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It’s time to hit the slopes for International Women’s Ski & Snowboarding Day

Shredders from last year’s International Women’s Snow Day in Steamboat Springs. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Glassmeyer)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — A blur of colorful outwear, tutus and unicorn onesies zoom across a snow-covered slope on skis and snowboards, which can only mean one thing — the International Women’s Snow Day is here.

K2 Alliance and SheJumps present the sixth annual event Saturday, Jan. 12, which invites female skiers and riders from grandmas to tweens to hit the slopes, all in the name of global girl power and colorful style.

“This event is designed to encourage women and girls, skiers and riders, of all ages to get out and meet other female snow sports enthusiasts and encourage each other to learn and grow in the sport,” said Erin Kearns, SheJumps ambassador, who led organizing efforts for this year’s event in Steamboat Springs.

“It’s about celebrating community between female outdoor adventurers and doing it in a lighthearted way that is accessible to all ability levels,” said Laraine Martin, SheJumps Rockies regional director.

Aiming to reverse the male-to-female ratio in ski towns all over the world, festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. at Steamboat Resort. Participants will meet outside of the Steamboat Ski and Sport at the Sheraton near the Christie Lift.

IWSD 2018 at Crystal Mountain from Christy Pelland on Vimeo.

“This year, you will find more variation in the types of activities happening in the hundreds of ski towns hosting these events,” Martin said. “Some big, some small, and it’s not just SheJumps who will celebrate. There are other nonprofits, outfitters and resorts hosting events of their own volition. It’s awesome to see it grow.”

Kearns said participants will break off into groups for skiing based on ability levels and cruise around the mountain together.

“This is not a full lesson, but rather, these instructors are available to provide encouragement, safety, inspiration and some tips and tricks,” Kearns said.

Then, the group as a whole will meet back at noon at the T Bar for après and giveaways.

As an extension of SheJumps’ long-standing “Get the Girls Out” programming, International Women’s Snow Day was created in 2011 by Alyssa Clark, K2’s women’s ski team manager.

Her goal was for women to have a day when they drop what they are doing and go ski with their girlfriends. Clark organized 18 International Women’s Snow Day events the first year, and last year, 22 events were hosted from Alaska to Germany with over 1,200 women participating.

If you go

What: K2 Alliance & SheJumps present the sixth annual International Women’s Snow Day

When: 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12

Where: Steamboat Resort, 2305 Mount Werner Circle

“Maybe it’s giggling or belting out a song with buddies on the lift ride up or hanging out on the groomers for fun with no pressure to be down the mountain first,” said Melissa Matz, SheJumps intermountain regional director. “It symbolizes an opportunity to find our finest selves and feel a part of a bigger community that is doing the same.”

SheJumps is a nonprofit that has great aspirations to continue putting women in positions of outdoor leadership and affording them opportunities to learn new skill sets, but International Women’s Snow Day is meant to celebrate the fun, Martin said.

“The ski industry is really where SheJumps got its start, so the lens of snow sports is a fantastic one to help build this worldwide movement into something even bigger,” Martin added.

The event is open to women and girls 5 and older. Those who participate must be able to turn and stop in control on green terrain and must provide their own lift ticket or season pass.

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1.

 

 

 


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