What an amazing night it turned out to be. Girls were waiting when the doors of House of Vans opened and continued rolling in until almost the very end. The mission of the night, to inspire the NYC girls to get rolling and active! From the youngest girls to some of the best riders, like Cami Best (pictured above).

The growth we have seen from the Ladies Night House of Vans held last year, to the HOV X GRO Event this year was amazing. With over 100 girls skating together, helping each other, taking photos of each other riding, it was really a great showing of what is to come this year in New York. This number will only grow as this year progresses.

To House of Vans, it’s an obvious need. They see their opportunity to help provide a place to skate to the riders in NYC and they see that segment of girls out here too. What they provided that night was a safe and comfortable place for girls to come together to skate. There was no one thing going on, there was something going on everywhere.

One corner, girls learning to ride from step one. Up at the bowl, time shared between drop in runs and learning sessions from the bottom of the bowl. Big hip, constant photos. By the tent, pizza session. That’s just one moment’s glimpse.

There was a game of skate too for a bit of contest too, but the focus at this event and future events, is skating for everyone. Age, ability, lives off the board, showed such a stagering variation across all the participants. However, for those four hours, we could not have been closer.

The next event is already in the works for the end of April.
Stay tuned and get ready!

Thank you House of Van, Vans, NY Skateboarding, Wrap It, all the girls that helped teach and everyone who skated!

From Concrete Wave 2013 Buyers Guide.

Dusters came together to create a board that paid tribute to one of the women that lead the way for all the girl skaters today, Cindy Whitehead. Take it even further, the board is a tribute to girls! For Cindy and Dusters, that still wasn’t enough. The boards will help benefit two amazing organizations, Girls Riders Organization and Longboarding for Peace. Top all that off with the fact it is a great board with lots of style! Board Available This June!!!

A Community of GIRLS!

“It Just Gets BETTER!” is what many were saying about the Third Annual GRO Snow Ladies Day Feb 3 2013 at Stevens Pass Resort.

Each year the number of ladies has doubled and the energy was amazingly high as ladies from 5-70 came together for one wildly fun day on the mountain. Board and skis, old and young, all abilities shared a common thread….. LOVE for the mountain and community as girls!!!! This year gathered more mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmas and friends together than ever before.

Early morning brought together 264 pre-registered ladies and many more that joined in on the mountain. We quickly checked everyone in and enjoyed KIND bars and a spread of Coconut water and Honest Tea. Burton offered demo boards and Spider Ski & Sport did ski demo’s making way for ladies to try out the latest equipment and learn of some of the options we have in lady specific gear.

This year we had a group of brand new boarders who teamed up with a GRO crew member to learn and to share in a lot of laughs. We had ability level groupings offing another opportunity for ladies of all ages to meet new friends and to explore a beautiful resort runs together.

I don’t think I could have done this or had so much fun without the support of other ladies”. -First time rider, Marilyn Conyers

The high energy at noon continued with raffles and PB&J bar sponsored by EVO and Vitamin Water. The industry sponsors generosity made for a fun filled hour with many winning amazing gear! There were lots of laughs, pictures and ladies hitting the slopes with new and old friends, lots of encouragement and high spirits as groups headed outfor fun and few great lines for the film crew.

Olivia Kesterson, Wenatchee WA.

The end of the day pulled the still super charged group together for another raffle session with day awards from Zummiez for “most seasoned shredder” , “most improved” , Ms. Miyagi (best teacher),and the hard to choose “most stoked” . We ended with the last of three boards that were raffled going out to one of the younger shredder’s who held the magic ticket….. Mia was there riding with her mom and went home the happiest little rider too.

The vision of GRO Snow is to inspire, educate and support girls in snow action sports. We think the empowerment that comes from female peers is beyond what any of us could ask for or dream of.

It’s not about being the best on the mountain ….it’s about being on the mountain, learning and growing together, skiers and boarders, all ages, all abilities.” – Pam Miller, GRO Snow Director

We believe this is just the beginning of something amazingly GREAT!

Thank you to all the ladies that came out for a super fun filled day. Thank you to our sponsors: Stevens Pass Resort, Coca-Cola (Honest Tea, Zico Coconut Water, Vitamin Water), BC Surf and Sport, Revolution, SnoCon, Vans, Roxy, Gnu, Lib, Bandwagon, Spider Ski and Sport, Burton, Skullcandy, Stance, Spacecraft, KIND, Super Cedar Firestarters, Nikita, Bonfire, as well as having Shred Betties online magazine with us for the day.

It is official. GRO is calling the ladies to take over House of Vans! That’s right, ladies only! Boards of all sizes and girls of all ages you won’t want to miss this opportunity for a girls only session at the one and only House of Vans!

Who – All girls, all ages, all abilities.
What – All girl skate session.
When – Friday March 15th, 7-11pm
Where – House of Vans, 25 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, New York
Why – Because we love our skateboard or longboard or want to learn.

*** Everyone MUST SIGN A WAIVER. If you are 18+ bring your ID and if you are under 18 you will need to have a parent or guardian come to sign for you. Also, House of Vans asks that everyone under 18 wear pads and a helmet to skate. Those over 18, a helmet. There are some there if you don’t have your own.

AGA Nation’s 5th annual Skateboard/BMX Championships will take place June 22nd! Part of the State Games of Michigan’s annual festival, this event will host both learn to ride workshops and contests for female riders. Skateboarding and BMX on Saturday, all the ladies of longboard are encouraged to come out too! So save the date and look for more information coming soon!

Saturday, June 22, 2013
Skateboard and BMX contest and workshops at State Games – Grand Haven, MI

Sunday, June 23, 2013
Wakeboard event at cable wake park- Allendale, MI

AGA Nation is the grass roots connection to the action sports world. Since 2007, AGA Nation has focused on promoting the next generation of extreme sports athletes through successful competitions, community and online programs.

Learn more about the event at aganation.com

We need to get an idea of how many girls are interested in riding this event. If you are please email info@girlsriders.org with your name and what you are skate, wake, or BMX. Let’s fill the heats, if you know someone who might be interested, please share this with them.

Two magazines recently sent over an email looking for great photos of girls who either skate or longboard. We are not looking for the model shots, we are looking for the amazing photos of the amazing talent of girls on a board and four wheels.

You will need to have a high resolution copy and not have posted it somewhere else. It is not the time to dust off your old files, it is time to go shoot some pictures. Calling all ladies!

Email your photos to info@girlsriders.org
Make sure to include your name, age, trick & photographer’s name in your email.
We will send the top photos on to the magazines!
Happy skating!

Be A Part Of The Event February 3rd At Steven’s Pass

GRO Snow Ladies Day is coming back to Stevens Pass in Skykomish, Washington. Participants over the past two Ladies Day describe it as the most fun you’ve had with a ton of ladies EVER.

It’s not a contest but a gathering…. a chance for ladies of all ages, both skis and boards, all abilities to come together for a day of FUN. Bring the ladies to the mountain and the industry to the ladies. It’s not about being the best on the mountain IT’S ABOUT BEING THERE, making new friends and having the time of your life.

- Burton Gear Demo
- EVO PB&J Bar at Noon plus other food & drinks
- GRO Snow Raffle including Roxy and Gnu boards
- Learn to ride if you are just starting off
- Goodie bags for the first 200 ladies!!

Click Here To Register
(You have to sign up for the $40 lift at pre register.)

Skater:Laura Fong Yee Photo:Luke McKaye Photography

Last week I ventured to Florida and gathered the girls to go make an alternate type of girls presence at Surf Expo in Orlando. Now these trade shows are covered with girls. models in Bikinis and less, representing brands in this male donminated world. The girls with GRO, they bring a different kind of excitement…they skate.

Skater:Noelia Velez Photo:Luke McKaye Photography

The show was wonderful. Yet again, the interest in girls, their products and supporting them is out there. From shops to manufacturers, cities to countries, water to mountains, their are great people and companies who want to help gro girls action sports. So, yes, do that video, send that email, let them know where you are!

Thank you to Surf Expo, all the volunteers and everyone who visited GRO! Till next time.

PS. Leticia’s Osiris Shoe was there. It is coming this fall.

January 18 & 19, 2013

Yes, the largest female skateboard contest in the world is almost here. More girls compete in this than any other female skateboard contest, of any type. Guaranteed the Combi Pool at the Block of Orange is packed with ladies everyday this week dialing in their lines. There is good reason with Vans putting up a $12,000 Purse.

With the difficulty in classifying riders into am and pro, this event will have three divisions grouping the girls by age more than status.
Division one (14 and under) represents the young, upcoming riders.

Division two (15-27) represents the high energy, pro performance that have grown to define the scene over the past few years, amazing.

Division three (28+) is a representation of all of the women who have been pioneering and inspiring for years. Division three is representative of the masters division for the guys events and much needed to highlight these women. The ages are not a definitive placement, but hopefully allow the girls to shine the brightest.

Then bring it all together with one more prize crossing the divisions with $1,000 for the overall best run of the day.

Can’t Wait!

Last year Girls Riders Organization’s Ladies Day at Steven’s Pass in Washington was inspiring with Hundreds of ladies riding the mountain together and this year will be even better. Bring a pack of girls with you to share in this day of girls taking over the mountain! Save the Date! February 3rd 2013! More info coming soon.