VNTRbirds’ team rider, Cat Nicol is back at it with her love of building the features we all love to ride. Now, Cat has moved from Snowpark Obergurgl to the Dachstein Glacier. With this transfer Cat went from an all-women park crew to becoming the FIRST and ONLY lady on Dachstein’s shaper gang. Talk about culture shock! We caught up with her to see how different the two really were.
Cat laying down a frontboard
Where is Super Park Dachstein located?
Dachstein is only an hour from Salzburg, Austria. The Dachstein Glacier is located above the town of Ramsau Au Dachstein. Schladming is the town nestled right next to Ramsau, where I was based over the spring season. With Ramsau being around 2,700 meters, top of Dachstein is approximately 3,000 meters (around 9,842 ft).
Long distance park shot
Why did you decide to move onto Dachstein after your season at Quattro?
I was very fortunate to have a job there through QParks as I was available over the Spring period and knowing that Dachstein is a rad mountain I was stoked to get the job!
Dachstein is known today as one of the ‘mecca’ mountains to be shredding for the local and international park scene. It is considered one of the best snow parks in Europe being open over the Spring and Autumn months. I may be biased, but I agree with the statement ‘the best’.
Heard you had a band house. What’s that about?
The band is ‘RoofRats’ and it’s awesome because after a whole day of shredding up the mountain, there’s always something going on in the house; like the band comes together and has band practice and we all just sit and jam and listen to them. Not a bad life.
It’s more about the lifestyle, the vibe both on and off the mountain.
ROOF RATS
“No Gang, No Crew, Just Friends!”
How involved was the role of park crew at a resort so park oriented?
A typical day in the life of a park crew’s routine is always a good early rise to start the day with ‘opening shape’ around 8am to make it safe and rideable. Then it varies around 9:30/ 10 when the day properly starts. We would keep track of any little jobs to do in-between the day, but mostly everyone was super satisfied and content that we found ourselves putting our feet up in the ‘chill area’ while watching a lot of professional riders throwing down as well as taking a few laps at our own leisure.
All in all – life of a park shaper doesn’t sound that bad, right?
Fun in the sun
How was it different to work here with only male co-workers compared to Snowpark Obergurgl’s girl-only park crew?
Being the only woman on the team I knew that working as a shaper at one of the most representative parks in Europe was going to be a challenge, but I’m always up for any challenge! I was taken into such an amazing team and with 6 of us starting the 2nd session at Dachstein. I was just stoked to be working with a strong team. I was more stoked to hear that I was the first woman to be a shaper at Dachstein! Girls represent!
Crew
“It is where you find your happy place”.
Did Dachstein host any cool events like Snowpark Obergurgl did?
Super Park Dachstein hosted a number of freestyle competitions such as the O’neil Pleasure Jam. Over the years this main freestyle event has turned Dachstein into a snowboard paradise to ride. Now they host many popular freestyle events as well as other diverse sessions over the spring.
The Park
What were some struggles while on the glacier?
For this season I was quite unfortunate due to a number of injuries on the Glacier. Though that didn’t stop me from having fun. As long as your still smiling and doing what you love then it’s all good.
First injury – I had a big concussion and had to be kept a few nights in hospital for observation. I was luckily on the mend after two full weeks of recovering and soon after I was longing to be back on the mountain with the team.
-Mark Twain
Girl Gang at Dachstein (From top left) Maya Killn, Lana Polic, Karolina Horakova, Cat Nicol & Blanka Sindlerova
What did you enjoy most about working at Dachstein?
There is always something to enjoy at Dachstein. You would never get bored at all as there’s always something fun to distract you. With guaranteed positive vibes all round and an awesome crowd among your work space it’s definitely the place to be. A good looking mountain itself with an awesome park with a total of 41 features, that makes you not want to stop until last call.
I know now I’m looking into travel accommodations to Dachstein, seems too good to pass up. If you find yourself there next Spring season give Cat a big high-five.