I had the chance to sit down with the four founders of Nothing in the Pantry, a girl crew based at SilverStar Mountain Resort, BC, to talk to them about their experiences, ideas, and goals for the future. Unfortunately it ended up being an hour of drunken stories, bad puns, and gleeking, but you can’t have it all.
Okay, so let’s start with some introductions. Who are you guys and what got you into skiing and snowboarding?
Jaki: I’m Jaki, I’m originally from Australia and I’m an alcoholic – no, I’m just kidding. Don’t put that in there.
Annie: Great start (laughs).
Jaki: I actually grew up at the base of a mountain in Australia. My dad worked in the industry, so I grew up thinking that was normal. I came to Canada 4 years ago.
Annie: I’m Annie. I grew up in Australia in the tropics and I wanted to get away from the heat so I came to Canada. It was meant to be for six months. That was in 2009 (laughs).
Zita: I’m Zita and I’m from Belgium. I always used to go on snowboarding holidays with my family and I guess that’s where the passion grew.
Nikki: I’m Nikki. I grew up in Lumby just outside of Vernon. I hated the snow, but one of my friends convinced me to work at SilverStar – she told me it was the only way I’d make it through winter. So I did and got immediately hooked!
So you guys all met up at SilverStar?
Z: I think it was probably in a bar somewhere.
J: I was working for Annie’s boyfriend (laughs). Actually, I don’t even remember how we became friends?
A: I don’t remember either. I just remember being your friend always.
J: Yeah you’ve just always been there.
A: And I met Nikki because she once worked in janitorial. She was the most lively bubbly person coming in – she’d be like “I’m here to change the bins!” I didn’t even know you but I was like, whoever that chick is, she is happy all the time.
N: Yeah, and then we properly met when we decided to make Nothing in the Pantry.
How did that happen?
"Long Johns was where NITP was born."
A: It started towards the end of the winter – like in spring 2017.
Z: There was a few of us sitting down drinking beers after a long day of riding.
J: In Long Johns! I think that’s very important to say. Long Johns was where NITP was born.
A: Yeah, and the conversation in short went “I’m scared to do everything, I wish there was more girls around to support us”.
J: Yeah, we wished someone would take us under their wing - someone to show us what to do in the park so we weren’t intimated. The boys tried, and they definitely tried to be nice, but they weren’t that helpful. You’d ask them how to do a 180 and they’d be like “just jump and do a 180”. They didn’t really break it down.
Z: We noticed a lot of girls kind of felt the same way – they wanted to get into freestyle but were scared.
A: So we had some more beers and realised that we could support each other.
J: We were like – screw it, we’ll do it ourselves!
So NITP was born? What’s the goal?
"...to create a worldwide community of cool chicks."
J: It’s kind of evolved and each year it grows into something a little bit more. When we first started, we just wanted to find other sweet girls to go riding with. Then the next year we wanted to encourage more girls to try the park or try things that they wouldn’t before. Now NITP is even bigger – we’re asking, how can we further support girls in our community?
Z: It would be cool to create a worldwide community of cool chicks.
A: NITP is about hyping the hype and sharing the stoke.
J: And to grow the love! The more someone else gets excited about something, the more excited we are. It’s just kind of like this, pun alert.. snowball effect. (Laughs)
A: That was so bad.
N: I enjoyed it Jaki.
A: I was like, no way, she is NOT going to say that. But you did.
What exactly do you do?
J: We run on-mountain ride days during the season.
A: We call them progression sessions, and it just involves getting a whole group of girls out of different abilities, and putting them in a position that makes them more comfortable to improve. It helps them to meet other girls on the mountain as well.
J: We’ve also done some off-snow social things. Especially at the start of the season where a lot of girls don’t know each other, they might not even know how to snowboard or just feeling unsure about the season, it’s just a chance for us to step in and be like “hey, come say hi to us, meet each other, you’re all here on the mountain for the same reason”, and it helps just foster the growth of the on and off snow community.
N: We also try to encourage - especially locally at our mountain - girls to enter competitions. I think your first competition entry is a huge milestone.
J: And after you do that first competition, it’s a huge confidence boost. Even if you do terribly and fall all the time, you’re so proud of yourself.
A: And we’re proud of you.
J: And we just want to help get rid that original hesitancy - so many girls think they’re not good enough. It doesn’t matter how good you are, we just tell girls to go have fun, because they’ll be so stoked afterwards.
How can girls go about getting involved with your events?
A: Keep an eye on our social media. We put everything on there.
N: At the beginning of the season we have a big movie night and it’s a big intro to who we are. Come up to us and chat to us! We’re friendly!
J: Whether you’re a beginner or you have seven seasons under your belt, we want to meet you.
N: It’s been really cool to see our merch getting out there too. You go to the bar and you see NITP shirts everywhere (have a peek). And that’s cool because you know you can go up to that chick or dude and know that you have something in common. It’s like a visible community now.
So boys buy your merch too? J: Oh yeah. To start with boys kept asking us if they were even allowed to buy the shirts, and we were like, absolutely! Our main thing is creating a girls community but guys can definitely support that.
N: Some of the dudes at SilverStar are our number 1 fans. They’re so stoked to see girls going into the park.
J: Boys have even asked us if they can come to our ride days. Or if Nothing in the Pantry can run a boys’ day.
What do you say to them? J: No.
...(Laughs). I mean, we’ve made our ride days for girls so it’s less intimidating for them to learn new things.
N: But also, after a while those guys get comfortable around us and we’ll give them some tips. Jaki, didn’t you take a couple of the guys out last year?
J: I sure did! (Laughs) But seriously, we still like riding with the guys and we’re super friendly. But for now our ride days are just for the girls.
By the way, how did you come up with the name?
A: Well we actually started with a different name – it was terrible.
Z: So, so bad.
What was it?
J: I don’t even want to tell you. It’s way too embarrassing.
A: That information will never be made public. Sorry.
N: It sucked so much! We had a terrible logo too.
J: So we went to the bar and spent the next drunken hour brainstorming.
A: And then we, with the help of some our biggest fans, came up with Nothing in the Pantry. It’s kind of like a play on the stereotype that girls being in the kitchen cooking or whatever. This is like, okay there’s nothing in the pantry so let’s go shredding.
N: Everyone thinks it’s because we live in staff accommodation and we’re starving.
Do you guys have any big influences in terms of riders or crews?
"They’re sick riders, amazing riders. But they’re also all about the community."
N: Rude Girls. They’re sick.
A: They’re a big inspiration. They’re locally based in their area so we can relate to that.
N: They’re sick riders, amazing riders. But they’re also all about the community. Everything they do they do with purpose, and really beautiful intent. Super genuine.
J: We’ve been to a couple of their ride days, and they’re just as excited for someone that’s never hit a box before as they are for someone who’s trying a more advanced trick. And that’s exactly what we want to emulate as well.
N: By following them you can see how much effort and true heart they put into everything. It always cool going to their events.
Anyone else?
Z: Jess Kimura, for sure. N: Oh yeah, Jess Kimura, because like, come on. She’s amazing, she’s so sick. I’m blushing just saying her name. Yeah... I have no words. Another rider that I really look up to is Desiree Melancon. She’s an amazing rider, but she’s also super poetic and she’s bringing so much art into snowboarding. She’s one of the women who are pushing girls to stay in the snowsports industry not necessarily as a pro rider but in other roles. She’s a really tough, honest, transparent rider.
A: For me, it’s Cassie Sharpe. Always. She’s a sick rider, and it doesn’t matter that she’s a girl, she can keep up with anyone because she has the passion and the ability to do so. I mean, and Kelly Sildauru. Have you seen videos of when she was like eight? Eight-year-old Kelly Sildauru is better than I’ll ever be.
J: There’s not really any specific pro athlete for me, they are all legends! Though I remember growing up and massively looking up to the older kids, especially friends’ big sis & her crew – she’s not someone famous but she used to ride circles around everyone and was so unapologetic for it.
N: All my snowboarding girl crushes are circling around my head – I just love them all. I look up to so many people.
Anyone that you’d like to collaborate with?
N: We want Rude Girls to come to SilverStar! (talks into the mic) Come to SilverStar!
J: We’re super lucky that we already have some support from Cariboo Brewing – they always give us shoutouts and love what we’re doing. Their rep is super supportive. And also, it would be sick to make some Salmon Arms mittens.
N: Yes! I’m already drawing the designs.
J: Shout out to Salmon Arms!
N: Hook us up!
J: Seriously.
N: Also it would be cool to get involved with a local natural place to make stuff like board wax and mitten spray.
J: For our new Salmon Arms mittens!
A: We’ve got a lot of ideas. It would be great to reach out in our local community, work with some of the up-and-coming athletes around.
J: Also collaborate with some companies so we can run an information night about women’s gear. That would be cool.
What are some of your highlights from running NITP previous winters?
"Yeah, she couldn’t stop talking about chicken nuggets"
Z: Everytime we’ve all got together and just cheered each other on. It’s always a good time.
A: I remember the first time we put on an event, we were so nervous and we had to go and scull a beer at 9 o’clock in the morning – wait, maybe don’t put that in there.
N: I mean, it’s true.
J: It’s not like it’s a regular occurrence!
N: Well...
A: Anyway, we were nervous. Then we walked around the corner and saw this big group of maybe 30 girls, all just sitting waiting for us.
N: Because we were late as usual.
A: And we weren’t even sure if anyone was going to rock up. But seeing all those girls there, it was just really cool.
N: I still get that feeling every event. And we’re still late all the time. We’re working on that...
J: One of my favourite moments was when a mom and a daughter came to one of our ride days. They were pushing each other on and it was awesome to see. By the end of the day both of them had the biggest grins on their faces.
N: There have been so many highlights! I just love seeing the community always being so supportive of eachother. I remember this little grom girl coming up to me during a rail jam and thanking me for the night. And then she shook my hand! It killed me.
A: Side note! This little girl, like 4 years old, came into the office today and was yelling about chicken nuggets. It was really cute.
J: What?
A: Yeah, she couldn’t stop talking about chicken nuggets.
J: A girl after my own heart.
Anyway... What’s next for NITP? Have you got any plans in the pipeline for next winter?
N: Hopefully some new Salmon Arms mittens...
J: We have a lot of plans. We’ve only just seen the tip of the iceberg, and now we’re realising just how far this could go. It’s finally sinking in that we’re real, and people care, and it’s all worth it.
N: We’re community-led, so we’ll keep talking to the community and see what it needs.
J: Up and coming projects include a brand new website, which will be a great new platform for us, and hopefully give some creative outlets for people in our community.
A: Essentially we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. Ride days, social events, keep growing stoke. Stay tuned.
Quick fire round. Describe yourself in three words.
J: Indecisive... Impulsive... Chilled?
A: Indecisive, not funny, and... tall?
N: Short, bubbly, and curious.
Z: Outgoing, crazy, fun.
Powder or slush?
J: I love a good riding slush day... but also a powder day... this is hard.
Choose one!
J: Okay. Slush.
A: Slush.
N: Pow.
Z: Slush.
Favourite trick to do?
J: Backside 360.
A: 180 off a rail.
N: 270 onto a rail.
Z: Cab 3.
Secret talent?
"It’s called gleeking, look it up"
N: Ooooh! I can gleek!
J: What the f*** is a gleek?
N: It’s so f***ed up. (Gleeks)
A: Ewwww!!!!
J: You’re a mouth squirter!
A: What even was that?
N: I guess you have these glands and I can make them spray shit. I don’t know. It’s called gleeking, look it up.
J: Well I’m a great napper.
Z: I can do a Mexican wave with my eyebrows!
A: I was a competitive Irish dancer.
[Silence]
N: Sorry what?
J: Can you give us a jig?
A: No. .....maybe if I was wasted.
Biggest fear?
J: Living a mediocre life... and snakes.
A: Being buried alive.
N: Sucking at things.
Z: Just failing at life, I think.
What gets you stoked?
Z: Knowing winter is coming!
J: Snow, other people, music.
A: Music, beer, people. Any combination of those things.
N: Passion.
Where will you be in 10 years?
J: Hopefully alive. That’s kind of morbid (laughs). I’d like to still be shredding and killing it at whatever I’m doing.
A: Hopefully just a version of what I’m doing now – still in the snowsports industry for sure.
N: I’d like to be content. But not too content, because you still wanna push yourself. And in the woods! I want to be content and in the woods.
Thanks guys. Do you have any last words?
Z: Girls can shred!
N: Thank you to Salmon Arm and Rude Girls for our future collaborations!
A: Nitty-P out!
N: Yeaaaa Nitty-P!!!
A: I need to go grocery shopping –
J: Because you got nothing in the pantry!!!! (all explode into cheers and laughter)
I’m turning the microphone off now...
So there you have it, an introduction to some of the raddest chicks in BC, who are working on growing an awesome female-based community at their local mountain and beyond. To keep up with their latest news, follow them on social media, or check out the rest of their new website.
Leave us a comment below with your thoughts or questions!
Written by Hannah Hurley - Official NITP Blog Writer.