This is the story of me; Erika Dahlby, and how Im getting started working in the industry.
Newschoolers played a large role in that and Im here to share my adventure, wisdom and struggles.
Im currently sitting at a bench on Windells campus.
The sun is shining, some dog is barking and life is pretty swell at the moment.
Well start with my internship for Newschoolers during SIA.
Oh my god, so official.
Everyone wants to know: how did you end up interning with Newschoolers at SIA?
I literally sent an email.
Messages were exchanged and a very awkward phone call on my behalf was completed.
I was headed to Denver for a week that changed my life.
I land in Denver on the 28th to spend some time with my best friend who lives in town.
Let me give you some advice.
It will ruin your body.
But hey, I was in Colorado and no altitude sickness was going to stop me.
Apparently, I was also adding to some major altitude sickness that I was about to endure.
My oh my, the views were beautiful.
There were a lot of Crown and gingers.
To give you guys some frame of reference, this is also the nightwe lost Sam the Intern.
I apparently am the wake up call.
They let me in the room as everyone starts to get ready.
We were really hoping he found a nice lady.
We grabbed breakfast in hopes of passing some time and finding Sam.
I hear Are you in jail?
Wait, are you in the hospital?
He rattles off some address and I plug it into my phone.
What we got was a very hung-over me and a very stressed out Mousseau.
We somehow survived that day, actually covering most of the companies that were on our list.
Words of advice: dont go too hard the night before the show starts.
Actually scratch that, just drink lots of water.
The next few days of the show all blur together.
There were interviews, photographs, and meetings galore.
I met so many awesome and important people it blew my mind.
Dan Brown (marketing manager of Line Skis) remembered my name one night at the bar /claim.
Sam and I scurried around picking up catalogues and capturing photos.
TallxT Dan helped carry the tearing bag of heavy catalogues and made sure I was actually capturing relevant material.
I got to sit in on an ON3P meeting and learned how the businesses work in the industry.
The first morning we all booted up to test out all of next years gear at the OnSnow Demo.
I ended up riding with Bishop most of the day.
We found a nice powder field at the very top and tested pow ski after pow ski.
(Check out my reviews for a not so comprehensive list).
The crusty pow field of Copper Mountain.
The last few nights spent with the NS crew were great.
It was about time to head home and one of the strangest and coolest things ever happened.
I looked back and shyly said “Thanks,” but inside I was thinking, “Yes!
I had done it!”
I had made my first step into the industry and it was confirmed with that one sentence.
Fajita dinner with the NS crew.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago.
I get this big package delivered to my parents house.
I tear it open and inside is a brand new pair of Faction Ambits.
They appreciated me helping them out at SIA and sent them as a thank you gift.
I rode them for the first time last week and damn, theyre amazing.
Once again thank you guys SO much for the skis.
It goes to show, they help the people that help them.
Now if youre all wondering why Im sitting at Windells, thats a story for another time.
