Instructor: Wendy Hill

Wendy Hill

Snowboard Instructor
April 7, 2008

To continue our look at women in the industry, we’re taking a look back at the early days of snowboarding. When Wendy Hill started snowboarding in Europe in the late 80’s, she wasn’t just one of the only girls, she was one of the only shredders on the hill. Snowboarding was still seen as just a fad, and Wendy became the first female snowboard instructor when Vail resorts opened their slopes to snowboarding. She’s sent in some great old school shredding photos as well!

Age: 46

Years riding: 21 years

Home Mountain: Killington, VT or Hunter, NY

Stance: Regular, 14 inches

Setup: left 20 degrees, right 10 degrees

What made you get started snowboarding?
I was lucky enough to be a ski guide in La Plagne, France in 1986 and I started dating a French ski instructor who was a snow boarder or as it was called in France, surf de neige. On the weekends he would drive up and take me boarding and I would practice during the week. My first board was a Winterstick.

What was it like when you started riding, were snowboarders allowed on the hill?
When I started in France it was very new but my biggest problem was that no one would ride with me, I got comments like “It is a fad, it will never take off” – we were dealing with the repercussions of the mono board. My friend in Val d’Isere was a telemarker and he and I would ride around Tignes and Val d’Isere together – we made quite a pair, I was the only boarder. Now his 8 year old son is learning to board!!!
When I moved to Vail, boarders were not allowed on the mountain. When the Vail Ski/Snowboard school started we were the first boarders allowed on the mountain and when I taught at Beaver Creek I was the one and only snowboard instructor on the mountain when I was there. The second year I was there I taught ski patrol how to board which gave the sport a little more “street cred” but unfortunately most boarders were more interested in half pipe and I think in the end Vail moved most boarders over to Golden Peak where the only half pipe was.

I see you’re a hard booter, have you ever ridden soft boots, strap-in bindings?
I am afraid I have never used soft boots, to me it would be like mountain climbing in fluffy slippers, I just love the instant ability to be on an edge. Boarding in the east and in Europe the powder days are few and far between – the conditions are very icy – most of European resorts are above tree level.

A female snowboarder that inspires you?
When I was snowboarding I was it … truly there were no other women in France or in Vail at the time. To be honest, I am rather old fashioned, I have never even been in the halfpipe, just a little racing, powder and downhill. When I taught I was rather unimpressed at the “kids” lack of interest in actually putting two turns together and a lot of times, when I was in Vail, snowboarders got a really bad reputation due to their lack of manners on the slopes … so I never really watched most of the boarders on TV.

Of all of the places you’ve ridden, what’s your favorite?
Val d’Isere, France. The French don’t tend to smooth out most of their runs and there was tons and tons of back country to ride, you could go from the top of the mountain right down into the valley with no one else around and have pristine power.
“The summit of the Bellecôte can be reached by ascending this ridge further but more usually you would climb under the summer drag lifts on the Chiaupe glacier to the col, then climb the Glacier du Nant, around 1h 30 from the lifts. Two couloirs offer themselves from the Bellecôte. The first is the Vallençant. The couloir itself features around 1150m of descent, that’s more than the total vertical of most if not all US ski resorts! The angle is a near impossible 50 degrees for the first 200 meters leveling out to 35 degrees lower down bottom. There are rocks and cliffs which make a nasty welcome for anyone who falls. Skiing down to the road at Lanches gives 1900 meters total vertical. The second couloir is the Gros Glacier, the entry is from the Col du Midi de Bellecôte at the east of the summit. The glacier presents the interesting challenge of a Bergschrund (the glacier has detached from the rock). The slope is 45 degrees near the summit. Lower down skiers can escape from the glacier in couloirs to the left or right, however some of these end in cliffs, take a guide!”
I was also lucky to experience the back bowls of Vail … when I first taught boarding, people only wanted lessons when it was a blizzard outside as they didn’t want to waste good sunny powder days on learning to board, so I used to have those days free to hit the back bowls in peace : )

How did you get into snowboard instruction?
I moved to Vail 1988 and was hired as a ski instructor in November, which I did from Thanksgiving through Christmas, mostly as a private instructor. In the New Year January 1989 they just started up the snowboard school and I stepped up, with board in hand, and said I can ride, so in the off season I taught boarding and on major holidays I taught skiing. I was one of the first people snowboarders Ski Patrol experimented on as to how to get us off a chair lift, they had only dealt with skiers!!!

Any advice for women interested in becoming a snowboard instructor?
Women on the whole are much better teachers; we are gentle, forgiving and compassionate. I just love to be able to bring the feeling of freedom and being in the mountains to people that never experienced it and to overcome their fear. I was also a kayak guide in Maine and I would take people out in kayaks that were terrified and by the end of their trip they were off to buy their first kayak.

We’ll go old school: One piece outerwear or do you like your pants separate from your jacket?
I finally got into the 20th century and bought some ski/snowboard pants. I have a North Face shell jacket and then can layer fleece underneath it. The other necessity is good gloves which I go through each year due to the edges cutting into them when I carry the board.

What was it like being a woman in such a male-dominated sport?
To tell you the truth, nothing, I have always been involved in sports that men do and women don’t. I have always just excelled and kept up with the boys, I have always been a little bit of a tom boy anyway so it was always much cooler hanging out with the boys instead of the silly, soppy girls!!!

What do you think of snowboarding today? Where do you think it’s headed?
I am truly excited that through snowboarding whole new generations of kids are “forcing” their parents to take them to the slopes. I am excited that it is open to all generations and not to just kids. I know there was a time when the mountains were worried at the lack of people skiing, and then snowboarding increased people traveling to the mountains. The only issue is going to be snow … and global warming!!!

Favorites:

Trashy TV: Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Reaper, Life

Riding Tunes: When I first started I had the first Sony Walkman so it was probably Grace Jones, “Nightclubbing” or later on George Michael “Faith”

Snowboard Shop: Again, I hate to say it but I never go into shops. I am so used to my board that I have been riding now for 17 years – now I am really feeling old – it is a 168 Kemper board. As I rarely go to the mountains now, when I do, I just want to get on and go, not try out new boards.

Beauty Product: Good moisturizer especially out in the cold fresh air

Snowboard Wax: Just give it to the rental show wherever and have them deal with it

Ice cream: Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar and Pistachio

Imaginary Animal: That illusive Mr. Right!!!

Inspiration: Meeting in person David Breashears and knowing that he had been to the top of Everest 4 times without oxygen!!!

Posted by Kelly Vance on 04/07