Progsession: The Swedish Snowboarders Shifting The Narrative In The North

There's a growing community of women in the North pushing snowboarding to new heights

For the past decade women’s snowboarding in Sweden has gone through something of a renaissance, with a solid crew of female riders and industry specialists emerging from a space where previously girls were conspicuously absent. At the core of this movement is Progsession, a women’s snowboard project, led by Finnish skater and snowboarder Marina Minetti under the umbrella of the Swedish Snowboard Association. The project’s stated mission is “to give women a platform that allows them to take their riding to the next level,” and this is the story of how they’ve done it.

In 2013, Europe’s original all-women’s snowboard, surf and skate camps 'Girlie' hung up their decks for the last time, leaving coach and camp organiser Marina Minetti out of a job in her adopted home of Sweden. Eager to carry on her work of furthering women’s riding, she initiated two women’s TTR World Tour events but the experience was bittersweet. Although the biggest thing in the Scandinavian women’s scene at the time, it was obvious to Marina that there was little support for female riders and events from the local association. Marina now had new purpose.

This all changed a year later when the legendary Stefan Karlson became sports manager at the Swedish Snowboard Association and immediately asked Marina to help resurrect women’s snowboarding. In the first three years her budgets were minimal, but the generosity and support of the Swedish scene cemented the future of Progsession, with three years of women’s camps at Svanstein. Svanstain was a Swedish version of Baldface,” remembers Marina fondly. “A hidden pearl with amazing tree runs and little mountain called Mt. Pullinki.”

Svanstein became the incubator for Marina’s vision of a brave new women’s scene and produced a crop of fifteen girls, who now in their late teens and early 20s form the nucleus of female snowboarding in Sweden “Above all, Progsession brought opportunity,” says Burton’s Scandinavian Territory Manager, Lina Adams. “It's not just the odd event here or there; it's a journey through which riders can enter and feel supported as they grow with their riding and as individuals.” Burton has been Progsession's main supporter and enabler since 2020.

Ylfa Runarsdottir also attended the camps in Swanstein and in Marina’s mind “from day one you could see she would take over the world with her riding. She is an amazingly talented rider and role model who wants to share her energy and give back to the home scene.” Ylfa still coaches at Progsession camps when she can “I've watched Ylfa work the camps, and it's the most inspiring thing,” says Lina who together with Hasi (former Burton Europe TM) signed her to the Burton Scandinavian team in 2020. “She will not let a single participant go unseen, whether a beginner or an aspiring new star.” Ylfa exemplifies what Progsession is states Lina: “A platform for women to feel seen, heard, and supported wherever they want to take their riding.”

Ylfa believes Progsession is about creating a space where girls meet, ride and progress, outside of a contest environment. “I think it has been especially successful for the younger girls that might have been the only girl riding in their hometown,” she states. “Together they get the courage to try new things and push each other to be as good as they possibly can in a very natural and healthy way.”

Making connections and relationships has also been key in Progsession’s success says Ylfa: “Some of the girls are now really close friends and travel, compete, film and create their own paths within snowboarding together. The girls have created so much space for other girls around their local hills and wherever they go after by spreading their hype. That feels like a huge success to me.” This holistic approach is also key to Marina’s work: “Building close relations and seeing the diverse talents of individuals helps us to build a more equal snowboarding scene. Our mission is to accompany the girls on their journey and help them find their purpose, whether that is a rider, filmer, team manager and more.

Progsession runs various events over Sweden’s long winter season, focusing on different age groups and disciplines, that range from film and photo camps for more experienced girls, to rail and park jams and bag training sessions. In March, we celebrated International Women's Day by participating in their vibrant “Ladies First” event at Kläppen Snowpark. Celebrating our shared appreciation of getting to live so freely and equally in Sweden and enjoy snowboarding together without judgment. The goal was also to ensure the girls feel at home in the park and know they are wanted and invited. Those who have felt too afraid to shred the big park and had the opportunity to “take space” will hopefully be able to do it again, with a lowered barrier.

The standard of riding has come a long way since the first camps. “Today marks the ninth winter of Progsession, and looking back, it’s incredible to see the progress for girls in Swedish snowboarding. Female participation in parks, associations, and clubs has surged, with nearly 50% representation in national competitions. Sweden now has three women on the national team—one competing at the World Cup—and a new generation of up-and-comers benefiting from better support and resources to grow their careers.

Beyond competition, Sweden’s street scene is also evolving, with an all-girl film crew making its mark—likely inspired by riders like Ylfa Runarsdottir. Girl-led clubs are hosting events, and more women are stepping behind the camera, filming, photographing, and shaping the industry in new ways. The impact is clear: young girls are hitting the slopes with huge smiles, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This shift toward a more equal scene is transforming our culture and community at every level."

What is truly remarkable is the legacy being created by those girls who have been part of Progsession from the beginning. They have become fantastic role models, leaders, and examples in our scene for younger girls to follow. This kind of support and opportunity did not exist for previous generations. Progsession continues to accompany them throughout their journeys, providing support where and how it is needed. We tailor our efforts based on the needs of the different groups of girls now present in our scene, maintaining close relationships and open dialogue with them."

The Funäs Park Camp, scheduled for March 19-22, will be the fourth year for this event, which has been such a season highlight that everyone is already longing for. Additionally, Marina tips us off that they will host an exclusive spring session at Kläppen towards the end of April that involves their national team and select invited girls. The goal of this session is to provide those advancing in their snowboarding careers, as well as newcomers who are taking their competitive pursuits more seriously, with essential time to enjoy the sport in a fun environment rather than a competitive one. This space allows participants to reflect on their journeys and their passion for snowboarding. Sometimes, in the grind, this perspective can be challenging to maintain, but that’s a discussion for another time.

For more info head to the Progsession Instagram.