Changemakers

Words: Mary T. Walsh

Last winter, I stood at the entrance to Trash Chutes at Whitewater Resort in British Columbia as Ellie Weiler, Katie Kennedy, and Šárka Pančochová analyzed terrain and talked through potential lines with Marie-France Roy. It was the final shoot day of Research and Development, the women’s backcountry freestyle event created by Robin Van Gyn, and I was tagging along with this crew, watching as MFR shared her extensive knowledge of filming in the mountains with Ellie, Katie, and Šárka. Later that morning, Šárka would get a clip that would help her to win the contest, Marie acting as her pit crew throughout the process. Our crew was one of five, and each group was having their own experience similar to ours, dropping cliffs, riding pillows, and expediting their understanding and proficiency thanks to their legendary mentors. 

Watching the riders of RnD collaborate in Trash Chutes was watching the progression of snowboarding in real time. Women were teeing up tricks for the first time into powder, equipped with new insight from experienced peers. The vibes were high. Knowledge was being shared. The bar was being raised and everyone was in on it together. 

Research and Development has affected snowboarding in big ways in just the two years since it began as opportunity, visibility, and level of riding all rise in tandem. Robin and crew’s success is a testament to taking the leap toward something you believe in, because often you’ll find that other people want to be a part of it, too – a snowball effect created by mission-driven passion and determination. (The Uninvited is a great example of this, too.) 

Of course, RnD isn’t alone. Like-minded, purpose-driven individuals and groups are steering snowboarding in exciting directions right now through events and initiatives, from the pro-level to grassroots. As the season gets underway, here are a few to make sure to check out and follow (this list is abridged, of course). The connecting thread that all of these share is a dedication to sharing snowboarding and getting more people involved, whether through mitigating cost, increasing access, providing education, building agency, making connections, and/or a mix of all of the above. 

Read on to learn more, follow along, and get involved.

Shaping Our Future

Sugarbush, Vermont 

In March of last winter, the efforts of Phillip James and Ashley Rosemeyer culminated in the first Shaping Our Future, a hands-on park building, intro-to-the-industry event at Sugarbush in Vermont. The goal was simple: Expose young people to different ways to be a part of snowboarding in addition to the riding itself, and specifically the world of resort operations. Phillip and Ashley partnered with non-profit organizations Hoods 2 Woods and SHRED Foundation, who brought twelve teenagers to Northern Vermont for three days of immersion in the world of terrain parks. From raking to welding, the kids learned it all and then got to enjoy their hard work during a community ride day. No big deal, Zeb Powell, Lex Hernandez-Roland, and Laura Rogoski were among the riders who stopped by to pitch in and take some laps. Shaping Our Future returns this season with an extra day, a media how-to element, and more. Not only do the awareness, career pathways, and mentorship created by SOF enrich the industry, snagging a job at a mountain is a great way to get involved in a central part of the industry while decreasing the cost of access, thanks to employee benefits.

Follow: @_shapingourfuture_ 

Core Nation 

Big Bear, California | Trollhaugen, Wisconsin | Ruby Hill, Colorado | Timberline, Oregon | Gunstock, New Hampshire | and more

At the intersection of accessibility, participation, and giving back, Erik Leon’s CORE Nation events are leading the charge. Since 2020, Erik has been holding rail jams throughout the US that are open to all ages and all abilities as part of his Community Outreach Riding Equipment (CORE) initiative. CORE’s overall mission is “to preserve snowboarding through increased participation and environmental awareness,” and Erik’s work also includes collaborating with his sponsors to create more sustainably made signature gear at affordable price points. Erik’s approach is handson, whether developing gear or hosting the rail jams. With the events entering their sixth year, the positive effects are visible. Last winter, CORE Nation made six stops from New Hampshire to Oregon, each one raising money for a local non-profit that contributes to the community through snowboarding or skateboarding. It’s snowboarding as a vehicle for good in a very full-circle way. 

Follow: @core_snowboarding and @erikleon_ 

Technically Doing It

Friendship, Visibility, Community Events, and more 

In 2023, Luis Madearis decided to start a crew for Black and Brown pro snowboarders from all over the world, riders who were friends but whose paths didn’t cross often enough during busy winters. Luis, aka @cuban_lu, had fallen in love with snowboarding and filming just a few years prior, and like anything he dedicates himself to, he threw himself in full force. The result is Technically Doing It, a community catalyst that brings people together through increasing both representation and participation. The friendship of the group’s nucleus is the foundation for the wide swath of work that TDI does – and the friends are heavy, including Rob Roethler, Zeb Powell, David Djité, Egan Wint, Irie Jefferson, Adrian Mitchell, and more. In addition to a two-year video project they’re currently working on (as well as plenty of edits and a big social media presence), TDI holds events, ride days, and workshops throughout the year all over the world (6290 Show-Up at Penken Park, TDI London Pop Out, The Mash Up at LAAX, and community ride days and media workshops at Big Snow in New Jersey), which is no small task and further indicative of the momentum Luis and crew continue to build – and how much snowboarding has needed it. 

Follow: @technicallydoingit 

Inclusive Ski Touring 

New England 

Don’t get thrown off by the name, this Maine-based non-profit is for the boarders, too. Inclusive Ski Touring was founded in 2021 by Zach McCarthy to provide free-to-low-cost uphill group programs for people of all backgrounds to try splitboarding and ski touring. IST runs a plethora of programs throughout the winter, which help to break down barriers to get into touring and provide education and support to learn and grow. While self-powered backcountry exploration continues to increase in popularity all over the world, the East Coast is a growing hub for those who enjoy the type-two fun of walking uphill. Before Inclusive Ski Touring started its programs, New England was underserved in opportunities to learn to split and the response to the nonprofit’s work has been huge. Since the first season of operation, IST has helped more than 3,000 individuals to enjoy touring through both on-resort and backcountry programs, as well as specific touring days for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks. 

Follow: @inclusiveskitouring 

For more: Inclusiveskitouring.org 

Time For Service, We’re All Mental & Somebody’s Thinking About You 

Three organizations increasing mental health support and resources 

One of the most holistically rad things happening in snowboarding over the past few seasons is the increasing open discussion about mental health and well-being. One of the beautiful things about snowboarding is how much happiness it can bring us and how much fun it is to spend winter in the mountains with our friends. It is a great vehicle for connection, and by harnessing that while acknowledging the challenges that we face as individuals and reinforcing resources that are available for support and help, avenues are provided that can better people’s lives in enormous ways both on and off their board. Three entities that are at the forefront of this are Somebody’s Thinking About You (STAY, a non-profit founded by Desiree Melancon), Time for Service (Kas Lemmen’s organization created in memory of his father), and We’re All Mental (a non-profit founded by Laura Rogoski). Each one is unique and runs a variety of programming, including We’re All Mental’s We Dig park building clinics and peer-driven meet-ups, STAY’s workshops with licensed therapists as well as art and journaling sessions, and Time for Service’s ride days and snowboard camps (this is a hugely abridged list, so check out each org to learn more and get involved). While all of these groups approach the topic of mental health in their own way, working to increase resources available to everyone, they are connected by the important message that we don’t have to face hard things by ourselves, something that we can carry with us into the mountains and in our everyday lives. 

Follow: @somebodysthinkingaboutyou, @_were_all_mental, @timeforservice.eu 

For more: Somebodysthinkingaboutyou.org, Wereallmental.org, Timeforservice.eu 

Our Snowpark Society, Conceptions Snotech & Ruby Hill Rail Yard 

Entities working to create and maintain public city snow parks 

Throughout North America, there are a handful of city-sanctioned hike parks that provide accessible snowboarding with no cost to ride. And while new urban parks are percolating throughout the US and Canada, it’s a relatively slow burn (outside of Quebec, where Conceptions Snotech is leading the charge, operating more than a dozen parks all over the province), fueled by passionate locals who advocate for these spots and work with cities to maintain them. A few to check out: Payson Terrain Park in Portland, Maine has been open every winter since 2007. Ruby Hill in Denver, Colorado has been an annual stop of the Burton Mystery Series and Erik Leon’s CORE Nation (as well as a bunch of other events) and hosts a free learn-to-ride day every spring in collaboration with Winter Park Resort. In Canada, Calgary-based non-profit Our Snowpark Society just gained approval for the city’s first-ever hike park. The opening is still TBA but the crew behind this one has lots of momentum to bring accessible city snowboarding to Alberta. 

Follow: @rubyhillrailyard, @conceptions_snotech, @our_snowparks 

Take The Rake 

Trollhaugen, Wisconsin 

Five years ago, eleven women park builders arrived in Osceola, Wisconsin to take part in the inaugural Take the Rake. Marsha Hovey, Trollhaugen marketing director, created the event, working with Laura Rogoski, Chloe Butel, Jess Goucher to bring it to fruition in 2021. The goal was simple: build the first-ever park built by women for all humans to enjoy and inspire more women to work in resort operations and management. That first year, the women did just that and by year two, TTR had grown to include more builders, more cat operators, and a welding clinic. In the years since, TTR has grown to include women from resort ops crews all over the world. One of Marsha’s biggest hopes for the event is slowly taking shape as Take the Rake alumni have launched their own events throughout North America. In 2023, Abby “Gail” Lewis and Arena Snowparks held the first Build Up at Sunshine Village, Alberta, a women’s learn-to-dig event. In 2025, Arena expanded The Build Up to include clinics for all genders throughout Western Canada. Laura Rogoski hosts multiple We Dig events throughout the winter through We’re All Mental. And in addition to TTR, Allison Marriner runs She Grooms, a women’s event for cat operation, every spring at Mt. Hood, Oregon. (Big shouts to Ski Area Management Magazine for their work with operations crews at their annual Cutter’s Camp, too.) 

Follow: @thebuild__up, @_shegrooms_ 

Research and Development 

Whitewater Resort, British Columbia

 Robin Van Gyn takes big swings. From award-winning video parts to Natural Selection podiums, mission-driven movie projects to backcountry guiding and mentorship, she has an all-gas approach to bringing big ideas to fruition, whether in her own riding or through shining a spotlight on others. As one of the foremost backcountry riders in the world, she’s intimately familiar with what it takes to grow one’s fluency in the mountains – and the challenges that a rider can face when trying to do so. So, when Robin created Research and Development, a women’s backcountry freestyle event that launched two seasons ago at Whitewater, excitement was off the charts. And it’s no surprise that in only two short seasons, RnD has created a platform for more women to jump off of, mostly figuratively, but also a little literally, given Whitewater’s prolific terrain (see Eva Van Vugt during the 2025 event for one example). In addition to a chance to compete in Natural Selection, a stack of photos and video clips, and a wide audience paying attention, the riders of RnD gain a heap of experience through mentorship from legendary riders like Hana Beaman, Leanne Pelosi, Kimmy Fasani, Marie-France Roy, and Jess Kimura. The effects are already visible and it’s just the beginning. 

Follow: @rndsearch

DAKSCom

United Kingdom 

In 2023, Darren “Swifty” Swift and Dale Rennard founded DAKSCom, which stands for Double Above the Knee Snowboarders Community. The pair – Swifty, a double above the knee amputee, and Dale, an able-bodied graphic and product designer – have been working together for over two decades to address challenges faced by DAK snowboarders and make it possible for more folks to ride. Now, as an official non-profit organization based in the UK, Swifty and Dale are creating opportunities for DAK amputees through the development of custom equipment; a growing community of DAK individuals, families, and friends and regular on-hill meet-ups; coaching techniques to facilitate the snowboarding progression of DAK amputees; and more opportunities, resources and support as they thoughtfully expand their efforts. When they started, Swifty was the only DAK snowboarder and now there are half a dozen; DAKSCom’s goal is to double these numbers in the next one to two seasons. This winter marks a big moment, as DAKSCom amplifies their message globally to reach more people and help them get on boards. Finding belonging in the mountains can be truly life-changing, and through the holistic approach of DAKSCom, Swifty and Dale are making an impact that only has room to grow. Follow: @daks_com For more: Dakscom.org.uk 

More Non-Profit Organizations To Follow: