The Snowboarder's Journal - The Snowboarder's Journal 21.2
BRIDGING THE GAP WITH PARK AFFAIR
Words: Bekah Ashley 2023-10-24 09:44:07
(Left to right) Maddie Baugh, Sofia Chavez, Taylor Van Nosdall, Christina Thai, Leigh LaBrake and Bekah Ashley at Park Affair’s A Grand in Your Hand at McIntyre Ski Area, NH. Photo: MacKenzie Hennessey
It’s 7 a.m. and over 50 riders from across the Northeast are up early at New Hampshire’s McIntyre Ski Area. They’re here for Park Affair’s first event of the 2023 season, an early January comp called “A Grand in Your Hand.” Park Affair Directors Hailey Ronconi and Mercedes Ortega extend a warm welcome as folks trickle into the small lodge at McIntyre, providing an overview of what to expect for the day: three 45-minute jam sessions, with categories to accommodate a range of riders—Groms, Just for Fun and Open. The Groms division is for riders under 15 and the Just for Fun category welcomes everyone who wants to participate. The “Open” is only for riders identifying as women and those using pronouns such as her, she, they or them. Prizes are up for grabs in every category, and the Open also includes a cash purse with $1,000 on the line.
“A Grand in Your Hand came about because we recognized a gap—there was no substantial prize purse for women’s snowboarding events in New England,” Hailey says. “We wanted to create a platform for riders to showcase their skills while getting the recognition they deserve.”
Led by women, for women, Park Affair began as a snowboard camp in 2012 and over the past decade it’s evolved into a range of different programs. They host clinics, donation drives, mentorship and networking spaces, adventures like the Park Affair Trifecta—bringing women together for a day of snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding in the New York Tri-State area—and as of this past season, comps. The organization aims to create a collective sense of belonging for riders of all backgrounds, identities and skill sets, and acts as an incubator to push peoples’ limits on and off the snow.
“We’re exploring areas that haven’t received as much attention in the past,” Mercedes says. “For example, consider women judges in snowboarding—there are only a few. Similarly, in photography and videography, there’s a limited presence of women. We’re working on plans for programs that provide skills-building and mentorship to help bridge the gap and see more representation in the industry.”
As the riding begins, a blend of newcomers and Park Affair veterans drop in. “Don’t forget to show up for each other and yourself,” Mercedes says. Collective excitement builds alongside the music blaring over the PA, curated by long-time Park Affair volunteers Jamie Trayer and Amanda Dibbs on the mic. They’ve been instrumental in Park Affair’s growth since its inception and are certainly fitting hosts for the event.
A Grand in Your Hand embodies the same formula that runs through all of Park Affair’s programs: the atmosphere is fun, welcoming and supportive. Riders can show up, be themselves and quickly feel a sense of belonging. The riding is a bit of a free-for-all, despite an otherwise relaxed and fun atmosphere. That’s in large part because of the community that surrounds Park Affair. Everyone’s just here to have fun and step out of their comfort zones. Families and friends gather near the setup, holding signs that read “community over competition,” and “the voice in your head that says you can’t is lying.”
“The backbone of Park Affair is our community,” Mercedes says. “We’re here to have a good time while pushing our limits. There’s no bullshit—it’s just snowboarding.”
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