Super Sunday

Posted on 02/09/2011 by Liz Royster-Young

We all know February 6th was Super Bowl Sunday, but for us, it was just another Super Sunday at Windham Mountain. With 21 students in tow, we were on the mountain by 10 am, ready to tackle new trails and tricks.

Harlem Shake it Up, hahahaha!

Savion, Zaakirah, and Jackie laid their first tracks down on What’s Next? and White Way. (By the way, did you know all of Windham’s trails start with a “W”?)

Savion

Zaakirah

Jackie

Mr Ollie Kid aka Khaliq showed us how its done. But Khaliq don’t get too comfortable, Armani-Rae and Alexis have been nailing ollies too! 🙂

Let's Get It!

Jerrie’s group ventured off to the K Lift for the first time.

Heeyy Ms. Jerrie!

Jordan & Nathaniel

Tyson

Makhii gave the Aratik USA board sport trainer a try and looked good doing it!

Makhii

Sunday. February 27th will wrap up our season. I have to admit, it has been the best. We’ve had a chance to meet great, new people, reconnect with old friends, serve more youth and had more time on the mountains. And with all of the fresh snow Mother Nature has dumped on us, the season as a whole has been every skier and snowboarder’s dream.

There’s a ton of pictures on our Facebook page, so go take a look. And if you aren’t already, follow us on Twitter!

Cheers,

Liz

Day 1 & Day 2 at Windham Mashup

Posted on 02/02/2011 by Liz Royster-Young

Hey everyone, we are officially at the mid-point in our Learn to Ride program. Like last year, our 4 day Learn to Ride program takes place at Windham Mountain. On our first day, Sunday, 1/23, Windham celebrated 50 years of service. Check out the cool ice sculpture:

Despite the freezing temperatures, Windham gave us a warm welcome back. They were just as excited to see us, as we were them. Our eager participants wasted no time gearing up for their first lesson of the year.

For the first day, we focused on courage and how it relates to snowboarding and everyday life. Everyone shared their definition of courage and gave examples of they were courageous. Day 2, we focused on discipline. Needless to say we got some interesting definitions for that one, lol!

Day 2 was filled with great surprises: the staff at Windham Mountain donated tons of gear to us, our first snowboard race, and Edward conquered the Green trail.

Marcel, Khaliq, Edward, & Brandon

Elijah from our Snow Monsters group came in first place.

After just learning to link turns, Elijah came in first place!

Two of our Snow Angels came in second and third.

Taralyn came in second!

Mani aka Ms. Beastin for like 5 Hours, lol!

Malik, Isaac, Alexis, Jackie, Taralyn, Makhii, Justin, and Isaiah moved up to the Willpower trail, riding the chair lift for the first time. Jerrie and Shanelle also took the plunge and gave Willpower a shot as well. I’m willing to bet Jordan and Masai will be there next Sunday as they were the last to leave the slopes.

Jordan

Malik

Isaac

Snow Angel Alexis

Justin

Be sure to check out our Facebook page to see all of the pictures from Day 1 and Day 2. Til next time!

Go Snowboarding Day at Mountain Creek

Posted on 12/21/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

In the spirit of World Snowboard Day, Mountain Creek declared Monday, December 20th Go Snowboarding Day! Go Snowboarding Day gave hundreds of people the opportunity to become life long riders by taking advantage of Mountain Creek’s learn to ride package: lift tickets, rental equipment, and a 1.5 hour long lesson for FREE! So when Mountain Creek extended an invite to us to attend an evening session, we jumped at the opportunity. It was the perfect night for Shred Love to start off the 2010-2011 season; the conditions at the mountain were perfect, the participants were pumped to get back on their boards, and it was our board member, Mel‘s birthday. Did I mention we had the school yard to ourselves? Yeah, it was pretty sweet!

First time rider Masz

Masz was the only beginner volunteer. Our other volunteers were happy for the refresher and to be back out with the group. He wasn’t the only beginner, so was Nicky.

Nicky

Nicky rocks!

Here are more pictures of everyone, enjoy!

Brandon, Khaliq, & Mel aka Da Ryders

Halimah aka Ms. Black Diamond

Our shred monsters (l-r): Masai, Savion, Halimah, Tyson, & Zaakirah

World Snowboard Day 2010!

Big thanks to Mountain Creek (l-r)!: Hugh, Paul, Liz, & Nathan

Shred Love, Mountain Creek, & World Snowboard Day

Check out all of our pictures at Facebook. Check out Mountain Creek’s video here.

Get to Know Us

Posted on 11/03/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Have we met?

No? Well its time we do! Over the next couple of weeks, we will do a “Get to Know Us” feature on the people behind Shred Love. To get the ball rolling, I decided to start with myself, so here goes!

Name: Elizabeth Royster but everyone calls me Liz

About me: I’m the proud mommy of Shanelle, Savion & Tyson. By day, I’m a Senior Quality Assurance Test Analyst aka a software tester, however I’m Shred Love 24/7, ask anyone! = ) I grew up in a pink house in Jersey City with my family – Mom & Dad, my brother Omar, and sisters: Poodie & Jerrie. Wait there’s more, it was a big pink house and a lot of family lived with us, so there were my godbrothers: Lamar, Tykwan, Brandon, and Andre, their mothers Bonnie and Alycia, and all of our pets: dogs, cats, birds, fish, newts, hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, a rooster… ok too many to remember, lol! As an adult, I only have a few pets: fish, a dog named Pebbles, and a turtle named Slim Thug. People find my laugh and sneeze pretty memorable, lol! I love music, art (I can draw and paint), traveling, knitting, swimming (still learning), reading, and of course snowboarding.

My daughter Shanelle

My son Savion

My youngest son Tyson

What role do you play at Shred Love? I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Shred Love. I should probably list more titles because of all of the work and dedication it takes to make Shred Love a success but I will stop there, no need to make this a 5 page post, lol!

My birthday at Ten East!

Why did you become a part of Shred Love? I became a part of Shred Love because its easy to sit back and point out what’s wrong with the world but its a lot more rewarding to actually change the world.

My "little" sis, Monique & I (Little from Big Brother Big Sister organization)

My "little" sis Monique & I (Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters)

How has Shred Love changed your life? Shred Love has given me the opportunity to give back what so many have given me – a chance. I firmly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and guidance of so many others. At times, I think people put too little value on how a small act of kindness can impact a person’s life. As a teen mother, so many people thought I would fail, almost as if my fate had been sealed. If it wasn’t for the support of a few teachers, friends, and family members, I’m pretty sure life for me would be completely different. Therefore, I feel its only right, that I show others that despite how hard or bad things may seem right now, it can always be better. We are all living proof. One way or another we’ve all had to overcome some obstacles in life and for as long as we live, there will be more. By helping others through those times, we prepare ourselves for the same.

Shred Love has also forced me to set higher goals and become more creative in finding solutions to my problems and that of Shred Love. Our first year panned out to be better than I had ever expected, which to me meant I needed to dream bigger. With all of the success we’ve had so far, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

Shred Love

Firsts

First time I had ever seen a snowboard, I was 14 years old.

First time I went snowboarding, I was 30 years old and was sore for 3 days.

First trick I landed was a butter.

First day of Shred Love’s learn to ride program in 2010, was the First time I cried on a mountain. = )

Check back next Tuesday to see who’s next!

-Liz

An Epic Night for An Epic Cause

Posted on 10/27/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Our dinner at Soul Flavors on Wednesday, October 20th was a success! The sold event raised money for our 2011 programs and operations, enabling us to serve more youth. The packed house was filled with participants (new and returning) and their parents, volunteers, mentors, teen mentors, and supporters of Shred Love. So let’s start with our raffle winners:

Netta & our first winner, Monica

Mrs. Fowlkes with her winnings!

The only guy to win, Rob (he's also one of our new mentors!)

Dr. Coleman won a gift card to Soul Flavors

And since all of our young attendees walked away with gift bags, I’ll waste no time in sharing more pictures from the evening.

Our volunteer Darlene and her son, Adam... yeah he's a rider!

Our future Betties: Natalie & Monique

Our guests

Assemblyman Charles Mainor & our Founder, Liz

To see all of the pictures from the evening, check out our Facebook page and if you aren’t already a friend, don’t forget to send a friend request. ; )

Special thanks goes out to all of our guests, SOS Outreach, The Hidden Valley Club, Windham Mountain, Soul Flavors, Snowboard Addiction, Assemblyman Charles Mainor, The Jersey Journal, Bayonne Community News, Youngsworld, LLC, and Darlene Sarr.

'Til next time!

Impacting Youth through Snowboarding

Posted on 08/08/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Up 2 Us recently published it Skiing and Snowboarding Fact Sheet. The fact sheet provides some statistical data on the impact skiing and snowboarding has on youth, further proving the value in skiing & snowboarding programs like Shred Love.

Check it out! Skiing and Snowboarding Factsheet

Got Snowboard Addiction?

Posted on 07/11/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Snowboard Addiction has teamed up with Shred Love to present to you a 10% discount on all of their products by simply using the discount code “shredlove”. When you use the “shredlove” discount code, Snowboard Addiction will donate 20% of all sales generated from the discount code to us. So that’s 10% off for you and a 20% donation for us!

Snowboard Addiction specializes in online coaching and freestyle coaching programs via DVD or download at affordable prices. The DVDs and downloadable programs are backed with a 120% money back guarantee. If you don’t learn anything that dramatically improves your riding, Snowboard Addiction will refund you an additional 20% more than your purchase price, however we at Shred Love are positive you will see the value in their products.

Shred Love plans to use their programs for the 2010/2011 winter session, because for our second year, it’s all about progression! All of the lessons/videos are available in regular and goofy. Not sure what regular and goofy means? Then start with Snowboard Addiction’s Learn to Ride program.

In the meantime, check out Snowboard Addiction’s free Spinning Lesson and see for yourself.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8320867&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Advanced Spinning Part 1 (Regular) from SnowboardAddiction.com on Vimeo.

License to Shop fundraiser

Posted on 04/07/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Hello all,

Our Jersey Gardens’ License to Shop fundraiser is still under way. For $5, you can buy a coupon book filled with coupons to Aldo Shoes, United Colors of Benetton, Calvin Klein, Cold Stone Creamery and more! The coupons are good until 12/31/2010, so there’s no need to worry that your coupons will expire before you get a chance to use them.

All proceeds will be used to keep our 2010/2011 snowboard program free.

Shred Love at the US Open

Posted on 03/25/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

On Thursday, 3/18, Shred Love headed up to Stratton in Vermont for the US Open. The 28th annual snowboarding event gave both amateurs and the world’s best riders the opportunity to compete. It also gave us the opportunity to meet up with other nonprofit snowboarding organizations.

We were very fortunate to have met Danny Hairston of Chill.

Founder Liz & Chill's Danny Hairston

Board member Mel & Chill's Danny Hairston

We also met up with Brian Deka Paupaw of Hoods to Woods and Olympic winner and US Open Women’s Half Pipe winner, Kelly Clark.

Mel, Kelly Clark, & Liz

And Olympic winner Hannah Teter before the Women’s Half Pipe competition.

Mel, Olympic winner Hannah Teter, & Liz

Seeing the Black & Night Jam and Half Pipe competition live was epic. You really get to appreciate those backside rodeos and double corks in person. I was also able to snap a pic of Kelly Clark’s victory run, its not best because I took the picture from my cell phone but it does manage to capture the moment.

Kelly Clark's victory run

I think its safe to say that wraps up the 2010 riding season for me. Until next winter, Shred Love!

~Liz

'Til next time!

2/28/2010: Our Season Finale

Posted on 03/07/2010 by Liz Royster-Young

Sunday, 2/28/2010 was an epic day to say the least. Windham was covered in 5ft of fresh pow, our rider De’Karr turned 9, and our 09/10 program produced 30 (participants and volunteers) new shredders. It snowed the entire 3 hour ride there.