As a woman and as a skier, I’m here to tell you something. Skiing with a group of ripping women is fun. It’s real fun. It’s pinch-yourself-in-your-thigh-cause-you’re-not-even-sure-life-is-supposed-to-be-this-fun kind of fun. I grew up chasing my older sister around the slopes, and so I know something else to be true. If those fellow skiers are just a little bit better than you (or a LOT better than you, let’s face it) your skills improve fast.
The old Chair 6, Christy and Kim
As a ski industry person, I want to promote women skiers. We are half the population for starters. Since last I checked skiing is more dudes than chicks, I’ve often wondered how to get more women into the sport. If I had a snowflake for every time I heard, “I used to ski, before I had kids,” then I’d have a full-blown powder day on my hands.
So what gives?
Hanging with Lel Tone
Maybe women just don’t know how much fun you can have on skis. Whether you’re skiing solo, taking the kids for a lap on the bunny hill, searching for powder with your husband/boyfriend/co-worker or slicing arcs across the groomers, skiing is just fun. Plain and simple.
Me and Corinne
But here’s another thing. This is a secret, so you’ll have to lean in close.
Skiing with women is even better. Don’t tell my husband I said that. No hard feelings JK, you’re a lot of fun too. But skiing with a posse of ladies makes me bolder. It makes me relish just a little longer in the sheer joy of the thing.
Don’t worry. I’m not going to get all poetic about the pure experience of the sport. We are still too far away from the start of the season to go there. But you get the gist.
Getting the Girls Out at Crystal Mountain
This is why I’m looking forward to watching Unicorn Picnic’s Pretty Faces film. Lyndsey Dyer is on a mission to introduce more women to the sport. She spearheaded shejumps.org, an organization dedicated to increasing female participation in outdoor activities. Lyndsey hopes to provide women of all ages and abilities a, “source of inspiration through a unique look at what is possible when boundaries are broken, dreams captured and friendships cultivated.” Check out the trailer below and prepare to get inspired.
Love this post, Kim! I agree with you 100%! There are lots of women who love to ski and can really rip! If you don’t mind, I’d like to direct women to TheSkiDiva.com, a friendly, online community of more than 4,100 women skiers. It’s a great place to talk about skiing in a non-testosterone environment. In fact, today is our eighth anniversary!
Happy Anniversary Wendy! Yes. Go check out the Ski Diva everyone. I love these ladies.
Awesome post Kim! Excited to learn about TheSkiDiva.com website too. Can’t wait to check it out. Looking forward to watching Pretty Faces with my two girls (who are ski divas at 9 and 7). 🙂
Thanks for the reminder that I need to get back on the slopes, Kim! I love skiing, and I skipped last season for financial reasons – the only season I’ve missed besides the year of my back surgery. And oh how I missed the rush.
Indeed, I’ve discovered that almost any activity I do has a different vibe when it’s all girls. For better or worse, I do cut loose a little more. I also love to ski alone. When I do that, somehow it’s even more about staying in the moment and feeling the sheer joy of being alive. Skiing with my husband is a wonderful shared experience, but that’s another sort of story.
Great post Kim! I hope there are more women’s ski days at Crystal like last year. I had a wonderful time and even brought a friend from White Pass.
Yes! Thanks for the great post Kim! I’m lucky enough to have some awesome women I ski with ;D
Luuuuv it & can hardly wait!
Here at WinterWomen, we couldn’t agree with you more and are very excited about the premier of the film, Pretty Faces!
Totally agree too! Some of my best memories of high school were skiing with my fellow racers on the Reynolds High School girls ski team. We placed in the top 5 in the state three years in a row and that set me on a life long journey to find like-minded, kindred-spirited women skiers. Have several, treasure them.