There’s a new girl in Town! The Snowpark Soelden welcomes Isabella Groenestein!

Isabella, so nice to have a young lady in our team! People for sure are curious to learn about your background and how you came to Soelden, so why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

“Well, my name is Isabella, I am 22 years old now and I come from where no mountains exist, that is Den Haag, Holland. But in fact, I am half Balinese and half Italian.”

So, coming from the flatlands, how did you get to snowboarding?

“I also skateboard and used to do that a lot of course back home in the Netherlands. The first time I went snowboarding it was simply love at first sight, or first ride! That was when I was 17. So my home resort was the Indoor Ski SnowWorld Zoetermeer. But now of course it’s Soelden. We have a little more space up here, ggg!”

For sure, Soelden is the place to be! What are the things you like most about here!

“Well, of course the beautiful mountains, the well made and prepared park. You only have to take one gondola for 10 minutes and then you have the lift for the park. That’s all super easy and mellow and there are so many routes to go for in the backcountry. Even the staff food is yummy!

Anything you would wish for here in Soelden?

“Hmm, there could be more local freestylers. Dude, and getting up early also is not so my thing, along with having only German TV. I also miss my family and friends from back home! But I have a nice apartment and many nice people around me. I just love that this country is not flat like Holland but has all these beautiful mountains, so I’m always super stoked up here.”

What’s the point for you about freestyle and park riding?

As I said, I also skateboard and just love the feeling of riding on obstacles and the feeling of finding the perfect rail on the streets and hitting it. I really have no idea why I love it so much but it came to me naturally. It makes me happy and it’s playful.

What’s your favorite obstacle?

I really like many rails but my favorite is the down-flat-down rail and also gas-pipes are fun!

Stance?

Goofy - 'wide stance tight pants!'

Do you have any sponsors?

Yeah, that’s the Backside 540 board shop, Dordrecht.

Favorite 3 riders?

Jessica Kimura, my best friend Rachida Aoulad-el-haj-amar and Erin Comstock.

And finally, 3 things that shouldn’t be missing on a snow trip?

Boys, booze and Rock’n Roll!

Thank you so much, Isabella, for the talk, it was a pleasure! Hope you keep enjoying beautiful Soelden and again – we’re happy to have you in the Swatch Snowpark Soelden team!

All the ladies who feel inspired now to become a shaper as well, spend all winter in the snow riding, here’s where you learn how!