In various cultures, glitter is a physical representation of joy, wonder and celebration. A bedazzling embellishment that serves as a sparkling symbol of inspiration, creativity and love. Among some circles, it’s used as a tool of jubilant defiance against regressive values. These are but a few of countless reasons why it’s a fabulously fitting name for this crew of all women and non-binary snowboarders, as well as their new self-titled video, “Glitter.”
Sophie Bille, all glittered up.
Fresh out of the icy East Coast comes “Glitter,” a two-year project created by the Glitter crew. It all started when Sophie Bille ventured out to hit a street spot solo and filmed it with a camera on a tripod. She later posted to Instagram wondering if there were other women in her area who would be down to work on a video project. Filmer Kirsten Potts, aka KP, answered the call.
They rallied a crew together through Park Affair, an East Coast-based organization focused on getting more women and non-binary snowboarders comfortable with riding terrain parks. Then, they got to work on their labor of love. “It was really just the homies making it happen,” KP says of the project. “We wanted to do it for ourselves, and for the community.”
Anna Valentine sliding steel in early February in Killington VT.
The result? A street focused snowboarding film that’s equal parts aspirational and inspirational. “Glitter” showcases a wide array of talent, including the first ever street segment by Jess Perlmutter, the up-and-coming teenager who won The Uninvited Invitational last spring. Another noteworthy performance is exemplified by Sofie Chavez, a snowboarder who didn’t even start riding till she was 28. Notably, now only a few seasons deep, Sofie is successfully sliding handrails in her early 30s with the support of her fired-up friends.
Erin Alexander hits a 5050 while KP gets the shot during a night session in Rutland, VT.
The communal nature of this crew has everything do with everyone’s individual success in the video. Much like dazzling adornment they're named after, the glimmering individuals who make up Glitter shine brighter together.
Following the premiere of their video at Anthology Films in New York City and Darkside Snowboard Shop in Killington, VT, we sat down with Sophie and KP to talk about their project.
From left to right: Glitter rider/producer Sophie Bille and filmer/editor Kirsten "KP" Potts.
The Snowboarder’s Journal: Tell us about your new video, “Glitter.”
Sophie Bille: “Glitter” is a street snowboarding film featuring all women and non-binary riders from the East Coast. It was shot throughout two winters in Vermont, New York and New Jersey. The crew is made up of friends from the Park Affair community. Most of the riders are coaches with Park Affair, and they're all new to street snowboarding. Basically, our goal is to highlight the upcoming talent from the East Coast and showcase that street snowboarding is for everyone.
Jess Perlmutter, frontside boardslide in Vermont for "Glitter."
For those who might not be familiar, what is Park Affair?
KP: Park Affair is this really sweet organization whose mission is to get more women and gender non-conforming riders into the park. It was founded by Mercedes Ortega and Haley Ronconi, and they've been doing it for 10 years now. They put on camps all over the East Coast throughout the winter season, in various mountains in various states, to help coach women to either start or progress their park riding. There are riders from all skill levels. Park Affair also puts on a competition, an all-women’s rail jam called A Grand in your Hand, at McIntyre Ski Area in New Hampshire.
Park affair cofounders Hailey Ronconi and Mercedes Ortega following a fun day at A Grand in Your Hand, a rail jam for women and non-binary snowboarders put on by Park Affair.
Lily Calabrese, frontside boardslide at A Grand In Your Hand rail jam hosted by Park Affair at McIntyre Ski Area, NH.
Why does the snowboarding community need an organization like Park Affair to help more women or gender non-conforming people get into riding park?
Sophie: For me personally, I always wanted to get into park riding but I was always nervous. The park always was male dominated, which made it really scary to try new stuff. So, when I found out about this organization, I was like, this is a perfect environment to make me want to push my boundaries and try new stuff and make new friends. The biggest thing I wanted when I was snowboarding was friends and a community. When I went to one of Park Affair’s camps, that was the first like time I really felt that.
KP: And now Sophie's a coach at Park Affair. I was unaware that Park Affair existed, honestly, until I met Sophie a couple years ago in Canada at Its Tits. Sophie was at Its Tits as one of the builders, and I was there filming for the event recap. Huge shout out to Krush [Kulesza] and the Snowboy [Productions] team for getting us out there, that was a dream come true. And shoutout to Laura Rogoski for introducing us. I lived in Colorado for a few years before moving back to the East Coast, so I was a little out of touch with the East Coast scene. Sophie brought me into the Park Affair community, and Mercedes and Hailey started hiring me as a filmer for the events. That’s where I met most of my friends who I ride with, and it’s the first time I've felt like I’m a part of a tight knit community in snowboarding, where I feel like accepted and have a crew to ride with.
Tayler Stendel, frontside 5050 in Rutland, VT.
When you’re with a group of people you feel comfortable with, how does that affect your progression as a snowboarder?
KP: I did park stuff in high school, and that was kind of my peak. In Colorado, I was really focused on hucking cliffs and going through tree runs. But when I moved back to New York City, I met everyone involved with Park Affair and, aside from filming, everybody has been really encouraging for me to get back into riding park. I was really terrified to ride park after a couple of injuries, but Park Affair really takes the pressure off learning new things. It takes the pressure off looking silly, or any insecurities people may be dealing with. Everybody involved with Park Affair is super welcoming and non-judgmental, and that's huge. When you have a space to try new things, you only get better, and that furthers progression in general.
Sophie: You’re not as afraid to fall and make a fool out of yourself with a bunch of other women who are also trying new stuff and falling. Everyone’s just so positive. They cheer for the smallest little victories.
Tayler Stendel and Sophie Bille embrace after Tayler lands her frontside 5050 during the filming for "Glitter."
That camaraderie transitions to your street missions, too. It looks like when you go out to snowboard in the streets, you do so with a crew comprised entirely of women and gender non-conforming people. Is that intentional?
Sophie: Totally. We foster an environment where people feel comfortable trying new stuff. I was kind of protective when I was filming with the other girls in our group. I didn't want any random people to join us, even if they offered to help shovel or whatever. Because I feel like that environment is so important to maintain, especially when you're in the street for the first time.
KP: Sophie was our professional vibe checker. She was figuring out the logistics of spots and who we were gonna hit it with. She was really great at fostering an environment where the riders felt comfortable to come and join us.
Anna Valentine, early March in Schenectady, NY.
Halfway through the video, there’s an homage to one of your friends. Who was that?
Sophie: KP added a cute little tribute to my friend, Eamon, who passed away two years ago. Right around the beginning of this project, we were brainstorming different titles and it made sense to name it “Glitter” after my friend. He loved glitter. He would put it on every day, like after brushing his teeth, as part of his morning routine. And he did it before it was cool. Right now, I feel like a lot of people are using glitter at events and stuff, but like, this was kind of before it was trending. That was one of the ways he showed his love and appreciation for people, to ask if they wanted glitter and put it on them. As he was spreading glitter, he was spreading love for his friends.
KP: When Sophie would bring glitter to either the Park Affair events or street spots, it was like Sophie was spreading Eamon’s legacy, and his energy, and what he was spreading when he was with us.
"Glitter" is dedicated in loving memory to Eamon White. Screengrab from "Glitter."
It’s cool, the juxtaposition between something as sparkly and effeminate as glitter against the grain of gritty East Coast street snowboarding. Kind of like, “We're out here snowboarding in the streets, but we're still gonna wear some glitter while doin’ it.” Yeah?
Sophie: Yes. I like that messaging. It plays with gender roles in a way. Everyone has their own meaning to it, but that was definitely my and KP’s take on it.
KP: Yeah, there are layers to the meaning, if you will. Sophie and I are both queer people, I’m non-binary as well. This isn't an inherently queer project, but just living life like as a queer person, like… We want to be out in the streets, but we're not really looking to conform to anything else other than who we are. The name “Glitter,” and wearing glitter, contributes to sticking to who we are in this space.
Sophie Bille, holding it down--literally and figuratively.
Who are you hoping to inspire with this video?
Sophie: Any snowboarder who wants to try new stuff, because we're all just snowboarders who wanted to try street snowboarding. So, that's who I'm looking to inspire. Especially women and non-binary riders who probably don't think they have a place in street snowboarding. But really, anyone can try it.
KP: Anyone who is interested in snowboarding in the streets should go out and do it. Sophie, you hit your first street spot by yourself a couple of winters ago when you posted that video asking if anyone wanted to film a project with you. You can just go out and do it. These riders are just talented local East Coasters who never had a crew to go out in the streets with. Sophie and I looked around and we were like, well, we have the crew now, for the first time in our lives. It’s now or never. Let's go try it.
Erin Alexander cooking up a roast beef off a roof drop in Killington, VT.