Bobby Monacella spoke to female leaders in the snow sports industry to hear their thoughts on whether gender diversity in the snow sports workforce seems to be increasing.
While there is no specific data for women’s leadership positions in snow sports companies, it’s no secret our industry is somewhat male dominated. But there were definite clues at the 2016 SIA Snow Show that a shift is underway.
Jen Gurecki, owner and founder of Coalition Snow, the first-ever woman-owned ski company, said it inspires female consumers as well as women in the industry to see a woman start a company in a traditionally male field.
“The idea to start the company came about on a backcountry ski trip a few years ago, just talking about the state of the industry, and what was happening with women in particular, and I thought, now is the time,” Gurecki said.
“I honestly believe it’s not just about women’s specific gear, it’s about women in leadership positions,” Gurecki added. “If we really want to see things shift, we need to be at the table, and we need women who are calling more shots. More than 8 million women are participating in snow sports. Women are so important as consumers, and they value female-led companies. When you have a company like Coalition in the industry, that uplifts all women. It gives us a greater position in the industry. You don’t come to a party you’re not invited to, you know?”
Read more about what women are saying here.