Connections, memories and friendships forged through skiing.
On Alta Ski Area’s slopes, women can find a place to connect with one another on skis and tap into the resilience that surviving and thriving in the mountains imparts. The mountains give all of us a source of vitality that can’t be quantified. On International Women's Day, Alta welcomes women to its slopes and acknowledges the energy they bring to this landscape.
When looking at skiing demographics, the number of women participating in snow sports has been steadily on the rise, though gender parity is far from equal. In the 2023–24 season, women comprised just 38% of all skier visits. Yet 62% of visits by beginner skiers were women, which is great news for increasing women's participation in skiing.
Something special can be found in building a community of sisterhood in these places and spaces. Nowadays, at Alta and beyond, far more women can be found working and playing in the mountains and these places are better for it.
Growing Up in LCC, MY story
Thanks to my parents' passion for skiing, I grew up with skis on my feet in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Back then, as today, there were numerous programs, lessons and school sessions to get Utah's kids on the snow. Though I started skiing at age three, I continued to take ski lessons from third grade through middle school.
At no point during the course of some 50-odd ski lessons was there ever another girl in my ski school class. It was always just me and the boys.
I learned early on the skills it took to keep up with them, talk like them, and plunge into skiing with a dash of their reckless abandon. Throughout high school, I continued to ski with the dudes. I simply could not find girls my age to ski black diamonds with. Back then, skiing with the guys was my only option.
Joining Ski Diva Community
After college, I returned to Utah and built my life around the goal of skiing as much as possible. I yearned for more gal pals to ski with, but even back in 2008, the number of women skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon remained scant.
In 2013, I stumbled upon an online forum called The Ski Diva. At that time, it was seemingly impossible to find reliable feedback or reviews on women's ski gear, and the Ski Diva forum was the only place I could locate useful information and dialogue with women who took skiing as seriously as I did.
The Ski Diva website was founded in 2006, and its online forums provide a safe and friendly place for female skiers to gather and talk shop. From discussing new gear, to travel tips to ski meetups, the forum connected me to women from all over who were eager to share information and support. Unlike other popular forums at the time, The Ski Diva was a virtual space that offered camaraderie and kinship at a time when women occupied far less space in the snowsports industry.
In the years since my childhood and my early twenties, the ski slopes have witnessed a much-needed evolution to share with women the joy that snow sports can provide. While there is obviously a massive amount of work to be done, women have made great strides in increasing representation on the snow. The difference between my childhood and adulthood is stark. Nowadays, I see women everywhere on the slopes, and the elation I feel skiing alongside them is what makes Alta so special to me.
DIVA WEST 2025 | Alta ski area
Diva West at Alta Ski Area | Photo: Tyler Struss
The community itself is what inspired me to apply for a job at Alta Ski Area in the autumn of 2024. In the process of onboarding with Alta, I was delighted to see that the Ski Divas had chosen Alta as their homebase for their annual 2025 Diva West gathering. Each year, members of the Ski Divas community will organize multiple ski trips for forum users, creating an irresistible opportunity to meet passionate women who ski.
Seeing women skiing together means so much to me and it is with great pride that I welcomed them—while wearing my new Alta uniform—for their Diva West trip spanning January 26th–31st. It was surreal to meet such a fun-loving and sizable group of women in person, many of whom I had interfaced with online over the years. Many of the women were traveling alone and the prospect of making turns alongside other zealous female skiers was reason enough to book plane tickets to Utah. A couple of the Divas had only recently joined the forum and found the courage to take the plunge into Diva West without knowing a single person!
A couple of Ski Divas | Photo: Tyler Struss
What struck me most was the enthusiasm and kinship I found in every woman I met. The bonds deepened throughout the week, and it was incredible to witness friendships forging in real time. Some women took ski lessons with the Alf Engen Ski School and helped push one another well beyond their perceived comfort zones. Others joined more experienced skiers for their first sidestep into Catherine's Area.
Again and again, each participant gushed about the confidence they found when skiing with other women.
I came away from that time with the Ski Divas on a total high. What we can accomplish together is more fulfilling than trying something new or pushing yourself without that kind of sisterhood. Women belong on the slopes, and it's so important for us to make each other feel welcome. I finished my last ski run with the Divas, so grateful to have made deeper connections in person. If you're looking for community, the Ski Divas is for everyone, from a never-ever skier to those who ski 100-plus days per year or compete professionally. Join us!
Learn more about The Ski Diva >
Inspiring women abound at Alta Ski Area
When I pause to take in my surroundings here at Alta, I feel so lucky that women are represented in great numbers on our staff. The ladies of Alta’s staff are climbing ladders to check on the gearbox at the Collins angle station, teaching the subtle art of powder skiing, bumping chairs and planting thousands of trees every summer. The women of Alta are running routes on avalanche mitigation mornings in the frigid dawn to prep the ski area for your unforgettable powder runs. The presence of women on Alta’s staff makes this mountain a better place for everyone.
We acknowledge each and every employee and her contributions in making Alta an unforgettable place to visit. The same can be said of Alta's guests. While women only make up 38% of skier visits in the United States, those numbers are rising. That number was below 30% when I was a wee lass skiing around with the boys.
These days, it's much easier to spot clusters of women and girls waiting together for another Wildcat lap or powering down daunting lines along Alta’s steepest terrain. They’re laughing and chatting over coffee at Baldy Brews and dusting you on the Devil’s Castle sidestep. Women are welcome at Alta, and their inspiring stories make this place more vibrant.
On International Women’s Day we celebrate the women who love Alta and the connections, memories, and friendships forged through a shared passion for skiing.
Steeped In Tradition – Sisterhood of Skiing
Sweetgrass Productions and Alta Ski Area tagged along with the many generations of women who have made Alta their home. Steeped in Tradition Episode 10 - Sisterhood of Skiing celebrates the camaraderie, power and love that women bring to the mountains.
Steeped In Tradition – Mali
Alta athlete and Alta Medical Clinic employee Mali Noyes is trying to write her best script balancing powder turns and professionalism.
Steeped In Tradition – Re
Twenty years ago, Re forged her own path in the outdoor sports community as one of the few women in her field. As an action sports photographer, she is dedicated to working with and showcasing the strength and individual personalities of female athletes. She views her work as a catalyst, fostering a social shift in the perception of women athletes in popular culture. Re has been a staple of the Alta community for two decades—inspiring her subjects and mentoring the next generation of female ski photographers.
connect with other women who ski
Alta has numerous opportunities for women to gather, learn and mingle. The following events and opportunities are on offer. If you’re interested in lessons with the Alf Engen Ski School, you’re always welcome to request a female instructor for your private or group lesson. We hope to see you out there!
SheJumps | Get The Girls Out!
International Women's Day | March 8, 2025
Alta is proud to partner with the SheJumps Organization. SheJumps is dedicated to serving girls and women from ages 6 and up who would like to participate in outdoor activities. It is an inclusive organization that strives to provide opportunity, community and camaraderie in the great outdoors.
Join us on Saturday, March 8th at Alta for Get the Girls Out! This free event at Alta is part of a nationwide SheJumps campaign to unite women on the slopes while celebrating their strengths and achievements. Take a few ski laps during the group ski event, meet and mingle with like-minded women, win raffle prizes, join a scavenger hunt, or make a tutu. Don’t forget to pack the glitter, costumes are welcome!
Learn more and RSVP for your free event ticket >
Ski With Kim | Women’s Ski Adventures
March 11–14, 2025
Join professional skier and guide Kim Reichhelm for a session of her Women’s Ski Adventures camp at Alta, March 11-14, 2025. As a former professional ski racer and member of the US Ski Team, Kim also took home two World Extreme Skiing Championship titles. Kim is considered one of the most influential skiers of all time and thrived in the world of skiing when it was dominated by men.
Kim’s greatest passion is coaching thanks to her wealth of knowledge and experience. Her Women’s Ski Adventures create a positive learning environment where trust builds confidence on the mountain and beyond. With a small group size and a staff of three, Kim aims to provide a pivotal week on the mountain by sharing her wit and wisdom. Guests will enjoy a luxurious stay at the Rustler Lodge and an immersive coaching experience on Alta’s world-class terrain.
Space is Limited—Register Today >
Rippin Chix | Steep Skiing Clinic
March 10–11 & March 13–14, 2025
Find confidence on steep terrain with expert coaching from the women of Rippin Chix. Founded in 2001 by World Champion Extreme Freeskier, Alison Gannett, Rippen Chix is a collective of coaches dedicated to transforming women’s skills with a focus on empowerment in the realms of skiing and mountain biking.
Embark on two days of focused skiing with Rippin Chix at Alta on one of two sessions in March. Hone a toolbox of skills to ski lines with confidence beyond groomed trails with ladies who love the mountains as much as you do. A fun, supportive environment fosters deep connections between participants and the slopes they learn to master.
Space is Limited - Register Today >
Alf Engen Ski School Ladies Day Camps
January & February 2026
Start your planning for next season and keep an eye on the calendar for Alta’s annual Ladies Day camp series in January and February each winter. Five weekly coaching sessions promote the progression of female skiers in the advanced intermediate and expert realms. Instructors will dive deep into the fundamentals of good technique, approach, line selection, balance and equipment. Participants will connect with like-minded women eager for a challenge as they work to improve their skiing.
Classes meet weekly to build on progression in small groups with individualized coaching from the ladies of the Alf Engen Ski School.
Alta Lodge Women’s Camps
December 2025–March 2026
Typically sold out months in advance, the four sessions of women’s camps run through the venerable Alta Lodge have been a tradition at Alta for over 20 years. Back when it was uncommon to find women-specific camps, the Alta Lodge was diligently pairing guests with top female instructors from the Alf Engen Ski School to provide a unique and life-changing week in the mountains. Sessions run throughout the season and encompass an early-season skills camp in December and camps for experts and intermediates throughout the winter. Due to the popularity of these camps, they do sell out every season with a lengthy waitlist.
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