Cover photo courtesy of Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard
By T. Ghezzi
The tow rope in the Mt. Spokane Terrain Park has been a game changer for both skiers and snowboarders. Not only has it provided a space to progress quickly, but it has also helped create a new cultural identity and atmosphere in the park.
As the park community has grown, one snowboarder truly stood out: Lilith Ellis. In the last two years, she quickly became a regular at the Mt. Spokane Terrain Park. Known for charging hard, bringing high energy and riding with sick style, Ellis also earned respect for her willingness to take a slam and get right back up.
Last season, Girls Gone Metal came to life when a group of women, led by Ellis, approached the Mount Spokane Terrain Park Crew with an idea for a women’s-specific terrain park event. This event would be created by women, for women (snowboarders and skiers). The event had one simple but powerful goal: to get more women in the terrain park.
Girls Gone Metal brought women together to collaboratively design and build the terrain park feature, empowering them to take part and have a voice in shaping the rail feature for the event.
The first year’s turnout exceeded expectations. Despite the fog, the women showed up, cheering each other on and sharing tips. A community was born.
One of the coolest stories from the Girls Gone Metal event was the introduction of ripper Timberlynn Belfr. At just 9 years old, she was at least a decade younger than everyone else, making her presence even more impressive.
Following the success of the inaugural event, plans for a second quickly took shape, along with the addition of regular women’s meetups for the 25/26 season, led by Ellis and Brooke Bowerman.
Bowerman, Lindsey Bangsberg, Ellyse Farrow, Emma Jones and Veda Derrickson all echoed similar sentiments when reflecting on the event, noting Girls Gone Metal is more than an event. It’s a welcoming community where women feel empowered to try new things without judgment. Through encouragement, shared progression and joyful connection, snowboarders and skiers build confidence, support one another and experience the strength of an inclusive, women-led space.
What started as a single event turned into something much bigger. Events like Girls Gone Metal and its meetups have the potential to spark a real cultural shift, one that inspires more women to feel confident, welcomed and comfortable riding in the park.
By the time this issue comes out, the second annual Girls Gone Metal will have already taken place, along with most of this season’s meetups. Two meetups will still remain: March 8 and 22 at 10:30 a.m. (meet at the top of Half Hitch).
I would like to give a big shoutout to the Mt. Spokane Terrain Park Crew for supporting this event and believing in equitability and progression.
T. Ghezzi is a snowboarder who loves riding powder. With snow in short supply this season, he dipped south to chase waves in Costa Rica. Keep up with T. Ghezzi and Wild Cannons at @northwest_raised or @wildcannons. Catch the Wild Cannons Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
