Marina Minetti camp director

Some of you might have met her before. Marina Minetti is Girlie Camps skate and snow director and this winter she'll be kicking it with all the girlies at the upcoming snow camps in Sälen.

Marina is born and bread in Tammerfors, Finland. She lived there until 2004 when love struck and she moved to Sweden where her boyfriend is from. Even though they're both Scandinavian they first met in France, during the first ever Girlie surf camp.

There's no doubt that board sports are a big part of Marina Minettis life. Ever since the age of eleven she's been living a life full of kick flips, big jumps and grind poles. She says it's not just a hobby, but one of the biggest loves of her life and something that she would find it difficult to live without.

- I've noticed how much the sports mean to me lately. A year ago I injured my neck and the doctors told me I wouldn't be able to board again. It has been horrible not riding for such a long time, but I proved the doctors wrong and had my first snowboard session today, she happily says.

The now 32-year-old woman started snowboarding over twenty years ago and skating in the nineties.  With skateboarding, it was her six guy friends that first got her in to it, being skaters themselves. After her passion for snowboarding was first woken she's just continued getting in to most board sports. Marina has mainly been riding with boys during the years she's been boarding, but she enjoys riding with girls just as much.

- It is so much fun because with girls I push myself more and you always build up a good energy while riding with girls, she says.

Looking back in time she remembers when she was younger and sometimes felt left out when skating.

- When I was riding with boys I sometimes got left behind because I wasn't as good as them. Also people would stare at me in the skate park wondering what I was doing there, she recalls.

- Luckily today there's more girls within the sport and nowadays girls can do whatever they feel like doing. There's no longer that much difference between boys and girls in the sports. I mean these sports are no longer only for boys.

Marina has been camp director before and this winter she will be at both Girlie camps in Sälen and of course she's looking forward to it.

- The best thing with Girlie camps is when all the girls come together and you see them try new things. I love the excitement of seeing someone learning a new trick, meeting new friends and honestly having the time of their life. I'm looking forward to meeting all the new and old girlies and making new friends from around the globe.

- What are you hoping for during the upcoming Girlie camps this winter?

- That there will come a bunch of amazing girls, who want to be better riders and enjoy it fully. The guys who are building the park are so super, so I'm happy that I know what conditions are waiting for us. If you are hesitating or wondering something about the camp, you can always contact me marina@girlieltd.com and I will be happy to give you the info you need.

- What's your best advice to girls that wanna take their riding to the next level?

- I would say it's just a matter of daring to try something new. A lot of the time you think it looks so much harder than it actually is, but once you try it you'll see that it's not so hard and most of the time it doesn't hurt as much to fall either.