Grace’s Getaway: A Mid-Season Reset at Pine Knob, Michigan

Words: Mary T. Walsh

Winter goes by fast, now more than ever. In recent years, the season in North America
has generally started a little later and ended a little earlier, storms and cold
temperatures condensed into a shorter window of time. And in that window, there is so
much to do: Contests, events, film trips, and sponsor obligations are packed one after
another as riders try to squeeze all they can out of the season

Of course, it’s not a bad thing to have a lot going on. In the past few winters, there has
been a resurgence of rail contests: Heavy Metal, The Uninvited Invitational, Dew Tour, X
Games, among others. Overall, this has meant a reinforced platform that has elevated
up-and-coming snowboarders in a way that wasn’t present previously—especially on
the women’s side—by providing opportunity, visibility, and prize money, but it also
means that schedules are packed. Riders like Grace Warner, Iris Pham, Egan Wint,
Jaylen Hanson, and others, now must balance a competition schedule along with
filming, and while that’s not a bad problem to have, it doesn’t mean it’s not at times
taxing trying to make it all work.

Enter Grace’s Getaway. In 2024, Grace Warner collaborated with Red Bull to bring a
small group of riders to Pine Knob, Michigan for two days of boarding and bonding. The
get-together was devoid of pressure and competition; the only expectation was to have
a good time, riding and spending time with one another outside of the frenetic pace of
contests and travel.

The experience was amazing. While Mother Nature went wild with weather, going from
70 degrees to below freezing in twenty-four hours, the crew took full advantage of the
time together. It was a well-needed moment to relax and just enjoy snowboarding for
snowboarding’s sake, lapping the Midwest oasis that is the Pine Knob park.

This year, Grace’s Getaway returned as a mid-season breather for an even larger group
of snowboarding’s finest rail riders. Grace was, of course, host, and invited nine friends
to her home for a riding respite. Brantley Mullins, Jayva Jordan, Ava Peterson, Ava
Warner (Grace’s younger sister), Jaylen Hanson, Emma Schacht, Lauren “Lolo”
Derminio, Campbell Sherrill, and Tara Kipilla arrived in The Great Lakes State to a great
weather forecast, a park packed with rails and features, (big thanks to Matt Dunn and
the Pine Knob park crew), and three days of dedicated time to snowboard and slow
down. Much of the crew landed in Michigan directly from Heavy Metal Boston and
filming trips in other countries—the Getaway was the perfect reason to take a beat with
friends.

For its second year, Grace’s event really honed in on wellness and staying healthy—key
for professional athletes who push themselves both physically and mentally on a daily
basis. Spending most of the year on the road, traversing time zones in search of street
spots; dealing with the pressures of filming (building spots, hitting spots, landing tricks,
collecting clips); navigating the challenges of competing; and, in the most frustrating times, dealing with the disruption and stress of injury all can wear on both body and
mind. The love of riding propels professional athletes through all of this, but that doesn’t
mean it’s not demanding. Grace’s Getaway provided a well-thought-out pit stop mid-
season to focus and reset for the rest of winter that was not only beneficial, but
invaluable.

While snowboarding was the foundation for the three days of the gathering, the theme
of strengthening body and mind ran all through the event. Yoga sessions were led by
Sarah Penewit, one half of the Oregon-based Mobility Duo whose classes focus on the
stretching and strengthening demands of snowboarders. Physical therapist Taylor Eckel
was on hand to take care of any aches, pains, and persistent or recovering injuries, and
sports nutritionist Makayla Meixner, whose work focuses on the dietary needs of
snowboarders and skiers, provided helpful instruction and guidance.

The crew spent two full days on the Pine Knob rope tow, ticking off park features as
filmers and photogs filled memory cards. Both technical prowess and easy style were
on display as Jaylen, Lex, Lolo, Jayva, Brantley, and the rest of the group ticked off trick
after trick, lap after lap. Even more, the camaraderie among the women was the loudest
as they supported one another through tricks, followed each other’s lines, and cheered
for it all. If good vibes could be bottled up, the Grace’s Getaway crew would have
stockpiled a full inventory.

The friendship and solidarity of everyone at the event was extended further this year,
too. On the last day of the event, Grace welcomed the Michigan scene for a ride day at
Pine Knob, giving back to the tight-knit and welcoming community that she is such a big
part of. Riders of all ages showed up to jam in the park with the ladies, finding
belonging, fraternity, and inspiration through laps on the rope. Truly, it doesn’t get better
than that.

Winter goes by fast. By the time it’s March, it’s like you’ve blinked and it’s spring. But
Grace Warner’s Getaway provides just what the riders need at that time of the season.
The gathering is a true meeting of the minds of women pushing the status quo of street
snowboarding, and for a few days at the end of February, the Getaway once again
provided the reset and connection to propel the riders forward for the rest of the season.

Big thanks to everyone that made Grace’s Getaway happen! Thank you, Grace and all
the riders, Katie Baxendale, Gabbie DeSombre, Allie Greene, Iyten Funk, Ashley
Rosemeyer, Sammy Deleo, Josh Greene, Jenner Richard, and Matt Dunn and the Pine
Knob park crew.