3rd Annual Chicas Only – Isabel La Catolica – MGT Camp

Words/Photos: Sabrina Paoloni

While some girls lather up with tanning oil enjoying the last breeze of summer, Argentinian girls, together with Europeans and Canadian snowbunnies, strap into their jib sticks to butter the heck out of every feature at the biggest All Femme event at the Terrain Park in Cerro Catedral Alta Patagonia in Bariloche, Argentina.

On the sunniest day of the season, DJ Flor cranked up the beats and almost 80 girls showed up for the 3rd edition of Chicas Only. It was one of the most fun and pink days this mountain has ever witnessed.

But what is Chicas Only?? For one day, the Park is just for the ladies, and they get the chance to get freestyle coaching by both local and international Pros. After the coaching is done, we gather up at a feature for a Best Trick friendly comp, and to close it up, the coaches decide on who gets Best Style, Break Through Performance, and Park Queen.

This year we were happy to join forces with the MGT girls, Robin Van Gyn and Natalie Gough, and the SASS girls Michelle Parker and Kalyn Benaroya. They handled specific coaching on jumps and endless spins on boxes. The local crew, coaches Cecilia Closs and Chani Micheaux focused on the basics like sliding boardslide or 5050 on the funbox. Throughout the day, they sessioned each feature so that all the girls got to learn a new trick and make new jibbing friends.

After hitting it up all afternoon, the girls chilled at the Isabel la Catolica lounge area (yeap, we had warm pillows to keep our hienies from freezing while waiting our turns) and then we wrapped it up with a typical Argentinian style BBQ.

The crowning took place at the SASS-MGT house where Male Urrea was named Park Queen, Break Through went to Kylee Westone, Best Style for Suray Fernandez and Best Trick went to Elin Torrent. Skiers also were crowned, Vicky Goland took home Break Through, Veronica Torlaski won Best Style and Best Trick went to Sofi O Reilly.

We also had a special prize for Lynn Neil since she stomped not once, but twice a truly smooth Micheal Jackson.

They all got prizes from Rip Curl, Isabel la Catolica, MGT Snowboard Camp and Rappa Nui Chocolates.

This edition of Chicas Only was in honor of Flor Montoya, the very first coach of Chicas who is no longer with us. Although she'll always be part of this very special day in spirit.

We would like to thank the sponsors who made this amazing day possible, Isabel la Catolica, Catedral Alta Patagonia, Personal, Rip Curl Girls, the Terrain Park Crew, Josh Lempert (our imported cat driver), Mery Serrao, Flor Ibarra and DJ Khombu, Robin and the MGT girls for being so cool, and last but not least, my associate, Tincho Palomeque, the guy that stood up for us girls!!

Hope too see you all next winter down here in Argentina, thank you girls for making this Chicas Only such an awesome day!!!!