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From Alyeska, Alaska, to Whistler, B.C., and Squaw Valley, California, to Sugarbush, Vermont, last Saturday was all about the ladies as SheJumps held its inaugural international women's event “Get The Girls Out." The day was all about, well, just skiing around, and highlighted packs of women shredding at North America ski resorts.
An informal, somewhat impromptu event at most ski areas, the goal was to help ramp up the SheJumps mission to build a bigger, more connected, and more prominent community of women on the snow. The enthusiastic showing of skiers and snowboarders getting together to shred was held at 20 different resorts around North America.
Alta, Utah-based skier and executive director of SheJumps, Claire Smallwood, described the event as a “costumes encouraged but not required” theme, making for some noticeable on-hill groups.
Professional skier Lynsey Dyer, who co-founded the organization with journalist and pilot Vanessa Piece, was in Vail over the weekend for the event. Dyer led her group, along with big mountain competitor and pro skier Rebecca Selig, around the mountain to have fun…and check out some features. No pressure, of course, from the girl who has gone huge – just maybe a few examples.
“We want mentorship on all levels of skiing,” Dyer said of the overall goal. “But we also want to make it more acceptable in a fun and safe environment to push yourself. Everybody stepped it up, and we went to hit a bunch of cliffs. It’s been so rad,” Dyer said on Saturday.
Well-dressed crews slayed powder at Alyeska, and hordes of comically pink and glittery skiers hit booters and high-speed, classic inbounds lines at Aspen, Snowbird, and beyond, with a goal of having fun for the day, but finding some serious ski partners at the same time.
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“The reason I came out is because I ski with a lot of guys, and that’s ok, but I figured Get The Girls Out would be a great way to find some like minded girls who rip,” said Liza Sarytchev, a participant in the Jackson Hole event.
The response was very positive, according to Smallwood. Although the final numbers are not in yet, she estimated a couple hundred participants, and that each month it will be bigger.
“We announced three or four resorts for Feb. 11, but then people at a bunch of areas contacted us and wanted to host one. Women were psyched to be a part of a national event — it’s a tangible thing that anybody can be a part of,” Smallwood said.
“What we’d like to see happen with this is to show what happens with a community movement, and the next step is to work in partnership with some of these resorts,” Smallwood said. “At the end of day for SheJumps, its an opportunity to offer more programs and opportunity for any kind of marginalized demographic.”
The organization is planning to continue with once a month Get The Girls Out events, which will translate over the summer into mountain biking and climbing days. Information on future dates and locations will posted on SheJumps.org.
