SWEET SORENESS: Roxy Ramp Camp
We were so sore. Jess McMillan felt like her jaw was busted; Meg Frenzen had bruises on her butt; and I felt like someone had whacked my arm with a stick.
But the pain was worth it. We were part of the “20 and overs” bracket and this was the Roxy Bikini Pop Drop at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. Inspired by the little ones spinning 360 grabs off the water ramps, the big kids decided to huck huge with the help of amazing coaches that included Elana Chase, Jen Hudak, and Caroline Gleich.
The last day’s “Pop Off” contest presented by SheJumps.com was the culmination of the three-day event where campers – mostly never ever rampers – were learning all sorts of tricks from front flips to misty 7s.
McMillan threw a back flip iron cross combination winning “best trick” and the “biggest ovaries” award, and Frenzen got the front flip iron cross she had painstakingly worked so hard to perfect. Sue Larson, the Roxy Western Scout, nailed a truck driver. Then there was 7-year-old Delaney Flynn who was happily rocking spread eagles. However, it was Katie Souza, 15, who wowed the judges with too many spins to count and won entry into next season’s Queen’s Cup – the only all-girls freestyle contest held at Park City Mountain Resort.
Blake Peterson, 14, was excited to be able to practice her tricks among plenty of supportive girls. “There were a lot of girls that worked hard,” she said. Her mom added that Blake came home exhausted every night. For most of the never ever water rampers who attended camp, hitting the ramps for three days hurt but it was definitely worth it.
“This makes the neighborhood swimming pool seem boring,” Frenzen said. Beyond playing in the pool, campers played with homemade hula-hoops created by Larson, bounced on pogo sticks provided by SBI Enterprises, and rode the zipline over the Olympic Nordic jumping arena at Park City.
If you want to challenge yourself among a group of rad Roxy girls, or just perfect a trick with the help of the best coaches in the industry, sign up for next summer’s Roxy Bikini Pop Drop. You may be a bit sore, but definitely not disappointed.
Camp Awards
Overall winner: Katie Souza
Best Trick (20 and over): Jess McMillan
Best Trick (19 and under): Hailey Balsimo
Biggest Splash/Crash: Whitney Coleman
Most Improved Jumper: Liz Collar
Most Improved on Trampoline: Meg Frenzen
Biggest Ovaries: Jess McMillan
SheJumps Award for Most Inspirational (presented with pogo sticks from SBI Enterprises):
Most Inspirational (under 10): Amber Simonpietre
Most Inspirational (19 and under): Stasia Callaghan
Most Inspirational (20 and over): Angela Jacobus