Today is Giving Tuesday, the day we open up our wallets and financially support our values. There are so many incredible non-profits and initiatives making the world a better place and we want to share our shortlist with you. we hope that today you give to an organization whose mission is dear to your heart. They need you now.
Native Scholarship Fund: We’re teaming up with Deenaalee Hodgdon, one of the newest members of our Ambassador team and the Creator and Host of On The Land Media, to create a scholarship fund for Indigenous communities to access avalanche training and backcountry skiing and riding."
Inclusive Outdoors Project: At Inclusive Outdoors we know that one of the major barriers to the outdoors is access. Access for people with disabilities; access for BIPOC and Queer communities; access to finances; access to outdoor gear; the list goes on! With that we are making sure every event we do we centering accessibility because we know when it is we uplift ALL communities!
Out There Adventures: The goal is simple: empower queer young people through their connection with the natural world.
She Jumps: SheJumps increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities to foster confidence, leadership, and connection to nature and community through free and low-cost outdoor education.
Outdoor Afro: Outdoor Afro has become the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature. We help people take better care of themselves, our communities, and our planet!
Native Womens Wilderness: To inspire and raise the voices of Native Women in the Outdoor Realm. To encourage a healthy lifestyle grounded in the Wilderness. To educate Natives and non-Natives on the rich beauty and heritage of the Ancestral Lands beneath our feet.
Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps: The Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps is a development and leadership program committed to building a stronger and more inclusive community. We provide opportunities for youth and young adults to experience and better understand wilderness and natural resources by providing a transformational backcountry experience.
Zawadisha: We partner with Zawadisha to plant one tree for every ski and snowboard we make, creating new jobs for women and improving the environment. Zawadisha also provides small loans for renewable energy and water products to rural Kenyan women to help finance their livelihoods. (PS: Our CEO Jen Gurecki founded this organization and handed it over to an all women's Kenyan team to run.)
Happy giving :)
]]>Initiatives and organizations that make the outdoors truly inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community are doing the work 365 days a year that breaks down barriers to entry, fosters increased participation, increases awareness and inclusion, and builds a stronger outdoor community. Here’s some of our favorites.
]]>That’s why initiatives and organizations that are working to make the outdoors truly inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community are so important. Day in and day out, and not just during Pride Month, they are doing the work that breaks down barriers to entry, fosters increased participation, increases awareness and inclusion, and builds a stronger outdoor community.
Here’s some of our favorite organizations and initiatives that are making a difference for the LGBTQIA+ community in the outdoors.
Queer Nature is a “social sculpture/education/ecophilosophy project” that focuses on creating nature connections and place based skills for those of the LQBTQIA+, two-spirit and non-binary people, and allies. Queer Nature defines place-based skills as “naturalist studies/interpretation, handcrafts, “survival skills,” and recognition of colonial and indigenous histories of land, and are framed in a container that emphasizes deep listening and relationship building with living and non-living earth systems.” In order to stay connected to their supporters, Queer Nature has been using Patreon to host virtual discussions that educate on topics varying from print identification to trauma kits in active violence settings. To kick off the summer and post-pandemic events, the organizations co-founders, Pinar and So Sinopoulos-Lloyd, were educators on a group hike in Bend, Oregon with queer environmentalist, Pattie Gonia.
Wild Diversity hosts outdoor education and adventure events for those of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Their vision is to “welcome and create a sense of belonging in the outdoors for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.” Concentrated in the greater Portland area, Wild Diversity offers a wide variety of events for all skill levels. There are hikes ranging from half day to multi day, bird walks, and two day paddle trips. They focus on four main pillars to ensure everyone can find a sense of place in the outdoors. These pillars are: We Build Community, We Provide Resources, We Equip the Next Generation, and We Decolonize Outdoor Spaces. Wild Diversity is creating a safe space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, and working towards equal representation in outdoor leadership and participation. Check out their YouTube channel for how-to videos and more outdoor education opportunities.
Get Out and Trek’s (GOAT) Outdoor Equality Index (OEI) is an online accountability tool to “aid organizations in building credibility, trust, and a better, more inclusive outdoors for LGBTQ+ people.” GOAT is a community of LGBTQ+ adventurists working towards a more diverse outdoors. They do this through outdoor trips, festivals, advocacy, and tearing down access barriers. The OEI is working to provide data surrounding LGBTQ+ equality in the outdoors. Currently, not much data exists on the LGBTQ+ nature experience, so GOAT is working to equip organizations with “transparency on the outdoor industry’s engagement with the LGBTQ+ community and from that, the industry can grow, learn, share, and celebrate progress.” (GOAT). This survey is open to all outdoor organizations, weather nominated or volunteering. Here are just a few outdoor names who have taken the OEI: 686, Arc’Teryx, Backcountry, Helly Hansen, and yes, Coalition Snow.
The Wilderness Society, in collaboration with Pride Outside, has developed a map database to help locate LGBTQ Outdoor Groups. This is a simple tool that can help people in all areas search for inclusive outdoor groups in their area. You can set a specific mile radius around your location, and discover groups within that. There is also the ability to add a new LGBTQ Outdoor Group that may not be listed. The LGBTQ Outdoor Groups Map aligns with both Pride Outside and The Wilderness Society’s missions of creating inclusive and safe spaces, and opportunities for the LGBTQ community to get outdoors.
The Venture Out Project is an organization that leads various outdoor adventure trips for the queer and transgender community. These trips are offered for adults, youth, and families, ensuring Venture Out has a trip that will suit everyone’s needs. The Venture Out Project uses outdoor adventures and movement to help queer, trans, and LGBTQ+ people gain leadership skills, create a sense of belonging, and boost self-confidence. The Venture Out Project’s mission is to “provide a safe and fun space for queer, trans, and LGBTQ+ people to experience the outdoors.” This is why “at the beginning of Venture Out Project trips, the group gets together before they embark to decide how to answer those types of questions. “We always have a conversation before we go out and ask, ‘How do we want to deal with this? Do we want to out ourselves?’”(Afar). The Venture Out Project also provides a number of resources for LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies. These resources include LGBTQ and queer organizations, social justice organizations, guides to proper pronoun use, gender identity videos, and resources for parents. ]]>Language is powerful. It shapes our culture, it shapes our perceptions. Through our words we can inform, influence, include, persuade, manipulate, hurt, or comfort others.
And language is one of the tools that we use in our process of self-identification. It helps us express what's important to us, our interests, and the cultures we connect with and value.
Like us, you've all probably seen more and more people embrace the use of gender pronouns as a way to be more inclusive of a wide spectrum of genders, to help us move past the exclusionary her/him binary.
Do you use pronouns when introducing yourself, in your Zoom bio, and e-mail signature? Do you use gender-neutral greetings like "y'all" rather than "ladies" and "guys"?
It might seem trivial, but to people who are left out of conversations and experiences because they don't fit neatly into the boxes that society has constructed for us, it's not. Our words have power. And what you do with them matters.
What is the role of pronouns in acknowledging someone's gender identity?
Using the correct pronouns for is a way to let people know that you see them, you affirm them, and you accept them. This is particularly important for trans and nonbinary people who are often targeted by discriminatory anti-trans state laws and policies and violence for their gender identity.
What's the right way to find out a person's pronouns?
Start by giving your own, for example, "My name is Jen Gurecki and my pronouns are she/her." Another easy way is to include it in your email signature, bio, Zoom name, or anywhere you share your name. By making this a normal part of how we introduce ourselves, we can can help to break down the gender binary and the often times accidental mis-identification of people.
We have to remember that sharing pronouns is something that may be easier for cisgender people because of the relative safety in them doing so. Because of violent attacks and discriminatory laws and policies, some people may not feel comfortable sharing their pronouns. This is precisely why normalizing the use of pronouns can help create safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces for all people, regardless of the way that they express their gender.
Table of pronouns courtesy of them.
What if I make a mistake and misgender someone, or use the wrong words?
Simply apologize.
What are gender-neutral words can I use when greeting a group of people?
We can't assume the gender identity of people just because someone looks like what society tells us women look like, or what men look like. One way to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces is to use gender neutral pronouns, like y'all, friends, everybody, humans, etc. Don't greet a group of people with the terms ladies or you guys.
Vocab Guide
Sex refers to a person's biological status and is typically assigned at birth, usually on the basis of external anatomy. Sex is typically categorized as male, female or intersex.
Gender is often defined as a social construct of norms, behaviors and roles that varies between societies and over time. Gender is often categorized as male, female or nonbinary.
Gender identity is one's own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.
For most people, gender identity aligns with the sex assigned at birth, the American Psychological Association notes. For transgender people, gender identity differs in varying degrees from the sex assigned at birth.
Gender expression is how a person presents gender outwardly, through behavior, clothing, voice or other perceived characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine or feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture.
Cisgender, or simply cis, is an adjective that describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Transgender, or simply trans, is an adjective used to describe someone whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. A transgender man, for example, is someone who was listed as female at birth but whose gender identity is male.
Cisgender and transgender have their origins in Latin-derived prefixes of "cis" and "trans" — cis, meaning "on this side of" and trans, meaning "across from" or "on the other side of." Both adjectives are used to describe experiences of someone's gender identity.
Nonbinary is a term that can be used by people who do not describe themselves or their genders as fitting into the categories of man or woman. A range of terms are used to refer to these experiences; nonbinary and genderqueer are among the terms that are sometimes used.
Agender is an adjective that can describe a person who does not identify as any gender.
Gender-expansive is an adjective that can describe someone with a more flexible gender identity than might be associated with a typical gender binary.
Gender transition is a process a person may take to bring themselves and/or their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. It's not just one step. Transitioning can include any, none or all of the following: telling one's friends, family and co-workers; changing one's name and pronouns; updating legal documents; medical interventions such as hormone therapy; or surgical intervention, often called gender confirmation surgery.
Gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one's sex assigned at birth and one's gender identity. Not all trans people experience dysphoria, and those who do may experience it at varying levels of intensity.
Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some argue that such a diagnosis inappropriately pathologizes gender incongruence, while others contend that a diagnosis makes it easier for transgender people to access necessary medical treatment.
Sexual orientation refers to the enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or other genders, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight orientations.
People don't need to have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation. They need not have had any sexual experience at all. They need not be in a relationship, dating or partnered with anyone for their sexual orientation to be validated. For example, if a bisexual woman is partnered with a man, that does not mean she is not still bisexual.
Sexual orientation is separate from gender identity. As GLAAD notes, "Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer. For example, a person who transitions from male to female and is attracted solely to men would typically identify as a straight woman. A person who transitions from female to male and is attracted solely to men would typically identify as a gay man."
Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe people with differences in reproductive anatomy, chromosomes or hormones that don't fit typical definitions of male and female.
Intersex can refer to a number of natural variations, some of them laid out by InterAct. Being intersex is not the same as being nonbinary or transgender, which are terms typically related to gender identity.
This guide was created by NPR with help from GLAAD. We also referenced resources from the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Trans Journalists Association, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, Human Rights Campaign, InterAct and the American Psychological Association. This guide is not exhaustive, and is Western and U.S.-centric. Other cultures may use different labels and have other conceptions of gender.
]]>After a hard fucking year of loss, loneliness, and isolation, It’s Tits! was the healing everyone needed. All humans invited brought with them each day their snowboards, shovels, and stoke—every grab, spin, and new trick did not go without their earned yews and yips. It’s Tits!, started by Snowboy Productions’ brainchild, Krush Kulesza in partnership with B4BC (Boarding 4 Breast Cancer), Jess Kimura, and Olympian Barrett Christy-Cummins in 2018, is the female and non-binary event comprised of sessioning a giant skatepark made out of snow. It’s debut took place at Boreal after years of being turned away by resort after resort, squeamish over the name, and has since found permanent residence at Timberline Lodge.
No one shows up better than female riders supporting other female riders. Affinity spaces have been proven to push progression, foster mentorship, and create inclusive spaces for learning—It’s Tits! is a shining example of this. In a sport where women and non-binary people are consistently paid less, represented less, and frequently left uninvited, they’re telling the world to put up or fuck off and creating their own community of support.
When I was younger, I frequently felt that my relationship with snowboarding was unrequited love—despite how it made me feel when I reached flow state, and how fucking good I was at it, it never loved me back, it never accepted me. Instead, I regularly had doors shut in my face, I was left out of conversations, I was left out of marketing, and I never saw myself reflected on TV, since women’s events were never primetime.
It really wasn’t until the Internet matured that I began seeing snowboarders who looked like me on social media platforms. All anyone needs to do these days is look to Instagram comments to know that this circle of advocating for one another transcends quarantine. Being in this space was transformative. To witness the love and compassion on Instagram for so long and then to be completely immersed in it was beyond what I could to put into words here. As one of the photographers, I never even wanted to strap my board on to ride because being a spectator, a storyteller, was doing more for my heart than riding could in that moment. This time spent on snow together at last was a celebration of resilience. Not only for surviving a pandemic, but also to remind each other and the rest of the community that we’re here, we love snowboarding, and we’re done sitting on the sidelines waiting to be noticed.
While the participants were eager and more than happy to share the love of their peers, the collective marketing department of Snowboarding as a whole told a slightly different story. Holy Bowly is a similar snow-park event that takes place two weeks before It’s Tits!. Produced by Krush and Snowboy as well, it’s participants are also invite-only, but can be any gender. This six-day event dominated my Instagram feed for its entirety.
Both media and sponsors alike averaged two more posts for Holy Bowly (HB) than It’s Tits! (IT). One sponsor didn’t even post the event on their social, period. One brand who sponsored neither HB nor IT had a whopping 12-to-4 ratio of coverage, including more than one post of the same male rider at HB. Another had a ratio of 9 to 1 HB. One media company posted six times (with enthusiasm!) about Holy Bowly, while only pushing out two (low effort) posts about It’s Tits!.
When asked about it, their response was that they had less people at IT, therefore, slower and less coverage. We all understand why that’s worse right? Even the park that built the course hyped Howly Bowly six times vs. one post for It’s Tits!. It’s Tits! flew under the radar to the extent that even though IT went on directly after HB, I had people (and still have them) asking me in the lodge ‘if the Holy Bowly course was still open.’
This didn’t go unnoticed by the participants, with several taking to their Instagram accounts to call out brands and media directly or indirectly throwing shade. Many noticed the difference in what their feeds looked like during Holy Bowly compared to It’s Tits, and how men’s content frequently drowns out women’s content, and many making the excuse that there’s less women, less interest, and less content.
Historically, women and non-binary folks are undersponsored in the first place, creating barriers to success and representation within the industry. The majority of brands and media will typically post between 7-10 pictures or videos of men to every one of a female rider. The problem is systemic. And when men, women, and non-binary folks see only one type of rider, we engrain further the status quo.
But after seeing the success of an underground network of women warning women about abusers with the #metoo movement, I believe we’ll see that truth to power leak out into every sphere. I simultaneously can’t believe, and yet am not surprised, that it’s 2021 and I’m still having to talk about representation in this sport that I call home. What inspires me and keeps my hope alive is getting to commune with the rest of the uninvited in our own space, both virtually and on snow; witness them yell about injustice and support one another; and watch them continue to carve out their own space in the park, in the backcountry, and in the world.
Happy Earth Day friends! Today I'm digging deep into a few of my past papers that I wrote a lifetime ago when I dedicated a few years to a Ph.D. in sustainability. You can't call me Dr. Gurecki and my student loan debt is stupid (because I dropped out), but at least I can talk about the carbon footprint of skis.
In 2013, Dr. Tobias Luthe, Thomas Kagi, and Dr. Jan Reger conducted a lifecycle analysis of a pair of skis. Here’s what they found: A traditional pair of skis produces 22 kilograms of carbon emissions per pair (think of all the materials, transportation of the materials, and energy used to press the ski). Compare that to some other things we love consuming to give it some context. One gallon of gas: 19 kilograms. One bottle of beer: 328 grams. One ride up the chairlift: 3 kilograms.
You might be asking yourself about those environmentally sustainable skis. They must put a dent in the carbon footprint, right? Well, using basalt instead of fiberglass, sourcing core wood materials locally, and switching out epoxy for an eco-friendly resin all have a positive impact—a reduction of 3.15 kgs of CO2. Unfortunately, the footprint isn't significantly altered because of the amount of energy it takes to press them (7.8 kgs of CO2 to be precise).
Skiing has been depicted as a sort of canary in the coalmine for the impacts of climate change, yet there is a significant rift between people’s environmental beliefs and their active participation in ecologically destructive practices. Researchers call this detachment between people’s abstract values and their embodied behaviors “ecological irony.” We may believe in protecting the environment, but we love endless, deep pow lines more. So we buy skis and snowboards and drive the mountain or trailhead and most of us ride on chair lifts and some of us even heli-ski. (Just the car drive alone to and from the mountain ONE time produces six times more CO2 than the whole life of a ski).
In the face of an ecological crisis, all of this is pretty overwhelming. I'm sure that you, just like me, spend your days trying to figure out how to be better to the earth in our daily practices. As a small business, it's not easy. We don't have access to all of the sustainable materials that we'd like to use in our manufacturing and in our packaging. (Think about that plastic wrap on a brand new pair of skis. Yeah, we're working on it.)
We really are looking to all of the big guys, whose purchasing power commands the supply chain in the snowsports industry, to make changes so that sustainable materials for the manufacturing of skis and snowboards are readily available. We already use FSC certified wood in our skis and snowboards, but would like to integrate ecological resins and recycled plastic bases. But we don't have the purchasing power to integrate those materials into our production today. (A girl can dream.)
As a small business, rather than focusing on the change that we can't make, we have been focusing on what we can do. And that is why we have been working with Zawadisha* to plant a tree for every ski and snowboard we make. Not only does planting trees have the "mind-blowing potential to tackle the climate crisis," we also are creating jobs for the women who plant and care for them.
We know that we have so much more to do, and as with everything, we are committed to being better.
Want to learn more about our Tree For A Ski program? Check it out here. And if you want to get to know Zawadisha, head on over to their website here.
* Full transparency, Jen Gurecki founded Zawadisha nearly 10 years ago and today sits on the Board of Directors and proudly serves their all Kenyan team in their work.
]]>We want to know––have you ever pretended to like nature when you really craved the delicious depravity of onion-draped street meat after a whiskey-fueled night at your local dive bar (RIP)? Did you just drop hundreds (thousands) on a new backcountry kit only to still feel “hungry” for something less… good for you? Have you hammered up a couple dozen backcountry routes only to get to the top and ask “where the fuck is that beef?”
]]>Yes, even in normal times, things are always a little “different” at Coalition Snow, but we’ve taken note of some interesting trends in the outdoor industry this season. Perhaps we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed that everyone is heading like gore-tex lemmings to the backcountry. Not a huge surprise.
But we are wondering, is anyone really having a better time than they did partying in the city? With humans dedicated to permanently trading bar-hopping for meadow skipping, we thought we’d use our out-of–the–box and somewhat questionable decision making skills to jump into (another) crazy new product that takes “lips and buttholes” to a fun new place.
We want to know, have you ever pretended to like nature when you really craved the delicious depravity of onion-draped street meat after a whiskey-fueled night at your local dive bar (RIP)? Did you just drop hundreds (thousands) on a new backcountry kit only to still feel “hungry” for something less… good for you? Have you hammered up a couple dozen backcountry routes only to get to the top and ask, “Where the fuck is that beef?”
Other brands are falling all over themselves to offer the latest in technical gear, focused on the most state-of-the-art options to get you up the hill, and yet, no one has even considered the state of fucking partying down when you get to the top! Yes, there are the tried and true food options––PB&J, thermos of soup, pocket bacon, bag of trail mix, the sad smooshed bar from months ago that’s lingered in the weird pocket that you never use, Shot Bloks (do those even count as food?)… amongst other packable-but-snooze worthy chewing options.
You still awake? Just letting you know we’ve got your back… animal-style.
For the times when you wish the skin track was more like the ball park, the race track, or a day at Costco… Introducing the Coalition Snow Up-n-Down Dog ®, the world’s first Backcountry Hot Dog!
Yep, this is technical trail meat specifically formulated to meet the needs of even the heartiest partier on the hill, an organic grass-fed beef frank, made with our Up-n-Down anti-inflammatory spice mix, wrapped in a luscious buttered keto friendly brioche bun, and topped with your choice of your favorite condiments! All the building blocks of nutrition to fuel your uphill rager! Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re at Coney Island. Well, Coney Island in February.
How does this work, you ask?
Choose from our meat treats:
Pro-tip. Pair with Tots and a Pickle. Mind the mustard.
Feeling hungry yet? We’ve made it easy to get your dog on:
DIY Dog: Keep your dog and condiments warm during your hike by carrying them close to your core in an inside pocket, in your armpit, or between your boobs, if you have them (recommended).
Doggy Drop-Off: We can meet you at the trailhead! Yes, teaming up with your questionable local delivery service, we offer contactless drop off. If you tell us the secret spot and time, we’ll show up like the party crashers we are!
Can’t get enough? Book our Up-N-Down “SnowDog” tracked-weinermobile for your next “cat” ski trip and blow up your secret stash with our secret sauce! Perfect for your next backcountry birthday, book club meeting, or gender reveal!
Frankly (hot dog pun) my party peeps, if you are one of the thousands left wondering why you picked up this infernal new hobby that seems to run on limited parking, single-file shuffling, fiddly bits, zig-zagging when you want just to go straight up, goddamn it, and that weird iron-y throat taste when you breathe too hard––don’t fret, grab an Up-N-Down Dog and put the fucking festival back in your sufferfest!
]]>Justice is committing to building a world where women aren’t headlines and aren’t memories. A world where they know they are safe, supported, and seen.
]]>What would justice actually look like…
For Breonna Taylor, who was killed a year ago this week. Whose killers were not charged with any wrongdoing in her death, but instead only for the harm they could have caused to her neighbors.
For Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and killed walking home, also by a police officer, but in this case, it wasn’t state-sanctioned. But telling women to say at home to stay safe, and the aggression toward protestors was.
And for the six Asian women (and two others) who were murdered by a young, white man, adding to a year of rampant anti-Asian rhetoric in this country and a recent rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. But the killer was just having a bad day.
Justice is committing to building a world where these women aren’t headlines and aren’t memories. A world where they know they are safe, supported, and seen.
All too often we blame the people who are on the receiving end of this violence. They are the ones who shouldn't dress, speak, look, behave a certain way. We regulate their movement, their freedom, their full expression of themselves. If she just would have... then that wouldn't have happened to her...
Imagine how this narrative would change, how men's behavior would change, if we put an end to their impunity. If every law and every policy actually held them truly accountable. If we upended the systems that continue to uphold the power and privilege associated with being white and male (ie, white supremacy).
What will it take for us to see justice unfold rather than continue to fight for it?
]]>We kicked off Black History Month with a pretty big announcement: Mirna Valerio has joined the Coalition Snow team. For those of you who are new to the Mirna fan club, she is a runner, a speaker, an author, an all-around bad ass, and now a skier.
]]>We kicked off Black History Month with a pretty big announcement: Mirna Valerio has joined the Coalition Snow team. For those of you who are new to the Mirna fan club, she is a runner, a speaker, an author, an all-around bad ass, and now a skier.
Why Mirna? Because she is an amazing human being who shares our values. She's kind and funny and smart. She unapologetically shows up in this world as herself. And she's making the outdoors a more inclusive space.
You can't be what you can't see, and that's why it's important to have people like Mirna represent a new face of snowsports. Who cares that she doesn't huck herself off of cliffs or jump out of helicopters? We're just as excited to follow her journey as she learns how to ski.
There's so much talk about the need for diversity, equity, and inclusivity in snowsports (and beyond), but it will continue to elude us if we maintain the same narrative about who skis, what skiers look like, and who is welcome in this sport.
You can help us welcome Mirna to the team and to skiing here, and we hope that you'll join us in following along in her adventures. And check out our interview with Mirna on our podcast Juicy Bits on Spotify or wherever you love to listen to podcasts.
]]>
We’re teaming up with Deenaalee Hodgdon, one of the newest members of our Ambassador team and the Creator and Host of On The Land Media, to create a scholarship for Indigenous communities to access avalanche training and backcountry skiing and riding.
]]>In our two years of co-facilitating this scholarship, Coalition has provided 10 $1,000 scholarships and 10 pairs of skis/snowboards to an incredible group of humans who are furthering the mission of this initiative.
You can meet the inaugural cohort here and meet our second cohort here.
Proceeds from all sales of our Skida x On the Land collection have supported this scholarship, as well as your generous donations.
When we think about the people who we want to partner with to co-create a future in snowsports that is diverse, welcoming, and inclusive, we couldn’t be more proud to partner with people like Deenaalee.
Check out our interview with Deenaalee on our podcast Juicy Bits below.
]]>
All signs point to the need for pretty radical change in this country, change that will only happen with a new administration.
It’s the understatement of year to say that there is so much on the line when it comes to ensuring that we protect our environment, fight climate change, support workers, end human rights violations, manage COVID, stop authoritarian dictators, protect our pussies, and more.
We need a landslide victory for Biden/Harris on November 3rd, and we're looking at you to help make it happen. What does pop culture have to do with the outdoors? Everything. It’s what we talk about when we’re out on the trail or on the chairlift. That’s why it seems apropos to talk about the feminist anthem of 2020: Cardi B’s WAP.
]]>Want to get more of this in your inbox weekly? Sign up for our Lady Parts Newsletter here.
What does pop culture have to do with the outdoors? Everything. It’s what we talk about when we’re out on the trail or on the chairlift. We don’t have these disparate identities where what's happening in society is separate from our outdoor experiences. As Walt Whitman said, we contain multitudes.
That’s why it seems apropos to talk about the song that has been at the number one position on The Hot 100 Billboard charts: Cardi B’s WAP. It also is the only nice thing we've got in 2020.
As far as we're concerned, it’s THE feminist anthem of 2020 (and perhaps beyond) because it challenges everything we’ve been taught about what is acceptable conversation and behavior by (Black) women in regards to their sexuality.
We all know who has defined what is considered crass and sexually deviant: cis-gendered straight white men. They concocted rules that solely served them, which in turn led to the creation of “civilized” behavior, a notion that exists to dehumanize people.
Whether or not you like WAP is neither here nor there. It can exist in the feminist canon without everyone’s approval because intersectional feminism by design challenges the status quo. It requires us to question every social construct, and examine them more closely through the lens of multiple identities. The end result is a complete re-imagination of what is “normal.”
This song is everything that feminism is supposed to be—women showing up, unapologetically, as their true selves. Women in charge of their narrative, framed entirely positively, and making fucking bank off of it. And as stated in this article by Popsugar, exploitation and fetishization of Black female bodies is rooted in colonialism, and WAP is free of both literal and metaphorical shackles. (Also check out this article from Bitch Magazine about WAP.)
And similarly to how Eve Ensler reclaimed the word cunt in her play The Vagina Monologues, Cardi B is reclaiming pussy. Do you remember how revolutionary The Vagina Monologues was when it first hit theaters in 1996 and white women lost their shit over it? Now it seems very pedestrian.
So we have that look forward to—wet ass pussies might just be mainstream in 20 years. And IDK about you, but we can’t wait to see what’s after this.
]]>One of the biggest reasons why we started Coalition Snow six years ago was to challenge the snowsports industry to think bigger and do better. To create an inclusive culture that embraces everyone who love to recreate in the mountains, not just cis-gendered straight white men. To amplify the voices of women in snowsports and beyond.
We recognize that our claim to support “women” has been heavily centered on cis-gendered, able-bodied white women. That needs to change.
We have made mistakes in the past. We know that we will continue to make mistakes. We know we have A LOT more work to do.
We believe that it is important to be transparent about where we are in terms of anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) as a company. This is a work in progress. Our scrappy team, made up of four part-time cis-gendered, able-bodied white women, is committed to being better and doing the work.
Sharing our next steps with you is part of our commitment. Here’s what we have the resources to do now, and as we are able to add to this list, we will communicate that with you:
✔️ Divest funds away from Facebook/Insta ads and toward Influencers, Ambassadors, & Athletes who are Black Women, Women of Color, Indigenous Women, LGBTQIA individuals, & persons with disabilities
✔️ Pay Black Women, Women Of Color, Indigenous Women, LGBTQIA individuals, & persons with disabilities as models in future photoshoots
✔️ Provide anti-racism and JEDI training for all staff and Ambassadors/Athletes
✔️ Require Ambassadors/Athletes to pledge to commit to taking anti-racism & JEDI action
✔️ Not include any brands, organizations, or influencers across the Coalition Snow & Sisu Magazine platforms (social media, emails, events, contests, etc.) unless they have taken action on JEDI & anti-racism
✔️ Use our voices and our platform to help educate people on JEDI & anti-racism issues so that we can be a part of taking the burden off of Black Women, Women of Color, Indigenous Women, LGBTQIA individuals, & persons with disabilities
✔️ Continue to confront our own white privilege and create space to be challenged to do better
✔️ Starting with Issue 8, not include any brands or organizations within the pages of Sisu Magazine unless they have taken action on JEDI & anti-racism
✔️Starting with Issue 8, create paid Guest Editor positions in Sisu Magazine for Black people, Women Of Color, Indigenous Women, LGBTQIA, and persons with disabilities so that they can have power in determining content created by, for, and about these groups, by individuals who will be paid to contribute to Sisu Magazine
✔️Starting with Issue 8, vet all brands, writers, photographers, and artists who want to contribute to Sisu Magazine to ensure they have taken action on JEDI and anti-racism
✔️Use our voices and our platform to help educate people on JEDI and anti-racism issues so that we can be a part of taking the burden off of Black Women, Women of Color, Indigenous Women, LGBTQIA individuals, and persons with disabilities
This is our ongoing and ever-evolving commitment to you.
In solidarity,
Jen Gurecki, CEO
]]>"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King
If now--with the recent murders of Black men and women, coupled with the disproportionate loss of life by our Black community due to COVID-19, and on top of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and decades of oppressive and systemic racism--is not the time to use your voice and take action against racism, when will it be?
Here's a few tips on how to take action every single day of your life. Please note this is a short list that is a start to action. And check out this comprehensive list via the National Resources List.
Want more ideas? Watch this short clip from Rachel Cargle.
Read more about our message to white women here and a reposting of Revelations by J. Drew Lanham, Ph.D.
Artwork by Kika Macfarlane. All proceeds from the Silence is Oppression collection will be donated to Black justice funds.
]]>As we consider the impact of COVID-19 on the world, we are shocked by how disproportionally this is affecting men. While Latina women are losing 53 cents, Indigenous women 58 cents, Black women 62 cents, and white women 81.6 cents on the dollar, a man is losing an entire dollar. And for perhaps the first time in his life, he is forced to work from home in the presence of his children.
We’ve never been ones to sit around and wait for action to be taken, so we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting creative. That’s why we’re launching Coalition Cookies, a new initiative designed to take the burden off of men.
“Our hearts go out to these individuals who are dealing with the unthinkable. Their entire way of life has been upended,” Jen Gurecki, our CEO said. “Giving men cookies is the least we can do in their time of need.”
We know we cannot do this by ourselves, which is why we are going to put men back to work and hire them as bakers. It’s only logical to encourage men to make baked goods for other men given that Coalition Snow is comprised of a team of women who make hard goods for other women. “It’s really empowering to step outside of the box and challenge social norms,” Gurecki said. "A man's place can be in the kitchen."
We've also partnered with men who can no longer get outside and recreate the way they are accustomed to. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Alex Honnold and Black Diamond to use their custom spatula to hand mix the dough. “Sending it is a basic fundamental need they have, and they’ve been robbed of that,” Gurecki added.
Ultimately, Coalition would love to transition this enterprise to be operated by a team of men. Because in a perfect world, the only people handing out cookies to other men would be men themselves.
Want to support this initiative? Click here.
]]>In this episode of Juicy Bits, our co-host Jen Gurecki sat down Gerilyn to find out how her first experience skiing inspired her to create Inclusion on the Slopes, a movement designed to foster inclusion in the ski industry for generations to come.
]]>In this episode of Juicy Bits, our co-host Jen Gurecki sat down Gerilyn to find out how this experience inspired her to create Inclusion on the Slopes, a movement designed to foster inclusion in the ski industry for generations to come.
Inclusion on the slopes is a great opportunity for organizations to grow their business with inclusion through sponsorship. Find out how you can support their events and initiatives here.
Have a listen and share your take with us at juicybits@coalitionsnow.com. And if you love what you hear, check out our Patreon campaign at patreon.com/juicybits.
]]>
THE MOUNTAIN
Cooper Resort is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at 11,000 feet, a few miles from Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the US, within the Tennessee Pass. Cooper is in close proximity to Summit County / Eagle County / Vail areas. Cooper is the most affordable ski resort in Colorado and the only one operating as a nonprofit. Cooper Hill is the second ski resort built in Colorado and has always served people learning to master skiing. During World War II, nearby Camp Hale was the training hub for the 10th Mountain Division. The camp boasted six months of snow for the area, which equaled six months of training on Cooper Hill. The troops trained there diligently before going to fight in northern Italy. When they returned to the U.S., many flocked to the fast-developing ski industry. Over 50 resorts were either founded or had employees from the 10th Mountain Division, including Vail. Theoretically, Cooper is the reason Colorado has ski resorts, and it is now one of the reasons I can ski better.
Cooper ski hill is wide open and exactly what I dream of when I imagine skiing. It is not the long lines, the fancy food, or the fresh, innovative ideas in the sport that appeal to me most (although that is all awesome, too). Being the best certainly isn't essential to me (let's face it, personal design ruled that out).
The things I like most about skiing are connecting with nature, sailing through the powder as the crisp air fills my lungs, the wide-open spaces in the heavy snow treeline, and THE VIEWS!
When I entered the resort, I found all of that. Not only is the hill fantastic for beginners, but the days I was there, the crew opened, the steepest most challenging, black runs in the state.
The new run is all backcountry double blacks, serviced by a high-speed t-bar with massive trees, very steep lines and devoid of people.
Cooper has cat skiing on Chicago Ridge, nordic ski trails for nordic ski and fat bikes (fat bike rentals on-site at Nordic Center), nearby Yurts, a cookhouse, and a BYO sledding hill. You can also stay in the original 10th mountain hut system. Cooper is all-natural; they never make snow. They rely on Mother Nature. Cooper Mountain has awe-inspiring, breathtaking, unforgettable views of some of Colorado's finest 14ers such as Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert.
THE LESSONS
The first day I skied started magnificently. I slept in a new yurt 1.5 miles away from the resort, and I nordic-skied to pick up my ski equipment (first time on cross-country skis, so it was slow going and peaceful for my soul). I picked up my gear as I use rentals from the resorts, unsure yet if I really want to commit to this sport. I planned the first day for taking photos, meeting the staff and getting a feel of the resort.
I committed to learning to ski this season and I had two lessons at Eldora and several practice ski days. My first day solo at Cooper I skied two runs solo and did not fall — a first for me. I felt like the Queen of the Universe. The lessons are working. As I bask in the joy of staying upright, I got on a mysterious lift I did not ride up at the beginning (big lesson use maps).
I got to the top of the lift, glided off right into ski patrol and vomited. Something about Cooper is, their lifts start where others end, and even their beginner runs start above 11,000 feet.
The ski patrol suggested strongly that my ski day was over and that I had a bout of altitude sickness. I rode down wrapped in a giant splint with a stellar woman ski patrol and a sadness in my soul because I had to cut the day short. Hydration is vital when you ski. I should consume water before, during, and after being on the mountain. The general rule is a minimum of 67 oz of water a day, take 67% of your body weight and drink that number in ounces per day. I live in Colorado, I should be more aware, I had been drinking tons, but I was not really drinking what I needed.
I hobbled to the Nordic Center, after my medical assessment, which is my home base for my stay in the yurt. I got a ride on a ski mobile to the Bot (my Yurt). I felt defeated and started hydrating for the next day of lessons.
The second day I was determined, invigorated and hydrated. I had all of my gear. I hiked the 1.5 miles to the ski resort. I was a bit early and eager to learn.
I met my instructor, Michael, who also is an adaptive ski instructor making waves in the sport. Michael is hosting his first adaptive race, the Dinosaur 100, on August 1. I was fortunate enough to learn from Michael.
We did our introductions, and Michael said his only mission was to help me reach my goals and have fun. He had a light approach to skiing. I could tell from his mission and devotion to teaching people with disabilities to do what some deem impossible — he believed in the power of skiing. Michael asked me my goal for the day. I told him I wanted to make it down the mountain as many times as I could without falling. Michael said, "Well, we can make that happen." He guided me in a way that the lessons seemed applicable to both life and skiing. I joked at everything he said, like, "wow, that is a lesson I need to learn beyond the mountain."
The first lesson is that everything takes time and be patient with 'me.' Michael says the only way you get better is with miles. I often do the lesson and neglect the practice. I have to talk myself into training is an intentional act of discipline. It is not a natural disposition for me. The advice reassured me I can keep at it.
My personal weakness is self-doubt. Michael taught me to get outside of my head. He had me hold my poles in front so that my focus was not to drop them. All my flailing body mechanics,such as dropping my shoulder and being quite floppy, just vanished. I skied marvelously that way. I made it down five times without falling.
Michael taught me to set goals and keep going. I was learning, and I was learning to ski, the most fun sport, that extends an exhilarating feeling close to flying if you just let go. Michael said, have fun and reach the goal, not only once, but as many times you can after you do it. We did that. We got to the bottom, then rode up and flew down as many times as we could.
Last, he taught my master lesson, go faster than I ever had, but with ease and control. He had me do my parallel turn with a tight flow and stay in my own lane. The whole day I did big full J turns, worked on rocking my turns, and carving pretty slow. The final runs were tight and a bit faster. I felt so free and so accomplished. I felt like a real skier. I never imagined I could say that.
Skiing at Cooper is cheap on the reg, but they host special pricing throughout the week. They really want families and people to have affordable access to skiing.
THE ACCOMMODATIONS
There is something freeing and relaxing about sleeping in a yurt at the very top of the Continental Divide. The sleep yurts are unimaginable. They have views you will want to etch in your soul and never forget. The surroundings are so peaceful. So serene. And the staff is so accommodating. When you arrive, the team takes your luggage by snowmobile (and you, or you can ski, bike, hike or stroll). The yurts sleep six and are fully heated by a wood stove. The yurts have outhouses with compostable toilets. The water is brought in with your luggage.
They have a kitchen with a propane burner, complimentary coffee, hot cocoa and tea. You can bring food to cook, use room service, or go to the cookhouse for a five-course full-service dinner. I chose to mix my rustic living with my upscale living and enjoyed a dinner at the cookhouse.
I snuggled up, confident from my long day of skiing, put on my headlamp, and walked by the light of the full moon down the well-groomed snowy forest to my destination, the Cookhouse, a giant yurt, delightfully lit by candlelight, and warmed by a wood stove. As I approach, I see a large fire pit blazing in the front for the early guests to gather.
I stepped inside, and slipped off my warm clothes. I had a table for one and dinner plans to celebrate my accomplishments. My neighboring table invited me to join them. They were a group of friends who met in Mexico and visited Colorado a few times a year. Carrie was the organizer of their plans that night, and she was a local. She takes all of her out-of-town guests to these dinners for the experience. The night was vivacious as everyone enveloped into the cozy mountain yurt atmosphere. The staff was impeccable and served course after course as we all discussed travel and life. I felt as if I traveled around the globe just listening to the group. They all had such a deep connection to one another, and it was an honor to be a part of their evening.
I am a vegetarian and gluten-free. The menu and servers are very in tune with special requests, so it was no issue. My fellow new friends had Colorado Rack of Lamb with Fresh Mint Chimichurri, Barramundi with Dill Cream Sauce, Grilled Elk Tenderloin with a Wild Blueberry & Sage Port Reduction, and Oven Roasted Pheasant. I had Pan Seared Risotto Cakes. They have exquisite wines and both warm and cold specialty cocktails.
The guest came from Vail and had to ski, snowshoe, or hike from the Nordic Ski Center to the yurt. You cannot drive there. The dinners and lunch are by reservation. They often host special gatherings including weddings. The evening was intimate and quite unique. I would say they host a professionally staged evening, and the staff is trained in elegance.
I returned via the moonlight to my snuggly yurt. The path was so lit I did not need a lamp. (The center hosts monthly full moon parties with transport from the ski resort on ski cat which I want to attend).
The wind in a big snowfall sounds like soft waves in the ocean as it hits the canvas. There is a constant drifting, an ebb and a flow of nature. There is nothing more remarkable. Add a roaring fire and all the worries in the world start to melt away like the snow from the skylight.
The presence of the night sky emerges. I think of one more day of skiing. One more notch on my belt. Lucky and happy to live this life.
]]>TRUE CONFESSION – I CAN’T SKI.
I hate to admit it, but I just can’t ski. I’ve lived in this great centennial, snow-loving state for almost 15 years, and I still haven’t found my ski legs — even though I DO make my annual pilgrimage up the mountain. My flair for NOT skiing borders on the master’s level. You see, I have taken the intellectual pursuits of most creatives. I love writing; I love music. I’ve made a life of exercising my mind — and I’m a terrible klutz. I do daily yoga. I bike on the reg, but skiing and I have never jibed. Plain and simple.
But I’m 41, and if you can’t learn anything new at my age, such as doing as the natives of Colorado do, then it might be time to pack it on out of here and forgo a lifetime of adventure. This year, all of that changes. I am going to 22 ski resorts from Coloradoski.com to learn-how-to-ski, how to grow, how to learn something new, even when the odds are against me. I will be a (ski) beast.
The snow is falling, and 2019 brought a record year. Winter is officially here. Ski season is in full effect. The ski films, such as Warren Miller’s 70th “Timeless” (which highlighted how epic Eldora is), pumped everyone up.
Just like all the winters that have come and gone, the movie is the unofficial chime through which Colorado mountains call. I must not leave them waiting — but I do live in Fort Collins.
Fort Collins is one of the best bike cities in America. It’s a music city, a climber’s paradise, and it’s the home to many cross-country ski options. Fort Collins is an active city, but getting to ski resorts seems a big jaunt when the snow flies and the roads to the high country shut down. A two-hour drive turns into a six-hour trip or even overnight. To some, they prepare and enjoy the process; the suffering is worth the complete powgasm that happens when they get to slide into the fresh, fluffy free-fallen snow. To others, the inconvenience of sitting dead stop on the highway is a deterrent.
THE ANSWER TO THIS CONUNDRUM IS ELDORA.
Eldora is 69 miles from Fort Collins, 38 miles from Denver, and 21 miles west of Boulder. The beauty of heading up the Boulder Canyon, about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Fort Collins, is you never even get on Interstate 70, which leads to most resorts and becomes an icy parking lot most weekends. The weather still comes, but the route is different. Even on the busiest of days, Eldora is in reach. Eldora is the place I took my first lesson many years ago when I moved to Colorado. Eldora is the new beginning of my learning-to-ski journey.
THE LESSON
My skilled leader was Lori A Beach Ed. D. Lori Beach taught me lessons on Eldora’s learning-based terrain.
Lori learned to ski for love. Thirty-six years ago, she married her husband, who immediately expressed his passion for skiing. Lori did not want to miss spending time with her (then) new husband, so she learned to ski (as he playfully said to her, “I love you so much. You will take lessons from somebody else”). Lori has worked beside her husband for almost the entirety of their relationship, 28 of those years teaching people to ski.
The couple, both middle school teachers, met at work. They taught skiing in Ohio at Snow Trails on nights and weekends. They vacationed in Colorado and planned to relocate eventually. When they retired from teaching in the classroom, they packed their bags for Colorado and transitioned into skilled leaders at Eldora, where they now both instruct. They teach people to use their bodies for fun. As a bonus, they share their love of the sport with new learners. They’ve both been there for six years.
Beach is a formally trained ballerina. She has years and years of experience as an athlete. I loved her approach to learning to ski as it related to dancing. Her stories were humorous yet held bold revelations to me as her student.
In between skills learning, and as early as we met, I could tell her questions were giving her insight into who I was as a learner. How did I learn? What things do I usually do with my body? How well did I know the terrain and the landscape of the sport? Lori gathered her intel. She listened to me. She used my love of yoga and dancing to teach me specific ways of handling my body. I fear going fast without control. I fear the mountain and its steepness. I fear getting twisted in a pretzel, as I often do when I fall. It is easier to quit and sit in the warm lodge. But it was time to get out of my comfort zone... In between skills learning.
In that one lesson, I corrected some bad habits, like always wedging when going downhill. I felt like I had a breakthrough in the sport. I had come the day before sans-lesson. I felt defeated. I fell a lot. I cried tears of frustration. I managed. But after the experience with Lori, I felt like I had some skills beyond French fries and pizza, methods of teaching to small kids and beginners that help you stop. Lori met me where I needed her and guided me with body movements I do regularly. My yoga suddenly translated into ski moves Lori demonstrated that the same movement I use in warrior 2, for example, is how I should flow into a turn. The idea of shifting my knees outward to create a turn, along with other body mechanics, allowed me to relate my skiing to a repetition in which I am familiar. It was a relatable lesson that built on my previous ski experience and the way I learn.
I went back for more. Lori was enthusiastic about meeting again. She made small talk about my life and hers. We got on the lift, ready to glide. Lori knew my abilities. This lesson, Lori asked me about skating. When she found out I was good at that, she taught me how to ski on skates. I had always thought that to ski, both of my feet and legs should act like one. When she told me it was like skating, it gave me the freedom to move my feet and legs perfectly. This was a mental game-changer, and suddenly I understood what I was trying to achieve physically. The feet and hips all are moving in support of one another, mirroring each other but are independent of one another. Let’s just say she changed my life. Something clicked, and I understood physically what I needed to do to improve and enjoy skiing.
Lori gave me confidence, and for the first time, I heard someone say, “You are a natural.”
Eldora has a new terrain customized by Eldora and Woodward for teaching and growing in the sport. The new park will enhance everything from lessons to personal training and is open to anyone riding the mountain.
The new addition of Eldora’s rad terrain is in full force.
THE TERRAIN
Jeff Brier, JB, director of Ski & Ride School who guides his skilled leaders’ team with a new progressive teaching model, says, “What we’re doing with learning-based terrain is presenting this progression of ‘Inspire. Nurture. Teach’ to our instructors, combined with different human-made features, that enhance the guest experience. But it also allows for more fun, interaction, and developing awesome relationships with the guests.”
Eldora staff have envisioned these new man-made features for years, which are now a reality. The new terrain allows the teachers to immerse the students in the most common sensations found in skiing. The teachers get to break out of their ‘guide to skiing’ molds, and as JB says, “have a whole new language and a fun terrain, new analogies to come up with, and now they can be re-inspired and why they love to teach because they get to do something a little new every day instead of just parrot the same feedback.”
The instructors create a unique training plan dictated by the individual guest’s needs and wants. The new terrain allows lessons to be catered explicitly for the individual. Eldora is creating a progression that matches the terrain and providing lessons without the mental clog of naming everything and detailing it word for word. The method and terrain empower the student to feel the ride, catch the flow, and enjoy the experience.
The new terrain has Moguls, Half-pipes, quarter-pipes, super-pipes, and jibs but is designed specifically by the long-time experienced staff to enhance learning new skills no matter what level you are at. “We’re starting with big sensations right from the very beginning. And we’re allowing the terrain to manipulate their skills, so they don’t work as hard. But they become more automatic,” Lori says. “What we’re doing with beginners and Learning-Based-Teaching is we’re starting them able to glide, able to engage, able to release with the terrain from day one,” Lori says. “We’re starting people out in these start parks, in these small mini pipes. Parallel skis, both skis on, straight down in.”
This innovative teaching model allows the instructor to connect deeper with the student and really learn about how they perform. It also abandons teaching bad habits that need to be undone later. The teaching method is more fluid and easier to comprehend. The terrain is just a tool to get more people skiing, better and quicker.
Eldora also curates unique learning experiences for groups of commonality: Trek, Eldorables, Masters Racing, Nighthawks Racing, and a program specifically for women.
WOMEN’S EVENTS
“WOMEN’S MULTI-WEEK LESSON PROGRAMS”
Eldora women’s program is one of the longest-running women’s programs in the country (over 30 years) and has the unique opportunity to offer a Nordic program, alpine, telemark, and snowboarding.
Krista Crabtree, director of the Eldora Women’s Program for over a decade, says, “We provide an experience for women to learn and challenge themselves in a positive environment. The bonus is two delicious meals, fun perks like raffles and wine tasting, and camaraderie with other like-minded, active women.”
The event is a consecutively booked midweek escape that runs in January for 10 weeks, six weeks, or four weeks catered to your specific skill set. Each day includes a European Continental breakfast starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by a four-hour guided on-mountain experience, with an hour-long gourmet lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“My two favorite things about the program: When I see women ski or ride together after meeting each other during the program, and when women say, “my partner/husband/son/daughter says I’ve improved a ton!” Krista says.
For participants without season passes, the Women’s Program Pass is included in the program fee and provides day lift tickets for the specified program days. For questions, (303) 440-8700, ext. 2.
Coalition Snow has a women’s line that is a superior choice for snowboards and skis.
THE ADVENTURE
I know myself, and despite my past relationships with athletics, I can still master skiing. If not a master this year, I can learn enough to have fun. I admire the smiles people wear when they ski. I am envious of hut trips and backcountry freedoms. I want a lifelong sport that takes me across the globe. The skiing itself is only half the adventure. Eldora was one large step in the plan.
Getting to Eldora is easy. The staff is premiere. Sam Bass, in marketing, coordinated my whole experience. I am so impressed with his level of commitment to Eldora. His service was impeccable, and he was so accommodating. I am grateful to have met the crew at Eldora. Everyone treated me like a long-lost friend. I made so much progress with the new terrain. Eldora is so accessible. I did #optoutside. I skied on Thanksgiving. I skied the weekend after Christmas. I drove. I parked. I skied. I learned that I could be a good skier. I had the time of my life. I made it home by dinner.
Get BOGO tickets to Eldora and other Colorado Gems.
FREE RIDES
The only ski resort served by RTD, Colorado’s most extensive public transportation system. Depart from Boulder Transit Center and drops you in front of our Alpenglow high-speed chairlift the NB Route bus at the same spot. PARKING IS FREE on weekends at RTD’s Boulder Transit Center (1800 14th Street), the Boulder County Justice Center (6th & Canyon), Settler’s Park (Pearl & Canyon), and the Nederland Park-n-Ride.
RIDE FOR FREE
Eldora is giving away free round-trip tickets on RTD’s NB Route to any rider who needs one—every weekend and on select holidays this season on the 8:10 a.m. or 10:10 a.m. departures from Boulder Transit Center.
ELDORA RESOURCES
]]>We saved the best for last. For our final week of 🌿 Sister Sage 🌿(a weekly roundup of advice and insights from our Ambassadors & Athletes into what we learned in the past decade because no one wants to go through that shit again), we're taking a closer look at friendships. And not the kinds that exist through likes and follows, but the real ones that matter.
Zy Luzader @Moonheavy: Patience and understanding should never be taken for granted. Especially for women, who so often experience trauma. It's so easy to develop unhealthy coping habits and methods for dealing with the differences that we may encounter in our friendships and relationships. I want to change that and grow and heal with my friends. I think we can interrupt trauma patterns and start a chain reaction of healing when we exercise patience and compassion when our friends do something we don’t like. Especially when you experience neglectful or abusive situations, it can be extremely hard to accept that the people in your life don’t mean you harm or hurt, but once you do you can view things from a place of love and communication instead of suspicion and defensiveness. That's when you start to build truly healthy and supportive friendships.
Coral Taylor @c_ros: Friends are so important, and having good friends is even more important. I wouldn't be the person I am or where I am today without the friends in my life. As I got older, I realized that my friends can be in different generations and have different interests, and it's really nice to get their different perspectives. Cheers, love, and gratitude to all of the friends out there.
Rachel Fortman @rachelfortman: Not every friendship is meant to last forever. It is okay to realize that you may have grown apart from someone, that a friendship has become toxic and no longer serves you in a good way or that simply it just wasn't the best person to be around. Friendships are so important but surrounding yourself with people who lift you up and help you grow outweighs toxicity. It's okay to realize that isn't the best situation for you, and to move forward without having anger and resentment. I always thought that I had to stay friends with someone just because I've known them for a long period of time. I know now that you can still be amicable and wish them nothing but the best. Prioritize surrounding yourself with the people that support you and will help you become a better you.
Lexie Gritlefeld @weekend.roamer: For me, making friends has been all about stoke. If you show stoke for what someone else is doing with their time, they likely will be stoked on you.
Jodi Redfield @jodiwankenobe: Friends are the best. It's been important to me to have many different groups of them: sports friends, guy friends, drink beer in the sun friends. Fill yourself up with these people and love them hard.
Robyn Goldsmith @scenesfromthetrail: If want to make friends with someone, tell them. Ask them to hang out. It might feel awkward to initiate, but chances are they'll be flattered, and friendship dates are fun!
Jennifer Ward @snoflake96156: Be friends with people who make the same effort!!
Heidi Hoang @hoang.heidi: Sometimes you reach a point in your life where you need a little cleanup in your friends. Everyone is busy, and we don't have time to waste for people you don't care about us. Make time for people who care for you and let go of the others.
Meaghan Greene @meaghanmichele: When friendships reach deeper depths, it can be emotionally exhausting for yourself or the other person. I have learned that you shouldn’t be sorry for how you are feeling, but you should respect the other person’s boundaries. We all need to take care of our own well-being. The best thing you can do for yourself and your friend is giving yourself the space you need.
Evin Harris @ev.schmev: Make time for your friends as much as you make for a significant other. Friendships between women are strong as hell and worth the world. Read the book "Text Me When You Get Home.”
Read last week's post about Nurturing Our Health.
Artwork by Chie Tamada. Shop her collection here.
]]>None of what you read below is intended to replace formal medical advice, rather it’s insight into how our team cares for themselves.
Natalie Corbett @dr_climb_medicine_woman: Mental health is as important as physical health. That may seem intuitive to some but many ignore their own or see any mental health issues as a weakness. I am of the belief that everyone should see a therapist regardless of if they feel like they need it or not. Having an impartial ear to listen to me has done wonders for both my mental well-being and physical, as one can affect the other. Don't settle with the first one you visit either of you don't like them; if you're not comfortable opening up to them you're not going to get anything out of it and keep searching for the right one. Seeing a therapist has literally saved my life. When I was suffering from severe depression early on in my transition it was having a therapist helped me move on from that state to who I am today.
Andrea Slusarski @drawingfromnature: Creating is such an important tool in learning and growth. Journalling, Singing, Cooking, Drawing—whatever makes YOU feel Creative is so important to your mental health. Save space for those activities.
Natasha Way @thenattyway: There are so many 'cures' out there that either address non-existent problems or have no data and no research to back them up. Make sure you are checking your sources and consulting doctors before making any major changes in your life regarding your health. This is especially true in the world of women's health. Be wary of any products designed to fix your vagina in any way. There are so many products on the market without any data to back them up that claim to clean or tighten your lady parts when usually there was nothing wrong in the first place!
Lexie Gritlefeld @weekend.roamer: Don’t blow your knee out. Get your strength training in!
Jodi Redfield @jodiwankenobe: It’s easy to want to 'get in shape' by 'doing your sport' but after spending a few years as a personal trainer I know not to forget the importance of balancing muscle groups, building a strong core and stretching out those overworked quads. Drink lots of water and fuel your long touring days with real food, not just bars and sugar.
Robyn Goldsmith @scenesfromthetrail: Be your own health advocate. Don't let doctors or health professionals diminish your experiences. If you have been suffering from chronic pain or another condition (endometriosis, anyone?), go into your doctor's office equipped with notes, bring a friend or advocate if you need one, and insist on solutions.
Heidi Hoang @hoang.heidi: Your body has its limits, make sure to understand and respect them.
Shelby Burns @shelbssays: Most of us have crazy active lifestyles. It is important to slow it down. Give yourself eight hours of sleep, a quick 10-minute meditation to break up your workday, or do an hour a day phone detox. We are constantly overstimulating our minds. Take care of yourself, and find ways to add in downtime to your schedule.
Meaghan Greene @meaghanmichele: In my own health journey, I have found that the connection between my physical and mental health is crucial. The rhythm of the two dancing in unison is what makes me feel most connected to who I am. If you are struggling, try being mindful of how they work together, break cycles of bad patterns, and find ways to connect them through conscious movement and breath.
Ryan Michelle Scavo @ryoutside: For the mamas out there: Stay active during your pregnancy and you'll be physically and mentally better, post-baby. If you were active before baby-making, you know your body and your capabilities. Don't slow down (too much) just because you might get strange looks ripping the resort at 7+ months pregnant. If you know your limitations and are smart about your activity, you'll be healthier for it in the long run. Your body and baby will thank you later.
Evin Harris @ev.schmev: Recently I learned I need therapy. I also need "snowboarding therapy,” but that is not always enough. Everyone can benefit from therapy, but unfortunately, it is not always the most accessible. Not all therapists accept insurance and not everyone has insurance. The mental health care system in the US has a long way to go. To those who are curious and do not have insurance that will cover therapy, you can get discounted sessions through students studying to be registered therapists. My best tactic yet is taking my life day by day. I know that sounds cliche but when one day is out of this world great and the next is just unbearable, that's almost the only way to go. Along with help from my mindfulness therapist, I have longer stretches of good days.
Image by @joce_cova. Shop her other designs here. Read the other posts from Sister Sage including Navigating Our Career Path and Love.
]]>There's not a better way to ring in the new year than setting your intentions for the next year and in this case the next decade. We turned to our team of Ambassadors & Athletes to help us create Sister Sage, a weekly roundup of advice and insights into what we learned in the past decade (because no one wants to go through that shit again.) In week three, we're tackling a topic that keeps many of us up at night: our careers.
Brittney Dickson @stay_wild_backcountry: Choose the lifestyle you want to live. We are always so scared to quit the 9-5 Monday to Friday gig but we can live the life we want as well as have a fulfilling career. Find something that you are truly passionate about and willing to put your heart and soul into. It will be a lot of work but in the end, your career will be something you are proud of and willing to put in those late nights and early mornings.
Shelby Burns @shelbssays: Go where you think you will grow! It is important to live somewhere where you can feel inspired by those around you, as well as your environment!
Zy Luzader @moonheavy: Take a chance on yourself. So often we get stuck waiting for the right time, the right situation, the right opportunities. At the end of the day, you have to take the jump and decided to believe in yourself. You have to accept that not everything will go exactly to plan and one of the most resourceful skills you can have is the ability to roll with the punches and work through whatever challenges arise. You might not end up where you expected, but you'll end up where you need to be.
Coral Taylor @c_ros: Ask for what you want. If you don't ask, the answer is always “no."
Natasha Way @thenattyway: People tend to think that you grow up, get a career, and then spend your life in that career. What we often don't realize is that most people have more than one career and that it's absolutely okay to switch it up. It doesn’t have to be a lifetime commitment.
Rachel Fortman @rachelfortman: Don't be afraid to try something different. If you aren't feeling fulfilled where you are currently that is okay. Taking the chance and exploring a new opportunity can open new doors. It can be easy to think we need to stay in one field because we went to school for it, learned a trade, etc. Meeting new people and creating connections may just help get you where you wanted without you even realizing it.
Lexie Gritlefeld @weekend.roamer: I am where I am in my career because I metaphorically raised my hand and volunteered. Networking has built my career and most of the connections I've made were because I stepped up for free. But when you do get that job offer, always ask for more money than you're comfortable asking for. It won't hurt.
Jodi Redfield @jodiwankenobe: Just keep going. For years I picked away at things that would align with my passion for working in the mountains. One year I took my Wilderness First Responder, then avalanche courses and interning. As you go you may not realize the network you built until something comes your way.
Madi McKinstry @tele_madi: What drives you? This is the starting point. Take steps to make your career mirror your passions. Apply for the job you think you're not qualified for; apply to all the companies that offer what you want to do for work. It is a long process and you have to sift your way through the bullshit, learn how to leave things that aren't making you happy, and do things for yourself.
Heidi Hoang @hoang.heidi: Be opportunistic!
Robyn Goldsmith @scenesfromthetrail: Picture what you want your life to look like. Is a flexible schedule important to you or do you like structure? Do you mind sitting in an office, or are you someone who can't sit still? Questions about how you want to live your day to day are incredibly important. You may be passionate about a subject, but if the everyday reality of the job doesn't suit your needs, you'll be unhappy.
Want more? Read about our advice for LOVE here and our relationship with MONEY here.
]]>There's not a better way to ring in the new year than setting your intentions for the next year and in this case the next decade. We turned to our team of Ambassadors & Athletes to help us create Sister Sage, a weekly roundup of advice and insights into what we learned in the past decade (because no one wants to go through that shit again.) In week two, we're looking at love.
Lynne Schmidt @lynn_e_schmidt: It's important to remember that there are many types of love: familial, romantic, sibling, friend, pet. We don't need just one type to make us complete; we are complete on our own. Love should complement, not complete.
Coral Taylor @c_ros: Listen to your gut—if your romantic relationship does not fill you up and make you happy the majority of the time, change it or leave it. Love up on yourself. You need to love yourself wholly and unconditionally.
Pia Yarnell @_pia.camille_: Date your ski buddy. 10/10 would recommend.
Lexie Gritlefeld @weekend.roamer: Do not give up who you are to please someone else. Sure, we all make sacrifices for the ones we love, but you do you. Relationships are all about balance and maintaining your own self-care. This also goes for your partner. Do not try to change them or force them to like skiing or snowboarding. If it's not meant to be, it is not meant to be.
Madi McKinstry @tele_madi: Love will find you in the weirdest ways. It's ok to open yourself up to something new if your gut is telling you it's safe but your mind is telling you you're just not ready. The universe will give you signs, but you have to be open to them and willing to act on them.
Jess Horan @jess_livin3: Give yourself the unconditional love you are wanting from your partner and everyone around you.
Robyn Goldsmith @scenesfromthetrail: Don't put love on a pedestal—it’s not a sentiment you need to reserve for your partner and family. Tell your friends you love them. They'll appreciate it, and chances are they'll say it right back.
Jennifer Ward @snoflake96156: Finding love, being in love, and staying in love is hard work. Don't expect to be happy ALL the time; we're human and other emotions other than love is a part of life. Embrace it.
Stacey Kennedy @snowboardbums: When people tell you that a relationship is work, they're not kidding! I always assumed the right relationship would just click into place. In some ways it absolutely has, but more often than not it's been about learning to compromise. I've worked harder on my marriage than anything else in my life. The work we've put into this relationship together over 12 years has paid off more than I ever could have fathomed. It's been worth every trial we've been through or is still to come. Just remember that the work never ends.
Heidi Hoang @hoang.heidi: You can't force someone to love you.
Nancy Swick @high__tide: Love as much as you can, but remember that your love is not limitless. Find your boundaries and welcome others who respect them, especially those that put in work to show their love. Some struggle to express their love, so learn about love languages and start a conversation about it. Strive to share your limited love in meaningful ways to people who DESERVE it. If they don't deserve it, do you really have time for that? Remember that loving yourself first will make your love more unlimited.
Stacey Kennedy @snowboardbums: Understand investing. So many women I know either rely on men to deal with their investments or simply don't invest. I was terrified of investing until my 30s, but basic investing is incredibly easy and there's a wealth of information out there to simplify things. Taking control of your investments and finances can have a huge impact even on a relatively small salary.
Britt Kasco @britt.mich / @origintravels: Understanding debt as an investment instrument, and de-stigmatizing it. This is a pretty widely accepted concept when it comes to student loans, but is viewed as "risky" and "irresponsible" when applied to investing in yourself in other ways. In my experience, I felt heavily judged when I took on debt to start my business; so much so that I internalized feelings of regret and inaptitude, like debt made all of my accomplishments "less-than" and made me doubt all of the sweat and smarts that I put into risk analysis. Having access to credit, calculating risk, and investing in myself empowered me to refine my business to point of attracting critical angel investment in less than two years after I launched it. All debt is risky, and if you are looking into it make sure you are aware of the terms and can assess your ability to pay it back. Ultimately, not all debt is good debt. But not all debt is bad debt. Not all debt is a bad idea.
Erica Mazzarelli @ericamazzzz: Don't be afraid to ask for a raise. I'm a new grad physical therapist and I'm just starting out, but I also have a LOT of debt. After a few months at this job, I've been feeling like the compensation doesn't reflect the amount of work I've been putting in (we see a lot of patients/day). However, I like my job and the people I work with, I feel like I'm valued, and I'm also not in a position to look for a job with higher pay as I don't have enough experience yet. Recently, I had a talk with my boss and laid everything out: I'm trying to save for a house, student loans are a big hit each month, and I feel like I'm a big asset to the clinic. Luckily he's a super supportive boss and agreed to the raise. I've always been really nervous to have talks like these to my bosses in the past, but I've also always regretted asking for a raise when I should have. It doesn't hurt to ask and the worst that can happen is you get a no, but the best that can happen is you get compensated and feel valued for the work you do!
Ryan Michelle Scavo @ryoutside: Never compromise on your values when weighing potential income/monetary opportunity vs. the things you ground yourself in. The places, people and experiences you can be your best self in/around take precedence over any amount of money you could possibly make in exchange for leaving that behind.
Ally Dykman @ally.dykman: I was talking to some of my friends the other day about credit cards and I was shocked to find most of them just had debit cards or a basic credit card their banks gave them. Their cards were giving them almost no return on spending. To put it in perspective I just opened a venture card and if I spent a certain amount within 3 months I got 50,000 points which converts to about $600. Get a card that works for you whether that's travel, eating out, shopping, or all of the above!
Rachel Shannon @raquelshannon: You make some and you lose some, don't let it control your life. Find a balance of being financially responsible and treating yourself.
Lynne Schmidt @lynn_e_schmidt: Money shouldn't dictate every aspect of our lives. Yes - we need it to survive, but if we're not happy where we are, are we really living?
Pia Yarnell @_pia.camille_: The first priority is meeting basic needs for yourself and your family. The second priority is happiness. That may mean an aggressive career and long hours so you can retire early or it may mean allowing yourself more time on a daily basis to spend with people you love. It’s different for everyone and there is no right or wrong way.
Coral Taylor @c_ros: Negotiate for the pay you want, the raises you want, and give the decision-makers the tools to make their decision easier - show them why you're worth that pay. If you work for yourself, set a rate that is actually worth your time. Easy to say, hard to do. But worth it.
Patronize Our Businesses. All the likes and follows in the world won’t pay the rent. You have to put your money where your mouth is. If you want to see more women in business—whether it’s in the outdoor industry or beyond—you need to buy things from them. And don’t ask them to discount it or ship it for free. What might seem insignificant to you is enough to make it or break it at scale.
Accept Us For Us. Women are diverse. We do not fit into a box. Accept us for how we show up in the world any way we want—mascara and pretty nails, dirty feet and stained tees, loud, quiet, fat, skinny, straight, queer, black, brown. You get the point. We’re done trying to adhere to what society expects of us. We’re carving our own path and we want you to stand next to us.
It’s Not About Going Big. Or summiting the peak or topping out or dropping the downhill. We like to recreate in the outdoors on our own terms. The idea that we have to push the limits and make it to the top reinforces a masculine and patriarchal narrative that is not inclusive or welcoming. And be reminded that we’re not doing it to get fit. We do it because of our connection to the natural world and how good it makes us feel.
Examine Your Bias. In an article I wrote for SNEWS, I explored the hidden gender bias that holds us all back. Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, Founding Partner of The Avarna Group, a consulting firm that provides insights and resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion for organizations, said that she has even seen people who are well-versed in social justice issues not recognize their own bias. She shared these four ways to battle unconscious gender bias:
To celebrate the start of winter we’re teaming up with Gearmunk to bring you 12 things that you can do this holiday season to support the women led and powered outdoor ecosystem. For Day 11, we've created a women-owned gift guide because we want to see more women in power.
You know what we want? More women in power.
That would require us to actually spend money in their shops and cafes, vote for them, hire them, and pay them what they are worth despite the fact that they are over qualified, not qualified enough, loud, bossy, timid, weak, too smart, not smart enough, too fat, not curvy enough, black, brown, in their childbearing years, or over the age of 50. Did we miss anything here?
You know the problem, right? We want to see women succeed, but we're not always willing to do what it takes. We'll raise our hands when you ask us if we support women, but for some, it's much harder to act. To open up our pocketbooks and make change with our hard earned cash, get out to the polls and vote, examine our hidden gender bias and strive to do better. And let's not forget that "woman" isn't just white or western or straight or cis-gendered or able bodied or young.
Idealism and our wishes doesn't get us very far without action. This holiday season we have choices on where we shop, where we dine, how we spend our money.
Here's a list of the women-owned brands we carry at the Coalition Snow Clubhouse (and some on-line). This is a short list and there are so many other incredible women-owned brands, artists, and business owners out there who you can support this holiday season. Let's make shit happen for women today and every day.
When I was 17-years-old, the only thing that I wanted to do was ski powder. So, like most responsible teenagers, I picked a university near a ski hill, identified a major that scheduled classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and left the desert for the mountains. My parents didn’t approve, understand, or believe in my lifestyle choices.
In my first year at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, I starting working at Arizona Snowbowl. I turned screws and fit people into stinky, ill-fitting rental boots. I was kind to my boss, worked hard, and I made a solid $8 an hour. I pestered the guys in the shop so much that they let me join them in tuning skis and snowboards (in the early 1990s, there weren’t a ton of women begging to learn how to master a Wintersteiger). Eventually I got paid to tune skis. It was a dream come true.
I cut my teeth in the snowsports industry over those formative seven years at Arizona Snowbowl. When I moved to Lake Tahoe, I took a job at a local ski shop, hoping for the same sort of work. I was told, “Girls don’t tune skis, they sell clothing.” When I explained that I knew nothing about apparel, it fell on deaf ears. To top it off, a naked photo of a woman hung in the repair shop, and I was told if I was a feminist, I would embrace the nude bodies of women.
I became disengaged with snowsports, just as other women who refused to play by rules that reinforced misogyny and toxic masculinity did. I still bought my season passes and ticked off every powder day, but I did it for me. I had no interest in being a part of an industry that didn’t welcome people who didn’t look like them.
From there, I worked in wilderness therapy, pursued a master’s degree heavily bound in feminist and critical race theory, taught everything from social justice to backpacking at community college, landed a job at UC Berkeley, developed programs with Yosemite National Park and UC Merced to engage Latino and Hmong youth in the outdoors, started a social enterprise in Kenya providing small loans to women, and owned a whitewater rafting company (and scared the shit out of myself daily). Then I somehow found myself right back where I started: snowsports.
My love affair with skiing powder never waned, and I saw an incredible opportunity begin to unfold. Women athletes were becoming more outspoken about their representation media like Instagram, where you had the ability to tell your own story. And I knew a thing or two about business. Nearly 20 years after I first started tuning skis in that tiny shop at Arizona Snowbowl, I took a leap of faith and launched Coalition Snow, a woman-founded ski and snowboard company. I saw Coalition Snow as a tool to radically deconstruct the status quo in an industry that I just couldn’t quit. Coalition was never meant to just be about planks of wood and white stuff and gravity; we’re more than that. We’re a product as a platform—a platform to make our own rules, control our narratives, claim our power, and do it all unapologetically.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen this industry change, and while change has been far from radical, it’s a step in right direction. My hope for the next 20 years is that the individuals who still hold the reins can find ways to listen and act, without fear and ego impeding their ability to do the right thing. Because now the right thing isn’t only about values. It’s about being successful in businesses and building an industry that’s relevant to all human beings.
This article was originally published in The Daily, the official publication of Outdoor Retailer. PC: Lauren McMillin
]]>To celebrate the start of winter we’re teaming up with Gearmunk to bring you 12 things that you can do this holiday season to support the women led and powered outdoor ecosystem. For Day 9, we turn to the pages of Issue 1 of Sisu Magazine for a story written by Rachel Ricketts about what we can do to support ALL women.
There’s been a major awakening in the collective consciousness as of late. For the first time in history White folks are truly leaning into and holding space for the impact of racism and the experiences of POC. And it’s about damn time! Conversely POC, particularly black and indigenous womxn, are doing what we’ve done for centuries – rally, educate, voice our pain and triumphs and caretake for our communities. The difference now is the increased appetite for hearing what we have to say and seeking to engage. But the question that undoubtedly still arises is: how?
The Lowdown
What I see time and time again, are well intentioned hue-mans (usually the fair skinned folks) who seek to engage in racial justice by addressing the oppression they see “out there.” And this is where we fuck it up. Because real talk– creating racial justice starts as an inside job. It begins with you taking a long look in the mirror at all the parts of yourself and the ways you may be (and likely are) perpetuating the problem.
No matter your race, shade or origin, white supremacist patriarchy harms everyone. Not equally and no one more than black + indigenous womxn. Still, it is one of, if not the, greatest forms of social trauma be it historical or present day. This is why bringing about racial justice starts within.
Real Race Talk
To all my white folks – you belong to the construct of whiteness, benefit from white privilege and uphold white supremacy. That’s not a personal attack for the record, it is simply a fact. The status quo is white supremacist patriarchy. It’s a truth that most POC have had no choice but to contend with as we’ve been battling whiteness our entire lives. White supremacy is the air we all breathe and white folks are just beginning to notice its stench.
Being anti-racist means acknowledging and owning the racism, intentional or otherwise, inherent in you and ALL white folks. Then, committing to the active, daily, lifelong work of causing the least amount of harm moving forward. You cannot BE an ally, but you can work your hardest to partake in allyship as often as possible.
For my fellow folks of colour - our racial justice work is to unearth and address our internalized oppression, meaning the ways in which we have bought into a corrupt system that works damn hard to keep us small and powerless. I for one spent much of my life believing I was unworthy. That I was too loud, too emotional or too extra. That my requests to be seen, heard and supported as my bold Black self must be invalid. I was subjected to gaslighting, spiritual bypassing, daily micro-aggressions and an onslaught of emotional violence; and I was made to believe that I was the problem.
Well, no more! We deserve to prioritize our needs and desires. To stand unapologetically in all that we are and refrain from constantly ensuring white people’s comfort to the detriment of our own.
We need ALL hands on deck to achieve this mission. White folks need to lead the charge in doing the internal work to unplug from the matrix that is white supremacy, and POCs need brave, sacred spaces to heal from the grief and trauma of oppression.
Some Tools for Reflection
My guess is by now many of you are thinking “ok but, how the heck do I do this!?”. Below are some initial prompts for a deep dive within:
#1 - Embrace Vulnerability
Embracing vulnerability means trying with the knowing that you may get it wrong. It means dropping your defenses and accepting things as they truly are. It means sitting in your discomfort so you can learn why it’s there and using that information to create deep and meaningful change.
#2 - Get Honest
The need to be good and right often trumps any chance at meaningful change. We need to lay down these patriarchal “needs” so we can create the groundwork for action. For my POCs, let’s get honest about the harms we’ve caused ourselves or other POCs by internalizing white supremacy. For White folx, get honest by owning your racism + whatever harms you’ve undoubtedly caused people of colour.
3) Acknowledge Your Anger
Many of us were made to feel ashamed or guilty for expressing anger. Anger arrives to inform us that something is wrong and needs changing, which is pretty helpful! Righteous anger has and continues to be at the forefront of many leading social justice revolutions so we need to learn how to embrace and channel it for good.
4) Stand in Integrity
It can be easy to talk the talk, but are you walking the walk? Are you following, supporting, voting for, uplifting, checking in on, learning from/about and paying BIPOCs? If not. There’s a disconnect. What we say AND do has all the value. Impact over intention every time.
5) Accept AND Act
Feeling guilt, grief or shame is part of the process of stepping into the truth. But if we get stuck there we won’t keep growing and flowing and engaging in this fight. Accept what needs accepting, and then get the eff to werrrrrk. Practice loving kindness towards ourselves for what we did not know AND do better.
Each and everyone of us is needed to bring about racial justice. Your best chance at making meaningful change and sticking up for social justice is by continuing to do the inner work and commit to leading from and with compassion. Now get to it!
]]>To celebrate the start of winter we’re teaming up with Gearmunk to bring you 12 things that you can do this holiday season to support the women led and powered outdoor ecosystem. For Day 8, we're sharing a few of the things that have helped us in turning our calling into our career.
For many of us who are looking to turn our calling into our career, there are endless amounts of tactical business books. But quite a bit of the real real gets left out, particularly when you’re trying to build a purpose driven business. Here’s four things that I’ve learned over the years that have helped me with Coalition Snow and Sisu Magazine.
1. Just start. A lot of what we do at Coalition Snow and Sisu Magazine we make up. We try things, we see if they work, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. You can’t wait for perfection; it will never arrive. We look at everything as a test, even our very existence: how the outdoor industry and society would respond to bold women who wanted to do something different? I had no idea if the concept of Coalition would resonate—I had a hunch, and my intuition was right. (We launched long before it was cool to be a woman in business.) But none of this would have happened if we didn’t decide to just start.
2. Choose your friends carefully. From the partnerships you seek out, to the investors you bring on, you need to know where people stand on the values that are important to you because often times it’s those values that get left out of emails and contracts. And that’s what can get you into trouble when you have to work with people or follow through with deals that aren’t in line with what you believe in. At Coalition, we have said no to certain partnerships with people who don’t share our values and made the extra effort to say yes to the ones who are.
3. Take the time to build community. We all have the same 24 hours in the day. Want to see real change? Carve out time in your schedule to make it happen. I’m “too busy” cannot be an option. Being in a leadership position and choosing to dedicate time to other women in business and to creating communities of support is fundamentally important. You make time for it and you put resources toward it, even if it pulls you away from your daily grind.
4. Say the things that are unpopular. We no longer live in a time where you can be agnostic to the serious social, political, and environmental issues we as a society face. It’s really easy to go along with what’s trending, but it doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t willing say things that are also unpopular. I can’t tell you the number of times my business advisors told me to play it safe when it came to how we chose to show up in this world and to be careful about the messages that we sent. But who would I be as a leader if I wasn’t able to firmly place that stake, anchored by my values? Have we lost a few people over the content in our Lady Parts email and Juicy Bits podcast? Yep. But the people we’ve gained because of what we were willing to say are far more valuable than the people we’ve lost.
To celebrate the start of winter we’re teaming up with Gearmunk to bring you 12 things that you can do this holiday season to support the women led and powered outdoor ecosystem. For Day 7, we’re pulling from the pages of Sisu Magazine to bring you the latest "Ask Jenny Bruso" column by Jenny Bruso, the founder of Unlikely Hikers, where she addresses what we can do about the toxicity of social media addiction. It's like Dear Abby but for humans who love the outdoors.
Dear Jenny Bruso,
Instagram makes me feel really bad about myself. I think I need help, but I’m too embarrassed to talk to any of my close friends about it. My self-esteem is deeply affected by how well my posts do or don’t do.
Worse, I feel like it’s having an effect on my outdoor life. While I’m trail running, I often think about Instagram captions and I’m not as in the moment. Sometimes, I can’t sleep at night because I can’t get off of my phone even though nothing I’m looking at is that important or interesting. The way I pick up my phone and start scrolling without thought makes me feel like an out of control zombie! Sometimes, I’ll go to the bathroom at work just to check.
I think I’m addicted. I’m hoping you’ll tell me that isn’t possible…?
I’ve tried leaving my phone at home when I go out for a trail run, and I always feel better, but my boyfriend and mom worry when I don’t update them with the play-by-play when I’m out alone. What can I do? Why am I having this problem while everyone around me seems to have control of it?!
-Social Media Loser
Dear Loser,
This email should’ve come with a trigger warning because It Is So Not Just You going through this. I’d wager that you have folks in your life who are also dealing with this in some form or another. Many people are.
Social media is designed to be addictive. Algorithms influence what stays at the top of our feeds based on how quickly engagement happens. Lack of immediate engagement makes posts fall away. Posts in the feed aren’t in sequential order to keep us checking for what might pop up next. Our brains become addicted to the little dopamine blasts they get every time we have “good” notifications. When we don’t get them, we experience withdrawal, which can feel like a void or depression even if we’re not actually seeing anything “bad.”
This is about as science-y as I’m going to get about this because even if that helps make sense of some things for you, it doesn’t do much for healing or having better boundaries. It isn’t as simple as just putting our phones away. Many aspects of our culture are dependent on our phones these days, like alarm clocks, the apps we use to arrange transportation and appointments and, of course, there’s the immediacy of text communication, etc. We are expected to be plugged in.
I talked to a therapist friend of mine about your letter, and they told me that nearly all of their clients discuss social media in many of the ways you’re describing, especially when it comes to lack of impulse control and worsening self-esteem. They explained that it’s unlikely these feelings are coming out of nowhere and can be indicative of preexisting self-esteem issues, trauma, or addictive behaviors. Could any of that be true for you? If you think you need help, I really hope you’ll follow through. Therapy is normal. I wish I could make everyone go! And it should be free! It doesn’t deserve the stigma it can have within certain upbringings and cultures. The idea is deeply entrenched in American culture that if we’re not in control of everything all the time, we’re weak or failing. It makes it difficult for us to get the help we need.
Beyond therapy and feelings of addiction, the reality is that a lot of what we see online is bad for us. Social media, especially Instagram, is like this non-stop highlight reel of everyone living their best lives. I’d say it’s worse when it comes to outdoorsy social media, but I may be projecting just a little. It’s often about getting the perfect shot and “good vibes” and looking a certain way while doing whatever one likes to do. It can be a lot of bullshit. If it wasn’t, all of the trail runners you’d be seeing would be red-faced and sweaty and there’d be more cellulite. Photoshop and other apps are making it easier to erase or blur the things about our bodies and faces we don’t love.
And that’s fine, do whatever you want with your body, post only positive captions if you want, pretend you’re laughing at something hilarious even though it’s only you out there taking selfies. We’re all ultimately responsible for our own behavior, though it’s also true that this performance can negatively impact the person posting and those scrolling.
I have to have really strong boundaries with social media because being online, especially on Instagram, is a huge part of my job. I’ve found a few things that work for me. I rarely stick to all of these and I’m imperfect with most, but they keep me accountable to myself:
• Turn OFF all push notifications. You don’t need to know the very second a single person engages with your accounts.
• Don’t go on social media first thing in the morning or last thing at night so the mind worms don’t wiggle their way into your first and last thoughts of the day.
• Create boundaries and stick to them as best as you can. What if you only went on from 9am9pm? Work on shrinking that window, or break it up into blocks, like 10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm.
• Set a timer for scrolling. Even 5 minutes will feel like a lot of time when you schedule it.
• Try leaving your phone in another room when you don’t need it. This is a great practice when eating meals or spending time with others. How often do you go on your phone just because it’s within reach?
• Don’t sleep with your phone in the same room. Get an actual alarm clock!
• Does what you post make you feel bad? Explore that discomfort. How might you change the way you post to feel more true to yourself?
• When you see something that evokes bad feelings, break them down. Are you comparing yourself? What are you projecting onto this person about your own life that has nothing to do with them? What are they doing that might be “for the ‘gram?”
Loser, you’ve done something really good already: You told someone. This was your start. Please continue. There will be a lot of people who read this who need help, too. Thank you for starting the conversation.
You’ve got this.
Love,
Jenny Bruso
]]>To celebrate the start of winter we’re teaming up with Gearmunk to bring you 12 things that you can do this holiday season to support the women led and powered outdoor ecosystem. For Day 4, we’re sharing an excerpt of an interview with Kriste Peoples, the founder of Black Women’s Alliance about how women can reclaim their own stories and speak their truth.
CS: Talk to us about how women reclaiming their own stories and telling them themselves is a powerful tool not only for healing, but for change as well.
KP: Well, first let’s talk about how that story gets out of our own hands. When the media projects you in a light that is false or unflattering, outdated, or in any way that’s not a true representation of who you are, then someone else is in charge of that story, and you are not.
Society as a whole doesn’t expect me to be here--especially as a leader in the outdoor space. Society doesn’t expect much of me at all, really. So anything I do is political--and that includes simply showing up--because it’s the kind of action that breaks the mold, eliminates stereotypes, changes perceptions. The ability to bear witness to each other in this way is what heals us, connects, and replenishes us.
When the narrator changes, that means the story changes too. This is the process of owning oneself and one’s narrative. It plays a huge part in reconnecting us to our power and ability to impact change, to lead from our own vantage points and to redefine what power is as it relates to us. To women in general, to Black women specifically, to individuals, to anyone who wants to declare themselves in the world.
CS: Owning our own narrative can be uncomfortable for other people. Often times you get into trouble when you tell your own story, particularly when it goes against the grain of the stereotypical story about you and your community. What’s your experience with this?
KP: When we decide to tell our own stories or reclaim them, everything can potentially be at stake. There are countless ways you can “get in trouble” when you’re telling your story. You risk failure, rejection, and alienation because you’re upsetting the status quo, which lots of people are comfortable with. You might have to grieve the loss of the “safe bet” because you’ve chosen to own your narrative. People close to you might not like the change in you. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s growth. It’s all trouble, actually. It’s trouble and danger, and I highly suggest it.
If we want to go along to get along, then we follow the rules, and we get stuck in the rut. [Telling our own stories] upsets that matrix. It’s inconvenient to people who have an investment in keeping you controlled or keeping you in line. It’s disruptive and it threatens a certain kind of power. If you’re not controlled by the dominant narrative then you’re a wild card. And that’s unsafe. How can I control you and manipulate you if you’re challenging the storyline I’ve laid out for you?
The thing we often forget is that all of the stories are made up. Everything we hold dear in our culture is a story. The upside of that realization is that we get to create new stories too--for ourselves, as individuals, as people who seek full expression. We get to do that. And if we want change on any level, we have to do that.
CS: Let’s talk about the outdoors…
KP: As it relates to the outdoors, a lot of people of color and other underrepresented groups are starting to make space for themselves. They aren’t waiting for the media or big business to extend an invitation. And there isn’t any law that says we can’t go into the mountains, visit our national parks, or frequent public swimming pools.
I think we are way too committed to being comfortable, even as we proclaim we want things to be different. If we want change, then we have to be the change. This isn’t just memes and quotations and shit. If I want change, if I want it to look more colorful on the trails, for example, what steps can I take to make that happen? Maybe I want to join a group of people who don’t look like me and go out with them. I don’t need to read all the research and go to every panel and booth at the outdoor enthusiast convention. I can up and join somebody. Every expression of change creates change.
Another aspect of this conversation is that these underrepresented groups aren’t asking big organizations and brands to extend a hand to us because they have their own histories of elitism that have created barriers for people to entry and participation in outdoor recreation. So, if you’re set up to appeal to the upper crust or white, wealthy customer base, then maybe it’s not even in your interest to appeal to me--at least not right now. The big companies, it seems in my view, could stand to talk amongst themselves about how they’re going make their marketing and missions inclusive of all people. It’s not a problem that underrepresented groups created, and it’s also not one that’s going to be resolved overnight. Regardless, more people are making change happen--and enjoying the outdoors--on their own terms.
CS: What’s your advice on how people can take up more space and tell their own story?
KP:Part of it is to be willing to not know. We have to give ourselves grace enough to say, “I don’t know” or “I am afraid” or “I am figuring it out” or “I need a minute.” That right there is a tremendous act of self-care and taking up space because you’re clearing for the next step, coming out of the margins of your own life. From a very early age, many of us are trained away from our instincts and passions and desires with messaging that says it’s shameful and immodest to speak out of turn. Which often means you are making yourself smaller because of that training. So taking that back or giving yourself permission, saying no, allowing yourself to be enough, and going places literally and figuratively that you haven’t gone before, that means you’re taking up space. You are saying to yourself, “I can, I deserve, I belong because I fucking say so.”
Make some relative peace with discomfort because being uncomfortable is simply part of the deal. Not everyone will receive you well, support you, or understand. It’s important to not take that personally because when you think about it, if you don’t know where you’re going next, it’s understandable that other people won’t know either. And that’s okay. We have to wander, we have to leave what is familiar, and go through some dark nights before we can come home with the gold. Whatever that gold means to you.
Don’t just talk about it and read about it, be about it. You want that change, go get you some.
Want to read the interview in full? Pick up a copy of Issue 2: Grounded here.
]]>