Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Snowboarding

Wildkittens: A Conversation with Snowboarding’s Newest Ladies-only Crew

  • April 3, 2018
  • Ben Osborne
Total
9
Shares
9
0
0
0
0
0
Total
9
Shares
Share 9
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Every Wall Street stock trader dreams of finding that startup that will one day be worth a fortune. Separating the Bitcoins from the Groupons is not always easy, but if snowboard athletes can be considered stocks, here’s a hot tip for anyone looking to invest now with a guaranteed dividend in the coming years. The IPO is called Realwildkittens, traded on the Instagram exchange under the name @realwildkittens.

 

MLCM LateWinter18 HRr copy 1
L to R: Maggie Crompton, Juliette Pelchat & Amalia Pelchat show off their hardware at the 2017 Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. Photo: Brian Finestone

words :: Brian Finestone

The Realwildkittens are a young, ladies-only snowboard crew consisting of Irie Smith (16), Juliette Pelchat (13), Amalia Pelchat (10) and Maggie Crompton (13).

After cleaning up at last year’s Legendary Banked Slalom at Mount Baker, these talented young women recently returned for the ‘Lay-Back Weekend,’ an all-female snowboard event focused on inspiring girls to get out and ride. Mountain Life managed to coral these feral cats for an interview. Due perhaps to age, excitement, or crew unity, the answers came as a single group voice.

Why the Realwildkittens? How did your crew get its name? 
Ever since Juliette and Amalia were little, close friends called them the Wildkittens because their dad (JF Pelchat) was part of a (notorious Whistler snowboard) crew called the Wildcats. When we all started riding with the Whistler Valley Snowboard Club (WVSC), we used that name for our girl-only group. But since that name was taken on Instagram, we chose Realwildkittens for our profile.

Why don’t more girls compete in snowboard events?
Riding at a competition can be intimidating with all the boys throwing down. It can also be hard to perform in front of others when there are fewer contestants, which can put even more pressure on you. We need more cool contests just for girls like the Lay-Back Weekend. These types of contests are super encouraging, open to all levels, low stress and so much fun.

“Hopefully we can all leave our mark in this sport at different levels and encourage other girls to be a part of this amazing community.”

What do you love the most about snowboarding?
It’s fun, challenging, you meet new people. You travel to new places and it’s like a second life.

Amalia: Making new friends. You do your own things and you get to hang out with your broskatskis.
Irie: It’s fun. The community is awesome, the possibilities are limitless and the pow… what’s not to like?
Maggie: The snow, self-expression. There are no rules, and I love the challenge.

Who are your biggest shred influences?
Full Moon crew: Marie France Roy, Robin Van Gyn, Annie Boulanger, Leanne Pelosi, Hana Beaman, Helen Schettini. Spencer O’Brien, Mercedes Nicoll, any girls who shred, Mom, Dad, Wildcats, WVSC, each other, and all of the “chudes” out there.

Where would each of you like to take snowboarding? Contests? Career? Just for fun?
All of the above, but for sure the last one, hopefully we can all leave our mark in this sport at different levels and encourage other girls to be a part of this amazing community.

There still don’t seem to be very many crews of young women your age who all rip together. What do you want to say to other girls who look at you as an inspiration?
Get out there, find other girls, reach out to other girls, invite people to join in and the most important is to just have fun and do something for yourself!

With ferocious enthusiasm, tenacious abilities and coaching and influence from some of the industry’s top female riders, these confident young athletes elevate themselves, each other, and the sport they love by being inclusive and encouraging. As they raced off, the Realwildkittens left one last insider tip for any parent, in any part of the world: get your kids outside, in the mountains, and let them be free. It will be the best investment you will ever make.

 

You might also like:

MLCM LateWinter18 HRr copy 4BMX BANDIT: SQUAMISH’S TEIGEN PASCUAL ON THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY
Before Roger Bannister famously ran a sub-four-minute mile in 1954, the feat was thought to be impossible. Yet in the years following his record-breaking run, a flood of athletes was suddenly capable of the same accomplishment. “When a young girl sees an athlete they can identify with, such as a woman in her favourite sport, something is triggered in the brain,” explains Vancouver-based sports psychologist Michelle Newton… Read more

Total
9
Shares
Share 9
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Lay-Back Weekend
  • Legendary Banked Slalom
  • Snowboarding
Ben Osborne

Previous Article
  • CLIMBING

Searching For Xwechtáal: Re-Freeing A Big Wall Classic – Squamish’s Infamous ‘Black Dyke’

  • April 2, 2018
  • Mountain Life Media
View Post
Next Article
  • MULTIPLICITY
  • Mountain Biking

MULTIPLICITY 2018: Hans ‘No Way’ Rey, On Wheels, For Life

  • April 3, 2018
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
Skeena-Cat-Skiing-Northern-BC
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

We Were Here

  • Mountain Life Media
  • February 6, 2023
Mountain-Life-Coast-Mountains-Winter-2023
View Post
  • Photography
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Surfing
  • Trips & Expeditions

ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now

  • Mountain Life Media
  • February 3, 2023
L'Hymne-des-Trembles-Laurentians-Quebec
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Stay & Play

L’Hymne des Trembles: Uncompromising Laurentian Skiing

  • Editor
  • January 27, 2023
Season-Pass-Skis-and-Splitboard-both
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • THE GEAR SHED
  • WINTER GEAR

Gear Shed: New Season Pass Skis + Splitboard Exclusive to evo

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 15, 2023
Mountain-Life-Blue-Mountains-stack-winter-2023
View Post
  • On The Trail
  • Ontario
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Trips & Expeditions

ML Blue Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now

  • Ned Morgan
  • January 6, 2023
Camp_credit_Jerome_Tanon-The-North-Face
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Trips & Expeditions
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Free Rider

  • Ned Morgan
  • December 30, 2022
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Stay & Play

RED: Big Mountain, Small Town

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 20, 2022
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy is coming to Whistler B.C.

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 20, 2022
Featured Posts
  • Norco-Bigfoot2-fat-bike-winter-ride-MTB 1
    Gear Shed: Midwinter Picks
    • February 7, 2023
  • Skeena-Cat-Skiing-Northern-BC 2
    We Were Here
    • February 6, 2023
  • Mountain-Life-Coast-Mountains-Winter-2023 3
    ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now
    • February 3, 2023
  • Saint-Lawrence-ice-canoe-Jean-Anderson 4
    Jean Anderson: 40 Years of Ice Canoeing
    • January 31, 2023
  • CHOK-Images-RAB-Avril-2022 5
    Chic-Chocs: True Eastern Alpine
    • February 2, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • Life-Time-Grand-Prix-gravel-bike
    New Docuseries Profiles the World’s Elite Off-Road Cyclists
    • January 30, 2023
  • L'Hymne-des-Trembles-Laurentians-Quebec
    L’Hymne des Trembles: Uncompromising Laurentian Skiing
    • January 27, 2023
  • Fjallraven-Nuuk-Parka-daniel-blom-photo_jacket
    Gear Shed: Multisport Winter Roundup
    • January 26, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
With four decades of ice canoeing under his belt, Jean Anderson has dominated a sport that's unique to Quebec and that he helped shape.
Featuring three gravel and three MTB events, the series explores the intense competition and love of the sport among 60 of the world’s premier cyclists.
Winter commute with #mountainlifer @michelle_pittam ❄️🚵‍♀️🌲
@lhymnedestrembles.ca is no mirage. Set in the lush Laurentian forest, yet easily accessible (less than an hour and a half from Montreal), this luxurious ski-in ski-out residential resort by @groupebrivia is nestled at the foot of the Versant Soleil side of Mont Tremblant. The Tremblant region is a perennial destination for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, and within the province, attracting 3.5 million visitors annually.
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.