Intergirlactik is dead!

I had a an email from Julie Verguez, founder and organiser of the 3 star TTR event which was to tak place in Les 2 Alpes, which sadly explained that despite her utmost best efforts (and believe us - this girl works hard!), she struggled to get enough sponsorship from the European Snowboard industry to make the 2008 event - which is 100% independent - happen.

I went to the 2007 event in Les 7 Laux, France and it was one of the most fun weekends ever; under glorious spring sunshine, in a perfect park, the atmosphere was one of support and super friendliness - there was none of the catty competitiveness I've witnessed at US based comps. With some of Europe's finest established plus up-and-coming female talent present the standard of riding was super high.

Julie organised some equally as impressive apres activities, influenced by her love of music and hip-hop, which all combined to create my highlight of last season. To say I was looking forward to it this year is an understatement: it is a travesty that events like hers fall by the wayside when the industry are supposedly in 'full support' of women's riding and progression - when we need more events like hers, more films - and no more clothes.

I'm sure Julie will be back with a new project soon: and when (rather than if) she does we'll be in full support... good luck for the future!

To fully understand why she had to cancel, and to understand a bit more of what goes on behind the scenes read on:

"Dear All,

I want to inform you that INTERGIRLACTIK is dead, forever and ever probably!

I’ve been fighting for the past 5 years to keep the event alive, only by passion, and with the strong wish to promote women snowboarding. My best reward was the smile on every riders’ faces while riding, partying and having fun during our event.

This year, INTERGIRLACTIK was supposed to go on its 5th anniversary and it was planned to be a hell of an event. Warmly welcomed by the resort of Les 2 Alpes, they believed in INTERGIRLACTIK and this year’s concept : bringing women’s hip-hop culture into a European women snowboard event. A lot was to happen, with many happenings, parties and most of all, an original snowboard contest format.

The artists, riders, media & resort of Les 2 Alpes were strongly pushing the event, but it seemed like the snowboard industry didn’t need or want an independent international women’s snowboard event.

I have kept on fighting for a year, searching for investors and partners, finding agreements with sponsors, which eventually all went to dust because of every brand’s lack of budget. I also received dozen of emails of brands who wanted to be partners but without any money to invest. Last but not least, I didn’t even get the support from the French sports department of the region because they didn’t get the TTR and what it stands for…

We organized INTERGIRLACTIK last year with less than 10’000 €. I just couldn’t do that again. First of all to respect my colleagues who just couldn’t work for free anymore, and also to respect myself, as I simply just can’t loose more energy for “nothing”.

So, in respect to all the people who have worked with me, who have invested their time in the event’s organization and to all the sponsors, media and riders, I preferred to take the decision now to cancel and kill INTERGIRLACTIK, instead of organizing an event which was not following what we had initially planned.

And unless a great resuscitator knocks on my door, the only thing we can now say is: INTERGIRLACTIK Rest In Peace.

I will never thank everyone enough for working and contributing to this project, everyone who supported me and the event, the riders, media, sponsors and resorts…

It was an amazing adventure, we had great laughs, full of great riding with warm & hearty moments shared with all the riders…

THANX SO MUCH AGAIN TO EVERYONE AND LET’S MEET ON NEW MISSIONS & ACTIVITIES!

It is important for me to personally thank each and everyone one of you who supported INTERGIRLACTIK during all these years:

> Laurie Guiraud, INTERGIRLACTIK was her own initiative in 2003

> Mathieu Schevenels, president of our organization

> Marion Crepet who invested her time since last year to bring and set up the event in the Alps with me

> The 2008 organization staff: Arnaud Favet, Alice Moureaux, Louis Moulin, Raphael Moureaux, Djawel Souak, Cindy Delcey (they did a great job, tell me if you need staff or trainees! I deeply recommend them!!!)

> Les 2 Alpes with Sylvain (snowpark manager), Annick Girard (communications), Helena Hospital (PR) and all their crew who supported the event so it could take place in Les 2 Alpes

> Our friends & family who helped so much

> Dan from Smithys and Boris from Avalanche, some great parties were supposed to happen in their venues!

> LES ETTES and the smelling good crew! Stine, Carmela, Claudia & Christel

> EASTPAK & Olivier

> ENTREMARQUES & Jean-François Vial

> Damien Vignaux aka Elr°y, our genius designer !

> All the media: SNOWBROADER (Phil & Nico), SNOWTIME & FREE PRESSE (Romain & Gaelle), METHOD MAG (Audrey, Rebecca & Rasmus), LIME, COOLER, SNOWSURF, VIRGIN RADIO, EXTREME CHANNEL, SPORT+ (Fabrice Lecuyer), FREECASTER

> The artists : STOUL, MIETTE, KASHINK, MIRANDA LUZ, FLOWZAIC CREW…

> The resorts of SAINT-LARY and LES 7 LAUX who welcomed passed editions of the event

> And ESPECIALLY THE RIDERS:

Vicci Miller GBR

Conny Bleicher GER

Claudia Fliri AUT

Lisa Filzmoser AUT

Basa Stevulova SVK

Emy AKERBLOM SWE

Margot Rozies FRA

Rita Comi ITA

Anne-Fleur EIFF NED

Julia Baumgartner AUT

Aline Bock GER

Silvia SCHLERETH GER

Christel THORESEN NOR

Alexandra Barrere FRA

Paulina LIGOCKA POL

Marjolein Hoppen NED

Caro BELIARD FRA

Jana Cechova CZE

Sarka Pancochova CZE

Bohdana Sebestova CZE

Hanna Laukkanen FIN

Heidi Paumola FIN

Jessika Steen England SWE

Hilla Aspman SWE

Sofia Wettainen SWE

Emma Jonsson SWE

Lovisa MYHRMAM SWE

Silke Unseld GER

Lea Hein DAN

Andrea SCHULER SUI

Stéphanie Steimann SUI

Tina RAMHOLT SUI

Ilenia Cavallini ITA

Martina Molmarova SVK

Muriel Holub FRA

Anouck Mouthon FRA

Alicia Bonnaud FRA

Sorry for the dozen’s of others I have forgotten…"