Etnies Girls Get on board BMX Camp 2007
Basel Switzerland, Pumpwerk Skatepark
Coached by: Stacey Mulligan
Sponosored by: Etnies Girl, We the People, Pro Tec,
Nintendo, Eastpak, Gee Vice
This idea about a BMX girls camp go back well into time. This was one of Karin Bleile ideas. She spoke to me a
while ago about it and more I was seeing her, more she was motivated to realise this dream she had. And there we go,
fiew months back this dream was taking place but more exactly a date and it was during the week of the 23th of July
the camp was going to happen.
The idea was very clear: getting some sponsors, contacting the girls, planning the accomodations, arranging the food, think about the training, and taking care of the girls. Karin knew all ready how she did want things to be done. Let me remind you she is the manager of a skatepark called Pumpwerk based in Basel, Switzerland, Europe and this is where the camp was going to be held. Sweet little place situated near to Basel center and surrounded by fields. I have to mention she is also an awsome Flatland rider, practice Park riding and got skills in Skateboarding, so, imagine the fun with this girl...
The park, perfect for beginners and for expert riders was going to receive a small bunch of girls with differents level but all very motivated to learn and experience this first event. And it is on the Monday the 23rd things started to move. Obviously the number of ladies wasn't that big but after all it was the first edition and it was probably better that way to realise what would be good to do for the following year. The girls had the chance to be coach by Stacey Mulligan, Etnies Girls rider who came especially to the camp to surround the riders and give them the right training to progress the right way. A monday destinated to get to know each other and start to feel the bikes...We learn, ride, learn again, take off the fear of been in a park full of peoples, we learn again and only after one day we realise allready the progress we made. Stacey was motivating the ladies with her smooth and crazy riding, grinding, jumping, ice-picking style and her way to instruct the basic was perfect for the beginners.
Obviously it is good to learn the basic but the most important is to keep on riding your bike beacuse the more
you ride the more you get to know your bike and the better it feel so the better you ride. Getting to understand
the balance, the position to get right for every tricks and the confidence to ride this little bike. Stacey was
just perfect for the job of coach and a big thanks to her for making everyone feel good. Of course after a good
session it was important to eat and let me tell you this is another good point about the camp. The food was
provided morning, lunch time, evening time and also simply during the day. You could always grab something.
The breakfast was amazing with a full selection of cereals, fruits, teas or coffees, breads, yogurts, juices,
jam, honey... yummy. Lunch time was as good as dinner with salads, pastas, barbecues... With this kind of
foods the girls had enough energies to go back to ride and get more fun. The principle of the camp was perfect, good food, good accomodation, good shower in the morning, good outlook
of the sport, simply good times and good fun. During the week the girls managed to visit the Carhartt skatepark
in Germany and keept riding even more.
The practice of manual, drop down the ramp, go up the ramp, bunny hop, etc... was going on all day long and the riding was getting better and better everyday. The week end was even more exciting with more girls showing up. Friday practice of Flatland for fiew hours, explaining the difficulty of the discipline and spending time having fun on the bike and learn to get the balance right one more time. Back to the park for more nice food sitting down outside enjoying the nice weather, have a talk to plan the next day and back for more riding for an evening session. Friday evening was also the night some of the girls decided to go out and enjoy this beautifull city call Basel. It was so enjoyable to discover this small and beautifull town.
After a fantastic day and evening it was about time to have a good rest, and the place was also perfect for that.
Karin and her partner managed to build some bunk bed for the girls in a very quiet room just above the park and
having the shower room downstairs was just luxury. The rest of the week end was all about enjoying the park,
practicing on the fun box, doing some riding games, organising a little contest for the sacke of it, realising the
huge progress accumulated during the week. On Saturday Stacey was leaving to go back to Spain and start her study
the following Monday. It was sad but also a fantastic regarding the fact everyone was showing appreciation and
respect to her, she gave motivation, example and happyness to everybodies. Hopefully Stacey will be back next year.
But before going Stacey was the judge for the little contest between the girls. It was really good to see them
looking so confidente on the bike riding the park. Off course prizes was given to the winners...
actually prizes was given to everyone. The camp was arriving to the end but all was making the most of it.
The last day was mainly all about trail riding and we took a journey to a nice little place in Germany where this time the coach was Julie Quet. Julie came all the way from Toulouse South Of France and travel 9 hours to make it. She is just a such special and dedicated women, she was the perfect person to show the girls how to ride trail. The girls one more time saw another side of the sport and managed to control themself jupping the trails. The night was coming and it was time to go back at the park after another very good outdoor session. Sunday was a very chill day but we could feel the heavy atmosphere for this last day. More riding, more joke, more good times... And there we go, the week was over. The conclusion will be simple: The camp was a fabulous idea and everyone who turn up though the same thing, coming back next year with more skills and full of motivation. After only one week the progression as been tremendous. I would like to mention the importance of this kind of event, things need to go forward. You can ride your bike to ride your bike, but you can also ride your bike and get in this state of mind of an healthly lifestyle. Its really up to you...
Another and not last word to thanks first of all Karin Bleile and Michel Carmona for organising this very special and excellent BMX Girls Camp, the Sponsors Etnies Girls, We The People, Nintendo, Eastpack, Pro-tec, Gee-Vice, all the girls who came along, and everyone supportive to the sport. Hopefully see you all again next year for more actions. Peace and ride on...
-Marie
Special Thanks to All the Sponsors
