TRAMPS TO RAMPS: Mackenzie Epperson-Valum blogs from Roxy camp
Take the plunge! That's what I did at the Roxy Bikini Pop Drop summer camp held at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. When I first walked into the registration building, I was excited and a little bit nervous. I got my free Roxy swimsuit and headed for the water ramps to start my skiing adventure! Each morning the Roxy group would start out by doing tons of stretches and then we would split into three groups. The first day I learned to do tricks on the trampoline and mini tramp and then take it to the water ramps.
Thanks to the help from the awesome coaches we all got our fair share of fun out there. On the second and third days, we traveled to and from the tramps to ramps and back again working harder and harder to be better at our tricks. At lunchtime, we got a buffet with fruit and veggies, sandwiches, pizza - you name it! I would stay all summer just for the lunches.
I was a little nervous the first time I got to go off the ramp. But when you first jump in the water you feel an icy chill down your back and the excitement and relief that you did it. Most of the girls spent all their time on the starter jump, but some girls took it up a notch to the single ramp (about a 20-foot drop). On the final day of the camp we have a water jumping competition so we can show off our skills and talents on the water ramps. Throughout the whole experience you go back and forth from trampolines to water ramps practicing and getting better and better so you can rock it on the snow next winter.
Mackenzie Epperson-Valum is on the Alta Freeride Division Ski Team. She is 12 years old and going into the 7th grade, and she is eager to get back to the snow.
