Introducing the Drake and Northwave women’s team; Paula Benito, Sophia Schroll, Federica Scampoli, Veroniqi Hanssen, Lia-Mara Bösch, Fanny Piantanida, and their filmer/ Team Manager Chiara Grisorio.

You may have seen some of these ladies in various projects or comps, and some may be strangers to you just now, but these women won’t be flying under the radar anymore. We’re on the cusp of a cultural shift where it just isn’t acceptable anymore for snowboarding to be a boys club, as Chiara put it so well, “We come to shine light on all those who have put us behind the spotlight, those who have ignored us at photoshoots, contests, parks and wherever there was an event.”

“There were so many bad ass women out here in Europe”

As is unfortunately the way with many things, PMS and the NW/Drake Women’s Division were years in the pipeline before they finally came to fruition, but the old adage goes ‘good things come to those who wait’. A lot of things have to fall in place to make a snowboard movie, and eventually the conditions were just right for this girl gang to strut their stuff.

Northwave/Drake Global Team Manager and Rusty Toothbrush ripper Alex Stewart had started spitballing the idea with Chiara for a women’s team 3 years ago. Chiara reminisces “We were looking for someone out in the US so we could build more hype around the brand but we both realised how stupid we were. There were so many bad ass women out here in Europe!”

Meet The Team

A veteran of the Dutch dome scene, it’s no surprise Veroniqi Hanssen’s bread and butter is tech rail manoeuvres and she recently scooped the Best Style award at Kaunertal’s opening weekend. Riding for over a decade, and spending her winters throughout Europe and the States, honing her craft in the streets and between the park ropes.

Though she’s hyped to be a part of a team that recognizes diversity in snowboarding, Veroniqi knows there’s still a ways to go, “We need more women in all aspects of this industry: female photographers, filmers, writers, team managers etc. Snowboard companies really should take a look at not only their Pro and AM teams but also the designers and all of their other staff and review if they are paying men and women equally.”

Who does she look up to in snowboarding? That’s a no brainer for her: “Kelsey Boyer for turning her own terrifying head injury experience into a non-profit [Save A Brain] to support other people. Laura Rogoski and Darrah Reid for bringing attention to and opening up about mental health. Jess Kimura for supporting the next generation of women in street riding.”

From the east coast of Italy, Federica Scampoli honed her skills at Panorama Park as a teenager but happily rides park, street and everything in between with a style unique to her. She filmed her clips for PMS at the world famous Les Deux Alpes, everyone’s favourite mecca for slushy laps in the summer.

It was Federica’s first time working with an all-female crew, but she hopes it won’t be the last “We had never met until we joined the team, but since that moment we built an immediate feeling. I have to admit that I was surprised in a good way that there has never been competition in our relationship.”

“I was surprised in a good way that there has never been competition in our relationship”

We asked Federica who should we be keeping an eye on in the next generation of girl shredders? “Without any doubt I go for Fanny [Piantanida], she’s only 16 years old and I think she has a great potential.”

“Her hard charging style is reminiscent of early Forum crew riders”

Paula Benito, engineer by day, shredder… also by day. Spanish born Paula was one of the first women to get signed to NW&Drake’s women’s team after impressing the crew in Zermatt.

She’s not afraid to hit any spot, any trick, any time. With stand-out parts in Two Vans, No Plans and PMS, Paula is definitely one to keep your eye on. A fearless rider with a über-technical flair, her hard charging style is reminiscent of early Forum crew riders, definitely don’t sleep on this one.

Inclusivity is just performative when it’s done to tick a box, Chiara puts it best when she said “I think it should be a global movement where everyone plays their part. It looks good on paper when you see names of women on a brands page but many are left on their own.” It’s an issue that affects us all, and we all have a part to play. At the end of the day, there is no easy answer or simple fix, things take time but we’re confident they’re moving in the right direction.

There’s no better proof of this than looking at the both longest-standing and most recent addition to the team who bookend a stacked roster. Lia-Mara Bosch, Northwave and Drake’s first woman team rider, has been faced with the challenges of multiple injuries over the last few seasons and unfortunately missed the window to get involved in filming with the crew but it hasn’t diminished her passion for it. “She’s a hell of a rider”, Chiara says. “Her coach from the [Swiss] national team told me what an insane rider she is and how obsessed she is with snowboarding.”

That passion runs deep in the team – right down to their youngest rider. Sixteen-year-old Fanny was signed just a handful of days ago but is quickly gaining the attention of her teammates. “Every time she gets on a rail I just froth out”, Chiara laughs, “I wish that was me!” The Italian rider is most likely to be found up in Les Deux Alpes in the winter, but she’s starting to show real prowess in the urban scene too, most likely down to her skating background. “I hope we can get her on a street trip” Chiara continues. “She’s down for any type of snowboarding.”

With a growing range of women’s products, and a team going from strength to strength, their debut may have hit it out of the park, but we’ve got a feeling the best is yet to come from the Northwave and Drake women’s division.