The Whistler Podcast
Join host Mayor Jack Crompton for candid community conversations about current events, local government and everything Whistler on The Whistler Podcast. As part of the RMOW’s and Mayor Crompton’s broader work toward enriching the community fabric and community building in Whistler, the podcast provides a new channel to connect with Whistler residents to discuss topics of municipal and community interest.Twice a month, Mayor Jack Crompton will invite a community leader or special guest to join him at the Mountain FM Whistler studio to share opinions about current events and hot topics that are important to the community.
The Whistler Podcast
Season 2, Episode 12: The Real Wild Kittens are changing the demographics of skateboarding (with Juliette Pelchat, Amalia Pelchat and Maggie Crompton)
In this episode of The Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton and Cole Stefiuk speak to Juliette and Amalia (Billy) Pelchat and Mayor Crompton’s daughter Maggie Crompton, of the Real Wild Kittens. The Real Wild Kittens are a non-profit skateboard collective with the goal to provide a safe environment for women to learn to skateboard and to progress in a male-dominant sport. The Real Wild Kittens hosts jams, camps and private lessons.
Juliette, Amalia and Maggie also talk about growing up snowboarding in Whistler, and Juliette competing in the Youth Olympics last year.
Today on The Whistler podcast, I will ask Real Wild Kittens about the girls' takeover of the Whistler skateboard park, stick around. Hello everyone. I'm Jack Crompton. He is Cole Stefiuk, and this is the Whistler Podcast as always. We want to acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional unceded territories of the Lil'wat Nation and the Squamish Nation. Cole. Today, I'm really looking forward to speaking to Billy and Juliette Pelchat and my own daughter, Maggie Crompton. Uh, we're going to talk skateboarding, snowboarding, all kinds of different things. Uh, are you skateboarder? Did you grow up skateboarding?
Cole Stefiuk:I tried it for a minute. I wasn't very good. And uh, I kinda, I felt like I got, maybe it was in my own head, but I just got like run out of the skate area. So I just didn't try.
Mayor Crompton:Where's the skate park in Squamish.
Cole Stefiuk:There's a new one now by the secondary school, but where I, when I grew up there was this little tiny one with a little bowl uh, by the rec center Brennan Park. And, uh, it was so it's too high. It was too small. That's why they built the bigger one, but I remember growing up there and it was, it was tough to get some space in that part.
Mayor Crompton:There's an, there's also one that was built under a bridge, um, up by Quest. That is like, I think it's like skater built and, and which reminds me, there's one kind of inspired by Burnside in Portland. Have you heard of Burnside skate park? I have not. It sounds cool. So Burnside is a bridge in Portland and in the eighties, a bunch of skate boarders took concrete down under this bridge and built this legendary skate park. So in every skate video game, you can skate Burnside. And it has a little bit of that feeling of, you know, you're not welcome here if you go down there, because I think partly because it's become this cultural place where skateboarders go to visit, but also just anybody goes to visit. And in some ways, if, if the purpose of the place is skateboarding and, and it's been sort of built by and cared about by a group of people, it feels, um, probably strange to them that it's turned into this sort of cultural site that people should go in and visit. But it's, it's, it's interesting. I think the one up at Quest was built sort of similarly by skaters for skaters. Gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. Do you skateboard? What's that? Do you skateboard? Not now. I used to skateboard, uh, but, uh, I've had too many injuries.
Cole Stefiuk:I almost feel like as a silly content piece, we should, u h, m ean you should go skateboarding with, u h, J uliet a nd, and A melia and Maggie, just like the five of us and just to see what it's like.
Mayor Crompton:Sure. Yeah. And we, and they could manage a skateboard contest between you and I.
Cole Stefiuk:Oh, that would be so much fun. That'd be so much fun.
Mayor Crompton:Oh, let's, uh, I look forward to speaking to them, but let's get on to ask Jack and ask Cole. Let's ask Cole anything. Uh, my question for you this week, Cole is what is it like to run Mountain FM all by yourself?
Cole Stefiuk:It's tough. I don't give Darren nearly enough credit. I'll be completely honest with you. So Darren's on vacation for two weeks. I just got back from vacation. So I was in Ontario for a week. Jet lag plus waking up at four in the morning is not a fun combination. Um, but man, he does so much behind the scenes that he, I'm not even doing everything that he does. And I am absolutely toast by 11:00 AM. And I can't leave even if my show is over. Cause I got to stick around until like two o'clock and it may not sound like a lot, but it's, it's wild, man. It's crazy.
Mayor Crompton:All right. Uh, I think you're doing a good job. I was up early driving around and I heard your voice in the morning and it just felt wrong to have you up so early.
Cole Stefiuk:It felt wrong, but I need to,
Mayor Crompton:But I think you're doing a good job. Thank you. Thanks. All right. Ask Jack anything what's up for me today. All right.
Cole Stefiuk:So a little humble brag, cause I'm pretty stoked about it. And I, every time I talk about it, I feel like I'm bragging too much. But when I was in Ontario, I got to go to the very first Blue Jays game in like two years. It was incredible. It was, it felt like we were back, even though there was less people and we were wearing masks, but I want to ask Jack, what Whistler event are you most excited for in a post pandemic world?
Mayor Crompton:Oh, that's a good question. Um, you know, I think World Ski and Snowboard, we it's, it's been so long since it's been done and the virtual piece of it was, was inspiring and interesting, but for me, I just love that hot April day where there's, uh, you know, uh, uh, uh, big day finished by a big snowboard event and music in the village and people moving and sort of celebrating the sports that we love so much. So, um, and with Gibbons taking it over, I think it's going to be sort of taken to the next level. I'm excited, excited to see what they do with world skins. Yeah. I had
Cole Stefiuk:I had Joey on a couple of times leading up to 2020s, uh, the first Gibbons run, uh, World Ski and Snowboard and the, what he was planning to do that year was crazy. And after a two year hiatus, I can only imagine what that team is going to put together. I'm sad. You're right. That's a great answer. I'm stoked
Mayor Crompton:Now and did the Blue Jays win?
Cole Stefiuk:And it was incredible and it was like being home again. It was just so nice having like that experience I had sporting events is just like the coolest thing. So when I got to like, you know, be in a crowd high five strangers, and like just shout and scream and chuck beer at home runs, it was nice. That's what I, that's what I live for
Mayor Crompton:A year and a half without high-fiving strangers.
Cole Stefiuk:It was so nice. One kid. I don't want to high five. Me though. People still not okay with high fives. And I totally understand. I just, I was so lost in it that I was just trying to force everyone to high five me after home runs.
Mayor Crompton:Oh, it's such a strange world we're navigating now with knowing whether that person wants to hug you or high-five you and what they're comfortable with and what you're comfortable with. I think it's going to take some time for us to get used to how we navigate sort of the post COVID world, or I guess it's not post COVID yet, but a world where we're sort of differently, uh, um, inclined towards things like handshakes.
Cole Stefiuk:Yeah. But if I do go for a high five or a handshake, I have been rejected all the time, so I will take the rejection. Well, don't worry about it.
Mayor Crompton:All right. Moving on to last week's headlines, I will read three and Cole will pick one. Uh, our first headline from last week, Whistlerites on high alert as hot dry conditions persist. Number two, active COVID-19 cases in BC highest since June 11th and third Art on the lake returns with expanded lineup of on the water festivities. So you have got hot dry conditions. You've got COVID cases and you've got art on the lake. What is your preference? Cole?
Cole Stefiuk:Well, I feel like this is a tough one because the, I feel like when this dusk, I know art on the lake will have already happened when this probably drops. I am so interested to know more about that event, because it sounds so cool, but I know that when this comes out, it might've happened already, but I guess I'm going to go with the wild, the, the dry conditions and how we can maybe, uh, how, what we can do to like, avoid any sort of problems, because we've seen a couple of little spot fires throughout the, the Sea to Sky over the past week and a half or so obviously we've seen the smoke, uh, is a nice, I guess we should just talk about that. That's definitely going to be something that we need to talk about all summer and I'm sick of talking about COVID so,
Mayor Crompton:Okay. Fair enough. Yeah. Um, well, I think the interesting part is that we haven't really even entered prime fire season yet. It comes sort of the second half of August and September. Um, and it's concerning you're right. We've seen little spot fires in generally, uh, around here. Anyway, that is the result of carelessness with cigarettes, with campfires. I mean, if you can hear my voice and you're thinking about having a campfire check your head, like this is the wrong time to do anything with fire. In fact, the Whistler Fire Rescue Service has just, um, put a stop to propane, uh, fires in at homes, um, for a time because the fire risk is, is so high. So I think it's a big deal that people, uh, do things differently than they might be inclined to with things like cigarettes and campfires.
Cole Stefiuk:Yeah, totally. And I, yeah, you're totally right. If you're that kind of a selfish person, like, yeah. Give your head a shake. I don't know what you're doing. I have a question really quickly. I know we probably got to get to our conversation with the girls soon, but the fire that happened on Blackcomb Mountain, like what was that 10 years ago? I was probably too young to really understand, like, was that something that was of serious concern when it was burning? Cause all I, all I know from it is when I was like in grade 11 and 12 after the fire, it was, you know, it looked cool to ski down, but what was it like when it was actually burning and that whole experience, like, was it a legitimate fear in Whistler?
Mayor Crompton:It was. I mean, it was amazing how effective the partnership between BC wildfire service Whistler Blackcomb, uh, Blackcomb Aviation, the Wister fire rescue service was to actually deliver a response. Um, but yeah, it, it's, it's a big concern, fires move so fast now. And, and, and they, they did then as well, but w we just w the drier, we are the quicker they move. And certainly the Blackcomb fire was one of concern for us. We do have some natural firebreaks within the ski area based on the, the, um, trails that have been cut. Um, but needless to say it was a big, um, concern, and it was amazing how quickly, uh, we, as a community responded.
Cole Stefiuk:Uh, and just before we get to the growth, a grim reminder that the entire town of Lytton was overrun in like less than two hours, it moves that fast. So like, yeah, don't be selfish. Don't be stupid. It's should be that easy.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. And, and there are the people being selfish and stupid. I think there's also the people that are not informed. A friend of mine said that they were chatting to someone who was smoking a cigarette in a park. And they went up to them and said, listen, that's really dangerous to be ashing your cigarette into the grass. And the person said, it's green here, it's safe. And I think that, you know, for some people, the education around the, the importance of, um, you know, being more careful than you think you even to be, and then the idea of people lighting a campfire up at Cougar Mountain is, is shocking, but I think there's some education that needs to happen. And then we just need to keep saying, do not do anything with fire right now. Uh, we're just too exposed, okay.
Cole Stefiuk:Then I guess we can end on one last thing on that note. I'm sure I know BC wildfire services has a lot, maybe Whistler does too. Where is that education available for someone listening and goes, yeah, green grass is safe to ash on or something like that. You know,
Mayor Crompton:We're doing our best at the row two to share that information as regular as we can through through Twitter and on our website and Facebook. Um, I think, you know, the education is fairly simple, simple. And I think it's having that conversation like my friend did at the park to just say, Hey, please be safe. And one of the big requests that we have of this community is if you see smoke, if you see fire phone 911 phone 911, that's how serious this is. It's not a question of, should I phone the non-emergency line? It's if you see smoke or fire, don't, uh, take the time to figure out what's actually happening, report it as quickly as you can, so that our response. Yeah. And you can also
Cole Stefiuk:Call star five, five, five, five for the BC wildfires
Mayor Crompton:As well. Exactly. Great. Well, cool. Let's get to Maggie Juliette and Billy looking forward to chatting to them. Hello. Shat is a powerhouse and a leader. She is constantly coming up with ways to change her sport and improve our town. Amelia Pelchat, or Billy, as we all know her know her is full of joy. She's constantly pushing Juliette and Maggie to progress. Billy is, uh, pushing her sport constantly. Maggie Crompton is my daughter. She is insightful, courageous and lots of fun. Um, Maggie broke from Crompton convention very early and started snowboarding because her friends, Juliette and Billy, uh, inspired her and the three of them are leading snowboarding and skateboarding in Whistler in very interesting ways. I want to start, we always start with rapid fire where we ask you questions and this'll be a little complicated because there are three of you. So maybe I will just ask each, we'll start with, uh, uh, Juliette. What music are you listening to right now? What do you listen to?
Juliette Pelchat:Uh, all sorts of music. I listen to anything that comes on, but mostly just like hip hop lately. Cause we've been doing some construction around the property here in use in the Ucluelet. So yeah. Hip hop
Mayor Crompton:Dad's music basically.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. Yeah.
Mayor Crompton:That's good. How about you Billy same?
Juliette Pelchat:Um, I listened to Juliette's music, so I guess my dad's music, I, she shares her playlist and I listen to that. Yeah. We're really uncultured in the whole music industry. I'd say
Mayor Crompton:No, it's interesting. I I've noticed about people your age is that when I ask what music do you listen to often? It's just, whatever is playing through online media platforms like Tik Tok and that, and that kind of thing. There's not like my favorite band is whoever it's that you're listening to music that comes through and comes up in your feed. Mags, what do you listen to
Maggie Crompton:We go to the gym together and she'll plug into the ox and then that, and she goes on my account cause she doesn't have Spotify Premium and we don't want the ads going through the gym. So then I have her playlist and I'll listen to that.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. Sounds good. Second. What, uh, Billy, do you like most about our town?
Juliette Pelchat:Um, I love the community and everything that everyone's, everyone's so included in everything and like, it's, I like that. It's a small town. So you kind of know everything that's going on. Yeah.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah. I'd say definitely community and how like, yeah. There's like Whistler and then there's all the visitors. So you're constantly meeting new people from around the world. They're traveling here or they're moving here. So like that,
Mayor Crompton:I noticed that a lot of your friends who you snowboard and compete with around the world are coming through here on a regular basis so that you can see them most winters and then ride with them.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah. Yeah. They all come here. We don't have to go anywhere else.
Mayor Crompton:How about you, what do you like about our town?
Juliette Pelchat:I like that everybody does stuff like is active. I like that our town is very active and there's a lot of sports going on and we always like, when we're going out, we're always like, oh, let's go on a walk or let's go on a bike ride as something to do together.
Mayor Crompton:Mags. What are you most curious about these days?
Maggie Crompton:I don't even know. There's so much to think about. Um, probably just like, what am I curious about? What's a hard question, dad
Mayor Crompton:I know Maggie just got a new job, so she's mainly focused on ensuring that the Sushi Village continues to offer great service. Yeah. I'll come back. Okay. Go back to Billy. Either of you guys have something you're really curious about these days.
Billy Pelchat:Uh, I don't really know.
Juliette Pelchat:I'm curious about, uh, schools and universities and after like programs for like my sport that are going to support my sport and uh, my school at the same time.
Mayor Crompton:Huh. Great. Uh, and then, uh, my final question is in your opinion, Billy, who is the interesting person in the world?
Billy Pelchat:Ooh. In my opinion, the most interesting person in the world, I have no idea. Um, Juliette. Sure.
Juliette Pelchat:I know. I, I, I think the most interesting person is Elon Musk because he's so like his brain is like so advanced and so crazy. Like if you were him for a day, I feel like you would like transport to a different world with his brain and then come back to you and you would be like the smartest person ever.
Mayor Crompton:So I'll have, you know, we've asked that question to other people and you are the second person to say Elon Musk. And so we're building momentum towards having Elon Musk on the program. Cole, can you line up Elon Musk for a future podcast? You think? Yeah.
Cole Stefiuk:I hit him up on his cell phone and we'll, we'll, we'll get to him and Grimes and at the same time, see how their brains work
Mayor Crompton:Sounds good. All right. Mags. Do you have someone or do you agree on Elon Musk?
Maggie Crompton:I think, yeah. It's crazy. Cause you always hear him talking about how his brain just like doesn't shut off, which obviously if you were him forever, that'd be hard, but one day you just never shut down. Always be thinking. It's pretty cool. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely.
Juliette Pelchat:Powerhouse of like, yeah, that sounds really cool. Yeah. Elon Musk. Yeah. Well like if somebody asked me if I could be somebody for a day, I would choose him because I know that if you were him forever, it would be like too much to handle. But I think that if you had his knowledge for a day, you can use it to your advantage when you get back to yourself.
Mayor Crompton:Great. Well, we are going to, uh, talk all about skateboarding and snowboarding. I want to start by asking, uh, Billy Juliette, are you guys watching the Olympics? Have you watched the Olympics at all?
Billy Pelchat:Yeah, we've been watching a lot of the girls skateboarding.
Juliette Pelchat:and this morning, did you hear about this morning's news?
Mayor Crompton:What happened this morning?
Juliette Pelchat:The skate, the soccer female soccer, yeah Canada. That was awesome. I want to watch it though. Don't I kind of know the gist of what happened, but I want to watch the whole game. So don't, if you know, don't tell me
Mayor Crompton:It was a really good game.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah. I had my alarm for six often. I tried it off as I was too tired.
Mayor Crompton:You didn't wake up to watch it. Oh man,
Billy Pelchat:It sounds like something I would do, I would just, oh, maybe not today. I'll watch it later.
Juliette Pelchat:I would get up, but I didn't know what's going on.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah, well it was, it was a very good game. You will enjoy it a lot. Um, so women's skateboarding. We had a lot of really young girls in the finals and I looked at the ages. So Sakara Yosozumi who won she's 19 Kokona Hiraki who came, who got the bronze is 12 years old and Sky Brown who came third is 13 years old. And it made me think of you guys in the skate park and how for a long time, as far as girls are concerned, do you were kind of alone there? You guys there's some older girls, but as far as younger girls are concerned, it was just you. What do you think it says about skateboarding that girls that are so young are, are winning metals, uh, at world competitions, like the Olympics,
Juliette Pelchat:I think go for it. Maggie.
Maggie Crompton:I think it really depends with the environment. Like if say your father was really into skateboarding, you're getting into it at a really young age and if there's a good community, but um, for other girls, like they just don't have the opportunity because their parents don't have a skateboard or, um, they just were never introduced to it. So I think it really depends on the community that you're brought up in.
Juliette Pelchat:Um, well I think from my perspective, it's pretty inspiring to see that, um, these young girls are making it to this elite level and are winning these competitions. And I think for other people as well to see this, it's kind of, it's also inspiring. They can see like, like older women can look at it and be like, oh, this younger girl did it so I can do it. Like I can, I can participate. I can take part, I can, I can do this. Like I can go to the skate park and progress and learn and all these things. Um, but yeah, like it's just incredible to see the level of like progression and also the level that they are at such a young age. It's very inspiring.
Billy Pelchat:I think that's super inspiring too. And it makes me want to keep skateboarding even more.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. For, from our perspective, it makes it, it pushes us to get better as well. So I think, um, for talking for all the females, that's inspiring, I guess.
Mayor Crompton:So you watch the finals for the women?
Billy Pelchat:Yeah. We watched the, uh, street and the bull.
Juliette Pelchat:We watched men street.
Billy Pelchat:I watched girls.
Juliette Pelchat:Okay. Well, yeah. And then we watched the whole bowl, um, qualifiers, and final, huh? For females.
Mayor Crompton:And so did you, and you watched Keegan Palmer, wind gold in
Juliette Pelchat:That is insane. I didn't watch it, but I know, wait, what did you watch it? But I've, I've been following his, um, Olympic journey for like the past year. And like I saw that he qualified and all that stuff, and that was insane that he won the Olympics. Like it's so good for him. I think, I think it's cool.
Maggie Crompton:Cause I also, I was seeing one of his posts on Instagram and he was talking about how he had this trick. I think it was like a kick flip five 40 or something. And he learned it in COVID and just didn't like, didn't tell anybody that he got, it kept to kind of under rocks and then pull it out in his last run out of three and stomped it, which I think is cool. Cause nobody was really expecting him to win.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. I think it was awesome. Anything, any moments in the Olympics skateboarding contest that jumped out at you girls?
Juliette Pelchat:Um, yes. Um, for me, when I was watching the Olympics, I thought the best part was after every run, um, that a female put down or didn't put down or felt the commentator bowl. I mean like the encouragement and like how they were greeted when they got out of the bowl from all the females, like they would all run to each other and be super stoked and be like, yeah, you did so well. And all the emotions that was going on, like I thought that was a good aspect of the, of the Olympics, just to see like, even though they're competitors and like they're like competing against each other and they want to do well and they want to like beat each other. They're also there for each other and they're very supportive and encouraging at the same time. And I think that's different for girls and boys. I think that's a different aspect in sport.
Mayor Crompton:So talk to me Juliette about ladies' skate and, and how it started, but also, um, how it builds that comradery that you're seeing at the Olympics in a local context here.
Juliette Pelchat:Um, okay. Well there's a, this is a long story, but I'll try and make it as short as possible. Um, so, uh, last year, uh, during COVID my me and my sister, we came up to Ukee[Ucluelet] and there was like this rundown event here that was like, didn't have that many participants, but it was called the Ukee Ladies skate event. And we would come out here and we took part in it. And then we contacted some people out here, like some pro snowboarders, like Robin Van Gyn and Marie-France Roy and be like,'Hey, like, let's go out to skateboard with like all of these girls and stuff like that'. And then when we showed up to skate park, like a bunch of girls came out and like, we were super inspired about the community and all that stuff. And then we taught, um, me and a million realized we're like, oh, we don't really have this event in Whistler. Like, why don't we bring it there? And then we talked to Maggie about it as well. And we kind of got together and organized like one of our first, um, events out here. And there was not that many girls that showed up at the first one, like 10, I guess. And then the second one really took off. I think it was just the word of mouth and like, um, sad times. Cause it COVID nothing really was going on. And like a bunch of girls came out and um, we had like a turnout of 30 girls, which was like pretty insane. Like that was just so insane to see like how many girls came out and we were like super stoked. So like that made up that was like, like, I guess like nice for us to see. Cause we wanted to like continue it throughout the summer. So then like we kept doing it throughout the summer and for us it was like, whoa, like this big community of girls is starting in Whistler at the skate park. And we're like super inspired by all the encouragement that was like going around. So we were like, okay, well we'll keep doing this throughout the summer and then see how it goes. And it was, it turned out really well.
Mayor Crompton:So Mags, you were at ladies' skate,, you just came back from ladies' skate. Tell us about what happens, uh, on a Friday morning at the skate park.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah. So I just got back today. Um, today was really cool cause we had a lot of girls that had never really skateboarded before. Um, and we've got extra skateboards and um, helmets and pads for all them to use. So I'll just go around, ask them like,'Hey, do you want to skate? Do you want to learn? Have you skateboarded before?' And they're like,'No, it's too scary.' Um, she's got a little group of them together and just practice pushing, standing on the board. And then of course we've got all of our other girls that have been here forever. That started from the very first one and they're always helping, encouraging all the younger girls, um, which is really cool. And yeah, we kind of just all just skate. We'll help some out, um, go down, learn some new things, get onto new hills.
Mayor Crompton:Um, yeah, that's awesome. And the skate park isn't really being used by too many people on a Friday morning. Right. Cause it's, it's pretty quiet. And then you, you guys just take over the whole park.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah, I think it's pretty cool. Um, there's not a ton of people. Of course. There's that the some odd dudes out there, but it's pretty. It's cool. Yeah. And I think people are like a lot of more people are kind of seeing that this is like a girls, a girls day, so they'll wait a little longer to come. Um, and I think it's also cool that we do it on a Friday because then people from the city, if they're coming up that morning, they can come. Um, so yeah.
Mayor Crompton:So, uh, Billy, you started with 10, it went to 30, but you've had over a hundred maybe on some days
Juliette Pelchat:Just like the whole escape work is full.
Billy Pelchat:Just like it's crazy. There's so many. And especially like there's, some of the moms are learning too. So like there's just such a group, big group of people.
Juliette Pelchat:and such a variety of levels and ages, which is pretty cool to see as well. Like Friday's ladies skate, I think has really brought a lot of, um, like, I don't know how to say this, but like a lot of inspiration I guess, or like motivation for people to come out and learn something new and give them like a safe environment for them to learn and try new skill without having to be intimidated. Because like when me Maggie and Amalia first started skateboarding, we didn't really have that like push or I don't know, like that community to come to when we went to the skate park and we were always like, when we would go to the skate park, we'd be like young and we'd be wanting to learn, but we would be scared to try things at the skate park. Cause there's always these big men that was there just like stuck in their like tricks and stuff. And like, like obviously they're like all in their, like in their own world when they're skateboarding. So like, you're like, oh, I don't want to get in this guy's way. Or like, uh, like I don't, I don't want him to yell at me or I don't want to hit somebody. So then we kind of just shied away to the bowl or like to a place where there was a lot less people, but there was a lot less like areas for us to learn in. So yeah, we were trying to provide this environment for girls to come out to the skate park and uh, not be shy or like help them out to not be shy.
Mayor Crompton:And moms are coming up to ladies skate now.
Billy Pelchat:Yeah. The moms want to learn with their kids now, so they're starting to come out and skate with us. And it's really great.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. We've had a lot of inquiries from older women and moms who want to learn how to skateboard. Who've contacted us for like lessons and like when our skate event happens and all this stuff and we're like super stoked on it. Like even my mom, my mom's learning now, like she's actually
Mayor Crompton:You've, you've taught your mom.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. She does the bumps at Ukee Maggie.
Mayor Crompton:So now your next project is Maggie's mom.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. Sounds good.
Mayor Crompton:We'll see how that goes. Okay. So you then decide. So all of a sudden there's all kinds of girls and women that are wanting to learn how to skateboard and you see a business opportunity and you decide that you'll start teaching, uh, skateboarding. So Juliette tell us about Real Wild Kittens and what you do and the service that you provide to our community outside of lady skate.
Juliette Pelchat:Okay. So Real Wild Kittens started off as the event in the first place. And then we saw the demand and we were deciding to monopolize on that and provide girls with more, um, um, like I guess more give that to give them more attention for coaching. And so we decided to do host a few camps last year and they were like full every time full every time. And the parents were super like impressed, but stoked on what their kids were learning and coming and like the parents aren't just paying for their kid to come home with like new tricks. They're also paying for them to be a part of a community event or no, not a community that accumulated like learning thing and making friends like their kids are going out to make friends learn new skills, like come out of their shell a bit more. So it's like pretty awesome. And we hold it, we hold like a bunch of camps throughout the summer and some private lessons and um, the event as well, which is pretty awesome. Do you have anything to add?
Billy Pelchat:That sounds good.
Juliette Pelchat:Passing the torch on. There you go.
Mayor Crompton:For those of you. Well, everyone who's listening to this, can't see video. We don't have video on this podcast, but Juliette has given Billy the mic and Billy has said nothing to add. Um, Mags, what's your experience of teaching? Uh, uh, skateboarding to groups of kids is part of camps.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah, I think it's awesome. I, I work for Juliette, I guess she's the, she's a Billy and Juliette they're the, they're the, a head head of that. And I work for them, which I personally think is awesome. I love it. The best bosses ever. Yeah, I think it's cool. Cause I also get, we get to teach with our friends. Um, and we meet all the girls. Like I always love going to the skate park and be like, hi Stella. Hi Marianne. Just saying hi to all of them. Um, they're all like giving us big hugs, which is really cool to see. Um, and yeah, then it's also cool to see, like after the camps we'll see them at the skate park, a lot more regularly, and with the girls that they met at the camp, um, which I also think is really awesome. Yeah. I don't know. That's true. Yeah.
Juliette Pelchat:They're making new friends always. We always see them at the skate park with like, there were so many girls that come to the skate park now, which is insane to see in there always with like new people that they met from the camp, which is awesome.
Mayor Crompton:That's been, what's been most noticeable for me is the change in the demographic at the skate park as a result of what you guys have done is that there are so many more, uh, girls and women that are there at the skate park. And that's really exciting. That's good work by three of you to really promote this.
Maggie Crompton:And just not just us, there's a lot more other girls that help us coach like to Takaia, um, Irie, Kaia, am I forgetting anyone a lot? Everybody a lot.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. There's a good, there's a good crew that, uh, that, um, helps us put these, make these events and these camps happen for sure. There's a lot of coaches that are super awesome and they know how to really teach pass on the skills and the, the knowledge to the youngers, to the young, to the younglings and the old and the older skaters who want to come and learn some new skills, you know?
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. So, uh, Juliette, if, if, if someone out there is thinking, oh, I want my daughter to be involved in, in real wild kittens. How do they get in touch with you?
Juliette Pelchat:Um, through, um, my email or through the Real Wild Kittens email, but we have our Instagram platform called Real Wild Kittens that has, um, that posts all the updates and everything like that. And we also have this like online information page. That's just under a drop form thing that you can go onto. And it has all the information through that, like for all of our programs and our events, special inquiries, like all that stuff. So yeah, through our Instagram, which is@realwildkittens has everything on that. Like literally everything is on that. You can, you can find anything on that
Mayor Crompton:@RealWildKittens. You can find everything about skateboarding in Whistler. Um, I read something where you were sort of describing the work of, of a Real Wild Kittens and you talked about how the Whistler skate park can be an intimidating place. Um, I think the work you're doing is making it less intimidating. Um, are you seeing that yourselves? Are you seeing it being a more sort of welcoming place for the community?
Juliette Pelchat:100%? I don't, I don't know if it's just me getting older and like getting better on my skateboard, which is allowing me to be more like, yes, I can do this. Or if it's just changing.
Maggie Crompton:I think it's both because the girls now can come at night and it's like, there's not less like the scary men have now become like the men that help the girls like, and like watch out.
Juliette Pelchat:And definitely the dynamic of the skate park has changed a lot throughout the, over the past year, which is pretty cool to see. Cause like when we first started, like it was so like, we wouldn't go to the skate park past like 5:00 PM.
Billy Pelchat:We'd go in the morning from like seven till 10 and like just skate. And then when people showed up, like more than like a few people, we were like, okay, time to go. We'll come tomorrow morning again.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. So we would go, we would try and time it so that the, so that there was nobody else at the skate park. So we didn't have to like get in anybody's way or get in trouble or something like that cause any conflict. But I think that's was also in our head, but also true, but I think it's changed over the past year for sure, for the better. And that's our main goal really like, um, Real Wild Kittens were like, we want to, we want to be part of the change and uh, of like the girls' involvement in male dominant sports, which is because skateboarding is a male dominant sport and, and it like started like that in the first place. But I think now that it's changing a lot and I I'm, I think we can say that we're part of the change. I hope we can definitely can.
Billy Pelchat:Yeah. That's our goal. Yeah.
Maggie Crompton:And I don't think it's that the men are necessarily scary. I think it's all just like, there's not any, are there now there's a lot more, but there wasn't much like girl representation. Um, yeah. As long as that odd girl that will come up. Um, and super cool, but yeah, I think very young and didn't really know enough to really jump, jump out and like try enough stuff. But yeah, I think it's definitely changing. Yeah.
Juliette Pelchat:The men weren't, they aren't scary. We're just, we just, we just think that they're scary because they're older than us and bigger than us and we don't want to get yelled at by them. That's what we put into our heads for the people that were, we thought were going to yell at us if we got in their way. Yeah, exactly. It actually happened a few, like a few times. It did. And that's why we were like, they're like, oh, you're in my way. And I'm like, so sorry. It's certain, it's not actually that they're scary. They're just like super focused on their skateboarding and kind of oblivious to what they're doing.
Cole Stefiuk:So funny you guys mentioned that like totally not, not the same vibe, but like when I was a kid, I really wanted to try skateboarding and I tried a couple of times and it felt like there was this weird, like toxic vibe at the skate park every time I'd show up. So when I was a little kid, I always just felt like I was just, I wasn't supposed to be there. And then I never really pursued it. Uh, that's different than what you guys are doing. Cause I'll be obviously must different for girls obviously. Um, but even noticing like I just bike on my daily rides in Whistler, I pass the park. I noticed that it doesn't feel as toxic just by seeing it. And if that, like, that seems like it's you guys and what you guys are doing and helping doing that, like skateboarding it's male dominant. And I probably is why it's toxic, but it's also got somewhat of a historically toxic environment. So props to you guys are changing that.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah, for sure. And you don't want to just like separate girls from men. We want to be able to, like, we want to be able to provide with like girls from a young age or an older age to come and like learn how to skateboard in a safe environment. But we also want to help them get into the level that they feel confident enough to go skateboarding with boys as well. And like have like that camaderie and be able to encourage each other and feed off each other as they get older, not just boys, girls, boys, girls, and divided. Like we don't want to divide them. We would just want to be able, we just want to be here so that they can have the courage to come and learn. And then after that go and skateboard with their friends and
Cole Stefiuk:Give them the opportunity I think is what it is. Right.
Juliette Pelchat:No 100%.
Cole Stefiuk:No, I'm not. I am, I'm not too much older than you guys, but even way back in my day, there were no girls at the skate park, like ever.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah, exactly. But I think that's changing like a lot, like you can smell. Yeah. You can see it changing. You can give a little bit of a backstory of what Real Wild Kittens is.
Cole Stefiuk:I would love it if you guys could give us a backstory of real wild kittens, please.
Juliette Pelchat:Okay. So let's start off with the name first. So, uh, real wild kittens. Um, it's actually the real, it didn't really start off with that, but we'll start off with the whole thing. So my dad is JF Pelchat and he's uh, ex pro legendary back country snowboarder who made a bunch of sick movies. Um, he was part of the Wild Cats crew, which is this snowboard crew back in the day who like invented, um, the wild cat trick and filmed a bunch of movie parts traveled all this stuff. Um, um, so then as me and Amelia are the offsprings of JF, we were always, we always grew up being called, labeled as like the kittens, the wild kittens, the little, the little kiddies. So then, um, on the mountain, when we were part of the Whistler Valley Snowboard Club, me Maggie Crompton, who was there, Billy and which is Amalia, AKA, Amelia and Juliette. And Irie Smith, who's not on this call obviously, but um, us four, we were, um, in a snowbird group in Whistler Valley snowboard club. And we were like the only girls in the club at the time. And, um, we always knew where to together and we decided to name ourselves the Wild Kittens. And then we started an Instagram account, but the wild kittens was taken. So Jack Crompton, we asked Jack right there, who, what we should name our thing. Cause it was already taken. He was like, you should just real in front of it. Cause you guys are the real deal. And then, so we decided to name ourselves the real wild kittens and um, it stuck with us ever since. And then yeah, so the OG crew was Maggie me Amelia and um, a rad girl named Irie. Who's super sick just, and uh, yeah, that's how it first started. So initially it was a snowboard group, a snowboard crew, and then it kind of moved towards skateboarding, but we're still a snowboard crew, but yeah, that was like the main,
Maggie Crompton:I think like we just moved to skateboarding because we had, we already had a platform through the Real Wild Kittens so we just decided to use that, um, to kind of get the word out and then it just stuck.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah, exactly. We, yeah, exactly. And then now we decided to, oh yeah, me and Amalia incorporated Real Wild Kittens name and nobody can take it and we didn't limit ourselves just to, um, we didn't limit ourselves just to skateboarding because we see the Real Wild Kittens evolving to other sports as well as a girls initiative and in the future. So yeah. And we're pretty stoked on that. We're all pretty stoked on that. I think
Mayor Crompton:So. Um, all of you spend most of your winter and actually lots of your summers when possible snowboarding. So let's finish today talking about snowboarding, Juliette, what draws you to snowboarding aside from the story you've just told us about family, um, what draws you to the sport?
Juliette Pelchat:Um, well I love snowboarding because it's, I dunno, it's just where I can be express my creativity I guess, and be myself on my board and like feel the best. It's like super flowy and I really love being in the mountains, like especially living in Whistler and all that stuff, but yeah, I was always, I always, I was always on a snowboard. I had the option to ski, but I chose snowboarding obviously. Um, I was on a snowboard at three years old and I've been on a snowboard ever since. So I don't know. I just love it so much because it's makes me feel like I'm flowing down the mountain. Love it. It's my passion.
Mayor Crompton:Um, you all three of you have done all kinds of competitions all over the place, but you did the Youth Olympics last year. Tell us about, tell us what that's like to be in a competition. It was in Switzerland.
Juliette Pelchat:Yes. It was in Switzerland. It was a crazy experience. Like insane. It was just so I don't know. It was not, I didn't do my best. I didn't do exactly how I wanted to do in the contest. Cause I, um, it was a good learning curve for me. I'd say that's how I'm going to put it. Um, it was a super hard course and super big features. And I was pretty young. I was like the youngest one there, I think besides from my teammate, um, we were both like 15, I think. And then there was like 18 year olds competing with us. Um, the course is pretty, pretty big, but the overall experience was insane just to be in that level of competition and see how like how, like, it was an introduction to the level of snowboarding that I'm going to probably be competing in this upcoming season. But it was just like insane to see all the countries come together and compete and where we were staying and all that stuff. It was just like really an incredible experience. I'd have to say.
Mayor Crompton:And when you say the course was big, what do you mean by that? Like how big,
Juliette Pelchat:Like insanely big, I don't know this exact sizing of the jump, but like I think it was like 65, 70 feet jump and the smaller jump was like pretty much the big jump, just cut in half. So it was the same distance, but you had to go so fast into the jump and it was just crazy. And I was like, literally like, oh my God, I was terrified. I think Maggie was woke up in the morning to watch me. And I was like on the camera.
Mayor Crompton:We all woke up in the morning to watch you the whole time.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah, I know. I was like, my voice was trembling. I was like, I don't want to be here right now. I'm so scared. Like, I don't know how to ride this course. I don't know how to hit any of these features. I've never hit a jump this big in my entire life. And I was like, so I like fell on both my runs. Okay. The crazy thing was, is like in practice, I landed my run. And then in the contest, when the cameras were on me and all the eyes were on me, the whole course was silent when I dropped in, I freaked out. And like, I think I did did an extra speed check and like cased it so hard and just died. It was like.
Maggie Crompton:You weren't the worst. You weren't the worst one there.
Juliette Pelchat:I was not like all the girls had difficult time.
Billy Pelchat:The call was like the best fall compared to all of the other people.
Juliette Pelchat:Some people like landed on their heads and it was horrible. It was like so bad, but it was, it was like, and then that made me realize that I really have to like push myself and hit bigger jumps and stuff like that. But, um, after I think it was also the fact that it was like the first contest of the year. It went from like training on gray line in Whistler, which is like 45 foot jumps to going to like these big stompers that are like 65 plus 70 feet. And I'm just like, oh my God. I was like a little duck just sitting up there. I was so scary.
Mayor Crompton:So that raises something that as a parent, I makes me nervous. I will say to you, um, Maggie was on her first trip with NexGen Canada with you and injuries are part of the sport. Um, and so Team Canada was training in the Yukon and uh, at a mountain called Mount SEMA and Maggie had a pretty serious accident and hurt her knee. Tell us about that trip to Mount Sima and riding big jumps Mags.
Maggie Crompton:Oh yeah. Uh, I think it was just a series of unfortunate events. Um, obviously it was my first time back on snow or we'd ridden a little bit at, um, Banff before that, but that was my first time really hitting jumps and summer off after a summer and COVID season, it was a little over six months, I think more since, um, hit jumps, hit big jumps like that. And obviously I was feeling the pressure. Like the coaches were great. They were like, you don't have to do anything. But I was like, no, I really want to. And yeah, the jump was big. Like, um, yeah,
Juliette Pelchat:it was big and it was terrifying.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah, it was, yeah. We were hitting it at night. So we were under the lights. Um, and just landed, like hit the jump.
Mayor Crompton:You were following someone in to get your speed. Right.
Maggie Crompton:I had hit the jump a couple of times before that, um, taken a little fall, but then landed at a couple of times. And then, uh, and at this
Mayor Crompton:Point you're not spinning yet. Cause you're all just trying to get the speed, right. So that you can, uh, start spinning.
Maggie Crompton:Yes. We're trying to have a see and me and Juliette are rambling at the top of this junk, but you know, you just suck it up and do it. And obviously I wasn't the best.
Juliette Pelchat:Do you think it's scarier that you hit it at night? That like I give the whole scenario to our listeners here. All right.
Maggie Crompton:So I'm not Sima. We would hit the rails in the morning. Um, and it is so cold there it's like negative 40 at least negative 1 million, pretty much. It felt like it. Um, so we'd hit rails in the morning and then we take a break, go eat some dinner and then we'd go and hit the jump at night. And we were doing, there was one jump and it was probably 60, 65 feet. I think it was 55, 55 to 60 feet or something like that. Yeah. So the jump itself was pretty big, but it was also the run in. That was a terrifying cause it was a little, a little blind and you have to go pretty fast. And so we were speed checking the jobs to be checking the job, um, sled laps, which were fun, kind of scary. Uh, and then, yeah, I, the first time I hit it, I went pretty big and fell on my butt and I was like, okay, I don't really want to do that again for awhile. So I took a couple nights off and then, um, went back, I think like three nights later and hit the jump once. And I was like, all right, one and done, like, I'm going to do it again tomorrow. I just want to get that out of the way, came back the next day, have the jump first time and didn't go short, but didn't go exactly where I want it to go. So I was like, Hey, I'm going to go a little faster. And then one a little faster. And I didn't necessarily go that big. I went pretty big, like enough to give you a massive, uh, okay. So I was pretty big, but I didn't necessarily fall. I, I landed and I feel because of my knee, like there wasn't a fall that ripped it or tore it. I tore my ACL. Um, so I landed funny. And then yeah, from then.
Juliette Pelchat:I didn't even know. So I was at the top and I, um, didn't even know that she felt, so I was like gearing up to spin it for my first time. And it was like one of the last nights of the trip. And like, I think of second last session, I didn't even know she fell. And I was like, Hey, why is the jump closed so weird? So I went down to check and Maggie was like at the bottom and I was like, holy. And it was just crazy. Like her full and her injury was making me like, like I think I cried because I think I cried. I cried. I did, I cried cause of Maggie's injury. And it was so bad. Like everything that was going on, it was just like such a dramatic event. And I was like, I watched the video after and I was like, how the heck did you even do that to your knee? Like, she pretty much landed. And then just, butt checked. And then like, it looked like she could have wrote away, but when she was at the bottom, she was like, no, I can't move. Like I can't move. Like she was like such, I think she was also in shock as well, but she was like, I can't move. Like I cannot move my knee, my knee, my knee. She was like my knee. And then we were like, oh shoot. And because of COVID they weren't allowing anybody else in the ambulance. And I was so pissed. I was like, are you serious? Like my friend just like did definitely does something to her knee. Cause Maggie is pretty tough. Like very tough. Like if anything happened, like she didn't even cry when she broke her humerus on the Glacier. And um, uh, so yeah, I knew something was wrong because me and you've been best friends for like the longest time ever. And um, I wanted to be in the ambulance with her, but they wouldn't let me. And I was like getting so mad and he was like, can you just let her in the ambulance? They're like, no, we're not letting you. And I was so pissed.
Mayor Crompton:So then we get a phone call you, uh, your mom and I, and you are, so you were, you were crying. Yes. But then when I call, yes, we talked to you, but then we talked to her later and Maggie was crying, but you could hear in her voice, it's this anger and frustration that she knows that she's not going to be able to snowboard for a year. And it makes me think about, um, you three do a sport that's dangerous. And as parent, um, there's, there's a sort of conflict in me where I want you all to be able to chase something that you love so much. And if that was ever taken away, that would be devastating for you. Um, yeah, as you chase it, you expose yourself to risk and danger. Um, but it doesn't seem to me that you have that conflict. Juliette. Do you have a sense that for you it's easy math, you are, there's no like fear of the injury. It's the joy of the sport that's that's most important to you? Or do you have any of that push and pull inside yourself?
Juliette Pelchat:Yes. I have a push and pull. I am a very, I think I'm a calculated snowboarder. Um, like I overthink things sometimes to an extent that I wish I didn't like for flip. Like for me, my biggest challenge in snowboarding is flipping, like getting over upside down on a snowboard, um, because, um, my brain is crazy and it puts a lot of mental blocks and that's a big challenge for me. A few years ago, I broke my collarbone, trying a back flip in the, in the Blackcomb park. And, um, I haven't really been able to shake that injury off, uh, really that much. So I'm using like alternative tools, like the airbag and stuff to help me get over that fear and powder and stuff like that to get upside down, which has been helpful and stuff. And I do flip it's just like the first one is always like, oh my gosh, like, am I going to do this? Or am I going to actually deck this and on my head and just eat it? Like, am I getting, am I going to get it around it? Or am I going to be a freaking baby and just eat it on my head? You've gotten way better.
Billy Pelchat:You can do it now. Like in the powder you're like actually fine to do it.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. It just takes me. It just takes me a little while to build that confidence to be able to try it. But yeah. So for me, I think like injury, like if I had been, I think Maggie has that, I'm not scared I can do this aspect. And, um, that's what gets her more injured, I think, than me. And cause I just like, I'm always like overthinking things. I'm like, am I really going to try this? Or am I actually going to then like eat it? And he's like, I can do it. Yeah. Maybe he's like, do it and send it and then usually works out. But then there's that odd time where it's like, and that didn't really work out. So I'm injured in six months.
Maggie Crompton:I t hink obviously everybody has fears of what could go wrong and t hen they, u h, like display that differently. U m, I d on't k now. I feel like I kind of pulled that in a little bit then everybody's like, y ou've got no fear and I'm like, y eah, I'm scared. I'm definitely scared. But I feel like the love of the sport and like the accomplishment that you feel when you do something overpowers that fear that just going.
Juliette Pelchat:like 100%. I totally agree with that. Yeah. Billy, you are
Mayor Crompton:The younger sister who pushes these girls hard. What's that like to see people who are a couple of years ahead of you, but you, uh, get to be the one that pushes them, uh, to be better and at what they do,
Billy Pelchat:It's really good to see them. Cause then I can I push them to do something and then they do it and then I'm like, okay, that's good. I can try this now. And it's so fun too, because then they're like kind of like the guinea pigs. I'm like, okay, you should go try this. Let's see if you do it. Right. And then I'll try it after you. Or like, it's just so fun to see them and like, yeah.
Juliette Pelchat:Billy's of kind of annoying though, because she's getting so good. I'm actually super stoked, but yeah, for sure. We're paving the way for you I guess. And then she's going to surpass us one day for sure.
Mayor Crompton:You guys can retire from snowboarding and she can carry on.
Maggie Crompton:It's kind of scary, not scary. It's awesome. But it's like seeing, Amalia's like catch up so fast. You went from like, not nothing, but like yeah, one season and then all of a sudden it's like, whoa, you're doing some like gnarlier stuff than us. That's kind of crazy. Like, I'd be scared to try that, but sending it. It's awesome. Yeah. She needed to send her though.
Mayor Crompton:So Juliette, we're going to wrap up here, but you, um, you said that you and Maggie had been best friends for a long time. And I want you to tell that story. You were telling him the kitchen to us about how you guys first became best friends, because I thought that was so funny.
Juliette Pelchat:Okay. I'll tell you. So where we're in this program called the whistlers snowboard school program, which is just like the Whistler kids program, which is just a local program. And we're just in this group together, just coincidentally. And we're sitting in this, the GLC, which is like an eating area in the, on the mountain, like at a mid station. And I think I'm having a hot dog or she's having a hot dog and I'm having grilled cheese because back then I loved hot dogs and I just like sat beside her and looked at her and like, I don't have any friends and I don't have a best friend. Hey, Maggie, do you want to be my best friend for life or something like that? And then she's like, oh, sure. I'm like, okay. And then that's how we became best friends. Like forever. Like I straight up just asked her. I was like, do you want to be my best friend? I don't have any friends. And then we just became best friends since then.
Maggie Crompton:Yeah. I remember. I feel like there wasn't even like an awkward, like a meeting moment for us. We were just like, Hey, it's on it. Like, it reminds me of the movie. Um, Charlie and the chocolate factory, when those girls were walking through, like, do you want to be friends? And it's like, best friends. I feel like that's our exact interaction.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. That's literally what happened. The thing is it wasn't even just like weird after that. It's like we knew each other forever. Like what? After we said that we were friends.
Maggie Crompton:at that moment where you just know everything.
Juliette Pelchat:Yeah. And then after that I would spend summers at Maggie's house just like eating.
Billy Pelchat:like a 10 day sleep over like one day at their house. And that went into it doesn't mean one day at ours and one day at Maggies it just like went back and back and back and back and back for like the whole summer.
Juliette Pelchat:And I would just like go to Maggie's and eat all her frozen blueberries and these like Asian crackers, rice crackers.
Billy Pelchat:And you guys would make a tree fort. But like with like those things, they were so sketchy and like we have them all,
Juliette Pelchat:we have the funniest stories ever, but I think we will save that for another time
Mayor Crompton:And another time. Um, so Billy, um, we always ask a question to people at the end of our podcast. Uh, what book are you reading or podcasts have you listened to that has, um, inspired you? Uh, so we, we, you, if there's a book that you've read or a podcast you listened to, that is inspired you tell us about that. If not, what, what has, what is inspiring you generally right now in your life
Billy Pelchat:What is inspiring me generally in my life right now. Um, obviously the lady skate thing and like our whole like everything and all the girls and all of them and also Juliet and Maggie and what they're doing and their snowboarding and everything. Yeah. And like looking up to them. Huh, thanks.
Maggie Crompton:Well, I guess it really inspired me yet. It's The Bomb Hole podcast and Jess Kimura was on that. Um, and I, like, I rode her board, um, long time ago. It was it's called the danger pony and she's a really, really cool, uh, snowboarding chick. Um, she's pro she's really, she's awesome. She's inspiring me the best. Yeah.
Mayor Crompton:Okay.
Juliette Pelchat:The Bomb Hole podcast that everyone's listening to, it's for the new, it's the snowboard industry podcast all time, best podcasts that I listened to as well. And there's just so many people on there. You watch the Jessica I've watched the Jess Kimura one as well. Um, and that one was really inspiring as well. And, uh, I liked it because she talked, she touched on so many cool topics that is really cool to see her point of view on. And I think I took a page out of, oh, everything that she said and all the life lessons. And also like, she's talking about like how she thinks she doesn't know that a lot of people look up to her, but I can tell if she ever listens to this, which she might not, but I'll make sure there's a lot of people that look up to her and, uh, including me. And I think Amalia and Maggie and we look up to, I pretty much look up to any female snowboarder in our sport that has paved the way for us. Like we got some local legends here, Marie-France[Roy], Robin Van Gyn, Leanne Pelosi. Those are some local legends that paved the way Jamie Anderson. Yeah.
Maggie Crompton:And yeah, like not even paving the way, just like somebody just starting to snowboard. Um, it's still super inspiring. Like you don't have to be super good to be inspiring. You just have to get on a board.
Mayor Crompton:We don't have the time to talk about the, the, the Baker Banked Slalom. But I tell you from my perspective, as someone who is only connected to the snowboard industry, through you, that connection of people who are just starting with people who have been around and been leaders in the sport forever and ever is one of the most interesting and wonderful things about the snowboard industry. You know, you guys getting on the course right after Travis Rice or Terje Haakonsen is one of the neatest things I think about the snowboard industry and that connection between someone that's just starting in someone that's been around for a long time and something that seems to be really valued by the snowboarding
Juliette Pelchat:100%. I agree.
Mayor Crompton:Right? Well, uh, Maggie Juliette, Billy, I love the three of you very much, and I am so grateful that you agreed to come on the Whistler Podcast and chat to us. Um, just one more plug for, uh, real wild kittens. If someone wants to get their daughter involved in skateboarding, you are more than willing to do that. Come back and talk to us on the Whistler Podcast again, soon.
Juliette Pelchat:I wish we had way. I wish we had more time to talk to you guys. This was fun. Yeah, I
Mayor Crompton:Agree. I agree. Enjoying the surfing and Ukee
Juliette Pelchat:We will see you when we get home Maggie.
Mayor Crompton:Well, it it's felt a little weird asking my daughter to come on the Whistler podcast, but I feel like you couldn't resist it's. It was a lot of fun and I was grateful to have her and Juliette and Billy on the show. Um, interesting. Hey, the change and the work
Cole Stefiuk:Incredible conversation, incredible group of girls. Like I, I all, I hope all, I hope as I, when I, one day become a father, is that my kids are doing something like Maggie and Billy and Juliette are doing, because I think what they're doing is incredible.
Mayor Crompton:That's pretty neat to have watched them kind of grow up through, um, just falling in love with these sports, snowboarding and skateboarding, and then to see it transition into something that they get to share with others and start starting businesses and working in it. It's, it's interesting. Those things that inspire us turning into the ways that we support ourselves, I think is, is a neat path to walk. Yeah. Yeah. And
Cole Stefiuk:Honestly, like just listening to the, the passion and obviously like they're young. So using this term is very risky to say, but the greatness almost in a way, like, I know it's different for you because you're so close to all three of them, obviously one's her daughter and the other two are best friends, but like every now and then you like interview someone and you think one day, this interview, like I'm going to look back and be like, I got to interview those people when they were like, you know, I'll look at the, the Olympics or I'm going to look at something on like national news. And I'd be like, I talked to them when they were in high school when they started this whole thing. You know what I mean?
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. Yeah. I think if you'd asked Juliette and, uh, and, uh, Maggie, it'll be Billy that you're talking to thinks that you're pointing to this year, it's learned from all
Cole Stefiuk:Of Maggie and Juliette's mistakes and then just do it differently, right?
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. Yeah. Incredible. Yeah. Great. Well, I, uh, uh, thank you, uh, Cole for joining me in, in that conversation. It was, uh, it was really joyful for me to be able to have my daughter on the podcast. So I'm grateful that we, we decided to do it.
Cole Stefiuk:Yeah, me too. And one more time, like, I just want to plug it again at the end, a real wild kittens on Instagram is all where all their information is. So if you're eager or if your daughter's eager or the moms, if you're eager to reach out to them, cause it's, it's incredible stuff.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah. That's not something I knew about the idea of, uh, of, uh, you know, moms getting involved in the sport as well.
Cole Stefiuk:It never even crossed my head when I was a kid and I I'm only like 10 years older than these girls when I was a kid, I, when I started skateboarding very briefly, that was like the worst thing ever. There was like, my mom was so against skateboarding for some reason, like skateboarding was so looked down upon, back in the early to the early, mid two thousands. And like, now it's such a, especially in Whistler, like it's, it's, it's normal. It's just what kids do.
Mayor Crompton:Yeah, no, that's an exciting part of it, for sure. Yeah. Well, this was the Whistler podcast. I'm Jack he's Cole. It's brought to you by Mountain FM and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Thank you.[inaudible].