Yes, Dinner with a side of Star-struck Please

PJSVI employee Maria Debari Makes a Name in the Pro Snowboarding Field

There’s a whole lot going on up at the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn these days; as if a luxurious night stay at the newly remodeled Granite Chief Suite, a delicious Balboa Burger from the bar menu, and world class skiing at Squaw weren’t enough, you can now get your glass of PlumpJack Reserve served by a pro snowboarder. Seriously.

Back waiter Maria Debari has entered a new level in her riding this year as she took third place at the Mount Baker Banked Slalom February 5-7 and second at The North Face Masters, a big mountain event held at Crystal Mountain a week later. She looks to continue her hot streak this weekend at the renowned free-ride event at Kirkwood.

Maria has been snowboarding most of her life yet only recently moved into the realm of competition. Initially hesitant, she agreed only after sponsors and management from the Mount Baker event basically begged her to enter in hopes her strong reputation would add more drawing power to the women’s field.

“I’m really not much for competition. But they really wanted me and it was pretty cool; there was free beer and hot dogs at the bottom,” said the 23 year old Glacier, Washington native. “I just want people to look up at me riding and say, ‘wow that girl’s having so much fun.”

All clichés and dehumanizing, brand-name marketing slogans aside – Maria truly does embody what PlumpJack is all about – creativity, free spiritedness, and bold, out-loud living. In short, she’s raw.

At the Big Mountain North Face Masters event, she felt a bit awkward doing the mandatory interviews atop the mountain before her run as she intimated that microphones and pre-programmed questioning before something as soulful and creative as a free-ski run was a bit crude. (She really just likes to ride and have a good time and deflects her newly found fame with a refreshing modesty – Hey, I had to randomly run in to her at a Squaw Valley dive bar and buy her a beer to get her to open up at all about her riding. Notes were taken on the back of receipt paper. PBR if I remember correctly.)

“I had my line scouted out with all the features I wanted to hit. But I got a little distracted and as soon as I dropped in I kinda forgot about all that stuff and just went as fast as I could down the hill. I really didn’t even end up in the right place at the finish. Oh well.”

Well, it must have impressed the judging panel of no-nonsense old school riders who awarded her second place out of an impressive field of experienced women who just flat-out shred.

And though on a busy Saturday night she might get a nice pocket-full of tips, the payout for that day’s ‘work’ at Crystal Mountain wasn’t all that bad.

“Yeah it was sweet. I basically got paid two grand for a ‘pow run’.”

Last time I checked, I’ve never got a dime for making fresh tracks on KT. Rock on Maria.