Nikita

The 4th – 6th March at Hafjell in Norway saw the third annual Nikita Chickita Scandinavia take place.  Fifty-four girls turned up on Friday ready for much goings on throughout the entire weekend.  They checked in and made their way to the apartments where sweets, drinks, fruit and Nikita goodie bags awaited them.

Everyone congregated at the lodge for meet and greets and of course to consume dinner.  The schedule for the weekend was relayed and then everyone got to settle back and watch 9191.  The weather outlook was good so the girls were eager to get a good night’s kip.  The crew on the other hand found a spot they had to try out – a nice session ensued but not enough sleep!

Saturday morning the Lodge filled with breakfast goers before heading to the gondola that took them straight up to the top of Nikita Chickita’s very own park, Backyard, for the weekend.  Situated at the top of the park was a camp area for the girls, with tents, music, drinks and food.  The weather had taken a bit of a turn and strong winds blew all day, not that it deterred the girls from shredding the park with gusto.

A well earned dinner welcomed them, with lasagna on the menu before a couple of hours chill out before getting ready for the Nikita Rail Jam.  Around 25 girls took part with double that cultivating in the crowd that watched.  A flat box and barrel was specially built for the girls to show their skills.  Winner Ingrid Lonar did a big backside 180 tail bonk on the barrel while runner up Kamilla Haugen did a 270 in and out of the rail box.

Then back to the Lodge for fun and games and more chances to win Nikita goodies.  The girls snacked out on fruit, drinks and more sweets while battling it out in a quiz.  Smiles all around.

Sunday dawned, the big contest day.  The crew were up early to move the camp from the top of the park to the bottom.  The sun was smiling and the wind had died down, everything was perfect.  At midday the contest kicked off, leaving enough time for the girls to warm up with some training runs before qualifications began.  The first was the ski category, a new addition to Nikita Chickita Scandinavia this year.  Ten fearless ladies took to the park before twenty girls took part in the snowboard qualis.

The BBQ was fired up for lunch and everyone enjoyed the food. Judges multi-tasked eating with sorting out the finalists.  The finals were spectacular and the girls on fire.  In ski, first placed Ellen Storrusten shredded the rails while third placed Linn Hege Øverstad did a huge gap over the spine.  Kamilla Haugen finished off the podium sandwich.

Snowboard finals followed with Anette Bandidos hucking some 540’s to win, Jessica from Sweden pulling some big methods on the spine to place second and Hanne Kakuo flying into third with some huge backside 360’s.  The girls truly ripped the park and made things difficult for judges.  After a great contest day and finals, everyone gathered in the camp for drinks, a bit of relaxation and waited to hear results announced and rewarded.

A fantastic time was had by all in Hafjell and it was great to hear the girls were super stoked about the weekend.  No wonder…Big thanks must go to Response for their organization, to park guru Roger Hjelmstadstuen at Hafjell Ski Resort, Hafjell apartments sørlia, Franks Rishaug at the Lodge, the entire crew and other sponsors (Electric, Fudge, Costume, Burn, Coca-Cola, and Woman).  And last but not least to all the girls who made the camp a fun event.

Check out a couple of video diaries from the weekend here:
Video at Nikita Chickita Hafjell Day 1 - http://vimeo.com/20880278
Video at Nikita Chickita Hafjell Day 2 - http://vimeo.com/20880363

Plus…
‘Hafjellove’ along with snowboarders Anette Bandidos and Maria Hilde - http://vimeo.com/20736847
A day with best Trick Ski winner Kamilla Haugen
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9WZT7JLwt4&feature=player_embedded

RESULTS
Saturday
Rail Jam
1. Ingrid Lonar.                   
2. Kamilla Haugen
3. Hanne Kauko
4. Aslaug Håvardsrud

Sunday
Ski Contest
1. Ellen Storrusten
2. Kamilla Haugen
3. Linn Hege Øverstad
4. Silje Dørum
5. Marthe Bjerklund
6. Johanne Guldal

Snowboard Senior
1. Anette Bandidos
2. Jessica From
3. Hanne Kauko
4. Ingrid Lonar
5. Erla Lind
6. Maria Hilde
7. Jenny Guldal
8. Aslaug Håvardsrud
9. Mari Eiken
10. Kristine Hindeberg

Snow Junior
1. Karoline Herleiksplass
2. Synne Skjøtskift
3. Elise Herleiksplass

Best trick
Ski - Kamilla Haugen
Snowboard - Anette Bandidos

Congrats must go to Tina Ramholt and Katrien Aerst, winners of the LADIES FIRST CHALLENGE 2010-2011!

Saturday March 26th, Thyon (VS) welcomed the best freeskiers and snowboarders for the final of the first Swiss ski and snowboard freestyle tour, just for the ladies out there. The Belgian Katrien Aerst took the title in freeski and Swiss rider Tina Ramholt in snowboard.

About twenty girls from Switzerland, France and the UK met at Central Park in Thyon (VS) to compete for the 8000 francs prize money. The freeski level was at its highest, seeing an enormous frontflip and backflip on the 18 big table! Belgian Katrien Aest took first place with her clean runs and superb technique on the jumps and jib. French skier Sarah Martinais soon followed with her 360 switches perfectly pinned on the tables. The final podium place went to Silvana Casutt, originating from Falera in the German part of Switzerland, who had great style on the boxes.

Tina Ramholt, snowboard winner threw a huge cab 540 and sb 360 on the jumps.  Domitilla Mattei of Verbier finished second with some lovely runs on the boxes and the rails. The judges noted how good her tail and nose press to switch on the down rail and the 9m box plate was. Third place was attributed to Stéphanie Kauert who secured all her runs with some stylish 360s back on the jumps.

The winners shared the sum of 8000 francs and a host of other top prizes.

So here's the COMPLETE RESULTS:

SKI
1. Katrien Aerts (BEL) - CHF 2500.-
2. Sarah Martinais (F) - CHF 1000.-
3. Silvana Casutt (CH) - CHF 500.-
4. Emilie Cruz (F)
5. Alisson Charmey (CH)
6. Alexia Bonelli (CH)

SNOWBOARD
1. Tina Ramholt (CH) - CHF 2500.-  +  Nixon Elite Class Watch
2. Domitilla Mattei (CH) - CHF 1000.-
3. Stéphanie Kauert (CH) - CHF 500.-
4. Vicci Miller (GB)
5. Anaïs Cettou (CH)
 

This year marks the third anniversary of the great Nikita Chickita Scandinavia.  The popular camp format witnesses a change of scenery and heads to Hafjell in Lillehammer from 4th – 6th March 2011.

Another major change for this year is the addition of ski to the previous snowboard format.  Nikita Chickita continues to gather girls with the same interests on a social level, to create new friendships and good times. It’s for all girls who ride, regardless of ability and instructors will be around to help develop your skills, also offering advice on style and tricks.

Blue-park, called Backyard, is the location exclusively for Nikita Chickita throughout the weekend. It will be shaped to perfection by park guru Roger Hjelmstadstuen.

The ski and snowboard contests are destined to be stress free and a lot of fun, plus it’s completely free to enter. You don’t have to take part in the contest if you don’t want to but why not just enjoy joining in and giving it a try! All the girls will be able to ride the park on Saturday and get to know it a little better beforehand.  Categories for the contest include juniors ski, seniors ski, juniors snowboard and seniors snowboard - amazing prizes await the winners in each category as well as goodie bags for all. The only stipulation of the park is that you have to wear a helmet. Saturday night sees the Nikita Rail Jam take place outside Hafjell Lodge and under the stars.

There will be a Nikita Chill zone on top of the park where you can grab some lunch, relax, prep your board/skies, eat sweets, get some free drinks or participate in other activities.  Girls on the camp will be staying at Hafjell Apartment Sorlia; nice new digs right in the middle of the slopes. Dinner and breakfast is dished out at the Hafjell Lodge located about 300 feet from the apartments.

Details of the camp package: Includes 2 nights at the Hafjell Apartments Sorlia, two day lift pass, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner over the two days. The package price is 1700 NOK. If you have a season card for the slopes or wish to sleep at home you can get a reduced price. If you want to compete at the Norgescup in Varingskollen on Saturday, you can just come to Hafjell and Nikita Chickita after the contest; the price for this package is 850 NOK.

Registration deadline  is 2nd March 2011.  Send an e-mail to Companymail@response.no, with your name, address, phone number, email, age, contact for parents and details of any sponsors. Say if you want to stay in the Hafjell Apartments Sorlia, need food, lift card and who you want to stay with in the apartments. Please also mention if you have any allergies, dietary requirements, health problems etc that you think should be known about.

Schedule
   When What Where
Friday 17.30-19.00 Registration/Check in Alpin Apartments Sørlia
  19.30-21.00 Dinner/ info Hafjell Lodge
  21.00-22.00 Movie time  Hafjell Lodge
Saturday 08.30-09.30 Breakfast Hafjell Lodge
  09.30-12.30 Snowboarding  Backyard
  12.30-13.30 Lunch in the Park. Nikita Chill Area
  13.30-16.00 Snowboarding Backyard
  17.00-19.00 Dinner Hafjell Lodge
  20.00-21.00 Nikita Rail Jam Hafjell Lodge
  21.00-22.30 Quiz Hafjell Lodge
Sunday 08.30-09.30 Breakfast Hafjell Lodge
  10.00 Check out Alpin Apartments Sørlia
  10.00-12.00 Warm up Backyard
  12.00-14.00 Qualifiers Lunch Backyard
  14.00-15.00 Finals Backyard
  15.30 Award ceremony Backyard

Thinking of joining a camp to improve your freestyle skills?  Check these dates and get yourself registered.  18th – 20th March 2011.

A girls only snowboard freestyle camp will be happening at the Snowpark in Scuol on the Motta Naluns.  The idea is to get together, have a laugh and learn some new tricks together on the set up of different kicker lines and boxes.

The crew and coaches are charged and will encourage you to learn some new skills, offering the best training at your own pace and in an atmosphere that will be relaxed.  The camp is open to park beginners and trick chicks alike.  The package includes training with the female coaches including Nikita’s own Elena Könz (2 or 3 days), lift ticket (2 or 3 days), 2 nights in the warehouse, lunch on the mountain Saturday afternoon, a photo session in the park and video analysis in the evening.

There are goodies and giveaways from all the event sponsors, including Nikita of course!  For more details you can check out the blog here -  http://www.voelklchickensalad.blogspot.com/

PRICES: 
CHF 343.- (3 days) meeting place Fr, 10.00 clock at the mountain train
CHF 313.- (2 days) meeting place Fr, 19.00 clock at the lodge

Please note that registration ends:  11th March 2011

Here's the results from the second stage Ladies First Challenge Swiss Tour in Leysin and from the Montreux Jib Festival.  The 15th January saw the event in Leysin with Switzerland, France and GB contestants claiming places on the podium.

About 20 skiers and snowboarders (girls only) met at the resort of the canton of Vaud to compete for their ticket to the final of the LFC of March 26 in Thyon (VS).

Domitilla Mattei (CH), winner in snowboard, impressed the judges with her 360 back melon perfectly performed on the big jump. She was joined on the podium by Brit Laura Berry and Swiss Justine Gremaud. All three secured their ticket to participate in the final of the LFC.  Domitilla received also an invitation to participate in the semi finals of the NESCAFE CHAMPS OPEN (5 Stars TTR) taking place in Leysin from February 8 to 13.

In the ski category, Emilie Cruz (F) claimed first with Marie Chevalley (CH) and Alexia Bonelli (CH) rounding off the podium and all three will also be heading to Thyon (VS) on March 26. Emilie won with her 540 and 720 switches on the jump.

Check out the video from the event in Leysin here, courtesy of Thibaut Schaller - http://vimeo.com/19019026

Next up was the Montreux Jib Festival on 21 January and here's the results:

Snowboard
1. Anais Cettou -> ticket for the Final of the LFC on March 26 in Thyon (VS)
2. Ghislaine Albasini
3. Lucie Gonzales
4. Laura Marro
5. Melanie Merkli
6. Léa Klaue
7. Rachèle Blanc

Ski
1.Emilie Cruz
2.Alexandra Nicole-> ticket for the Final of the LFC on March 26 in Thyon (VS)
3. Alison Charmey
4.Alexia Bonelli
5.Ex aequo Vera Ritter et Marie Fournier
6. Anne Lise Graeaert

°°° Ghislaine Albasini won Best Trick by NIXON °°°

Photos will be up on the website www.ladiesfirstchallenge.ch very soon.

The next qualifying rounds of the Swiss tour will be:
February 26, 2011 : WILDHAUS (SG)
March 12, 2011 : ANZERE (VS)
FINAL - March 26, 2011 : THYON (VS)