked up, Nikita will be launching Nikita Snowboards for next winter - its exciting stuff and in the Czech Republic the girls have just returned from their first stop of a demo tour.  They showcased the new boards and of course there's a buzz and lots of thumbs up from some very happy girls.  Check out the photos.  There's still 4 stops around the resorts left on the Freeeide.cz Just Ride 2012 tour so if you want to try them out, seek and you shall find!
23.01.2012

Gabby reflects on Iceland

Miss Gabby wanted to share some of her experiences of being in Iceland for NY and it doesn't disappoint...

"Hey guys!  Here are some photos of my living in Iceland...New Year's Eve was AMAZING!  The best firework show I've ever seen and the fact that we could all group up and shoot them together next to the big church in the centre of town was incredible..we had a wonderful turkey dinner filled with friends and love as we counted down the clock for midnight and raised our glasses of champagne...

We also went to a concert by Rich Auccoin at one of the main venues here called NASA..I had already seen him perform earlier in the year at Airwaves, so I knew that it was gonna be an amazing show!  There was a giant parachute for all to jump underneath and dance, scream and sing...then suddenly, Rich exploded tons of confetti on top of the crowd and everyone just went wild!  I also got to be on the jumbo screen at the beginning of the show and Rich handed me the mic to sing a little bit of his song as he jumped back on stage.  It was sick!!

The most amazing New Year I've ever had and I was able to celebrate it in a place that is as magical as ever...with a group of friends that I care and love for.  I wouldn't change that night for anything!!"
23.01.2012

LFC - Thyon 14.01.2012 Results

The first qualifier of the Ladies First Challenge, the girl's Swiss freestyle tour, was a 3*TTR World Snowboard Tour event and bronze Swisscom Freeski Tour event for the first time.  It took place on 14th of this month in Thyon.

The sun shone and none more so than for Swiss contender Tina Ramholt who dominated snowboard and France's Emilie Cruz in ski.  Tina made a perfect run to win the CHF 900.- top prize purse, with second place being won by Anais Cettou receiving CHF 400.- and Justine Gremaud securing third place and CHF 200.- . 

Ski saw some impressive moves too with Emilie Cruz winning CHF 250.-  and Swiss girl Lea Kiser runner up pocketing CHF 150.-
 
Here's the complete results and confirmations of girls going to the Final in Leysin:

Snowboard
1. Tina Ramholt (CH) 72.5 pts = CHF 900.- (FINAL)
2. Anais Cettou (CH) 63.5 pts = CHF 400.- (FINAL)
3. Justine Gremaud (CH) 60.6 pts = CHF 200.- (FINAL)
4. Andrea Binkert (CH) 60.2 pts (FINAL)
5. Laura Berry (GB) 58.9 pts (FINAL)
6. Domitilla Mattei (CH) 53.9 pts
7. Lea Laveau (CH) 47 pts
8. Alicia Bonnaud (F) 46.1 pts

Ski
1. Emilie Cruz 61.8 pts (F) = CHF 250.- (FINAL)
2. Lea Kiser (CH) 30.8 pts = CHF 150.- (FINAL)

Check out the video from Thyon last week and some photos via the event's website www.ladiesfirstchallenge.ch - if you want to register you can do so through the website.  The next event will be taking place in WILDHAUS (SG) on 18th February 2012.  Don't miss it! 

For more info about the event you can contact Nikita rider Maude Richon at info@ladiesfirstchallenge.ch

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