Mom, the Skier: Finding My Own Community

This is not about my kid and snow sports. It’s a story about how I have defined myself as a mom who is a skier. I hope it inspires others who have been on the sidelines to consider trying an intimidating new sport.

 

Not So Into Snow

I saw snow for the first time when I was 22. It was a patch of dirty snow on the top of the aerial tramway ride in Palm Springs. I was not impressed.

My new boyfriend (now husband), a Vermonter, and I were living in San Diego and my initial relationship with snow was lousy. I am an adventurer on other terrains, but water, in solid form, was my enemy. Over the years, I have made an effort to try different snow sports; I tried sledding, snowboarding, downhill skiing, backcountry skiing, nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. Downhill skiing was by far my least favorite, to the point I told people I would be the happiest if I didn’t ski again.

Raised in a blue-collar household, my family only spent money on necessities. I didn’t grow up skiing, nor did I feel welcome in the sport. I found it elitist and scoffed at the expensive passes and gear. The handful of times I went to resorts with my husband and friends, I felt I had wasted a bunch of money on housing, rentals, tickets, and lessons only to go (fall) down two runs.

I took lessons while the rest of my friends did their thing. After my lessons, they would encourage me to ski with them away from the bunny hill, but I didn’t want to slow them down. I would wave them off and say I’ll stick with the beginner’s area. I felt isolated and miserable.

Being an adult learner, with family and friends who “grew up skiing”, just didn’t work.

Welcome to Vermont

When we moved to Vermont during the COVID-19 pandemic, all my friends feared for me. They worried that I would not survive my first winter.

Five years later, I look forward to winter. It is my favorite season. What changed? For me, it was finding my communities for winter sports. Not my husband, not my kid’s friend’s parents. My own community.

No matter how much I had read about winter, nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand. I still cannot believe the days when it feels like I am in a snow globe – sun shining, high teens, everything encrusted with gems, and glitter swirling around you. If I had kept my promise to abandon snow sports, I would have missed out on these magical moments and would probably be much less happy here in Vermont.

When our son turned 4, my husband took him to the Ski Tots lessons at Cochran’s. I was automatically excluded because it required the parent to be a “solid skier.” I stayed home, perfectly happy to be missing the misery on the slopes. But the two of them would come home glowing after every ski outing. I was missing out: for me, only the house was glowing… because I thought my winter sport was cleaning the house when they were away.

 

Finding a Snowsports Community

Fifteen years after my last downhill ski trip, I gave skiing another chance. I signed up for a series of ski lessons at Cochran’s. Embarrassingly, it turned out that I didn’t read between the lines of the age requirement of 6+ and ended up being in a group of children. While I was able to proceed with the lessons, I merely tolerated them. I was mortified skiing with kids far better than me and 1/6th of my age. I was depressed thinking that I’ve failed again, and that I was not meant for this sport. I pondered giving up.

Then I stumbled across an organization called Unlikely Riders, a non-profit that hosts inclusive events for members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community to experience snow sports (and other sports) together. In addition to having instructors who are BIPOC, they outfit participants with clothing and rentals, lift tickets, snacks, and even help arrange carpools so that there are low barriers to a trip to the mountains.

I went to an event at Bolton Valley and immediately felt at home. The participants had mixed abilities. Newbies like me, who were nervous and barely knew how to put on a ski boot, were hanging out with people who recreate in the snow 3-4 times a week. There were many different flavors of mentors (recent “graduates” to former ski racers), and everyone was patient and welcoming.

I ended up meeting a few ladies around my age and ability, and we bonded over our similar upbringings and going down green runs (very slowly, pizza only!) This was the stepping stone for me to find joy in snow sports. I was able to take ownership of my skiing. It was separate from my kid’s lessons and my family’s ski trips. I was in control, no longer a third wheel. These became my personal snow outings.

 

Feeling at Home on the Slopes

In the years since, I have found a few different communities for skiing and winter sports. Last year, I participated in the Smugg’s Women’s Ski Program and expanded my crew. Now that I have a community to ski with, I feel welcomed, understood, and empowered. With patient and supportive friends, I have gone down runs that I never would dream of trying (glades, yikes!). We support each other and cheer each other on.

I used to feel inferior to my husband and my son (who picked up skiing so easily), but now I am my own skier. I can ski with my friends, or I can join my family on a run together. I even go skiing by myself! I am so grateful I found communities that helped me develop my independence and confidence. Now I am glowing, too, even if my house is less so.

For those who have been on the sidelines and want to be in the game, seek out communities that make you feel welcomed and accepted. Check out women’s clinics, beginner lesson series (for adults!), or other flavors of gatherings where you can start your learning journey on your own terms. It pays to explore and find the place where you can glow!

 

Ski Growth Resources

Organizations & Groups:

• Unlikely Riders: https://unlikelyriders.org/
• Bolton Valley’s Babe Force: https://www.boltonvalley.com/babeforce/
• Ski Divas, an online community for women: https://www.theskidiva.com/
• National Brotherhood of Skiers (not just for guys!): https://www.nbs.org/

Women’s Clinic and Gatherings:

• Smuggs Women’s Ski and Ride Program: https://www.smuggs.com/activities/womens-ski-ride-program/
• Stratton’s Women on Snow Camp: https://www.stratton.com/plan-your-trip/snowboarding-ski-lessons/seasonal-programs-camps/camps-clinics (Read about Mamas’ experiences at WOW Camp in 2016: https://allmountainmamas.skivermont.com/stratton-women-on-snow-ski-camp/)
• Sugarbush Women’s Discover Camp: https://www.sugarbush.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride/camps/womens-discovery-camp
• Okemo’s Women’s Alpine Adventure: https://www.stratton.com/plan-your-trip/snowboarding-ski-lessons/seasonal-programs-camps/camps-clinics
• Stowe’s Stowked for Women Sessions: https://www.stowe.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/category/womens-programs.aspx (See coverage of our experience at Stowe in 2025: https://allmountainmamas.skivermont.com/why-not-try-a-womens-ski-clinic/)
• Killington’s Women’s Camp with Donna Weinbrecht: https://www.killington.com/lessons-rentals/ski-snowboard-lessons/specialty-camp/womens-camp/
• Magic’s Women’s Clinic Weekends: https://estore.magicmtn.com/products/womens-clinic-weekend-1
• Jay Peak’s Weekly Women’s Camp: https://jaypeakresort.com/skiing-riding/lessons/weekly-womens-camp
• Women’s Wednesdays at Saskadena Six: https://www.saskadenasix.com/winter/winter-lessons-programs
• Mount Snow’s Women Camp: https://www.mountsnow.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/products/womens-camp
• Women’s programs at Mad River Glen: https://www.madriverglen.com/adults-ski-school/