These North American Ski And Snowboard Clinics Help Women Improve Their Skill On The Slopes
by Heather Cassell
Want to shred the slopes like pro skier Lindsey Vonn this winter? These five ski clinics can help you learn how to swish and sway way down the slopes like a World Cup champ this winter.
These camps go beyond just the girls going away to catch some powder on a ski vacation, they give women intense lessons for shredding through ungroomed trails from semi-experienced to skilled women skiers in Canada and the western United States.
1. Elevate Women’s Camp, Wyoming, USA
One of the best women’s ski camps in North America is at the Elevate Women’s Camp at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming. The New York Times called the resort “one of the sportiest resorts in North America” and noted it is “a pioneer of ‘steep and deep’ clinics.”
The women’s camp gives intermediate and advanced level women skiers access to top women coaches and headlining pro-athletes Jess McMillan, Kim Havell, and Crystal Wright for a four-day, three-night camp.
The camp includes a shopping experience with Volkl’s ski shopping professional Barclay Kappeport who helps women try out this year’s Volkl skis for free at Teton Village Sports.
Following kicking up powder on the slopes, skiers will join Jess for a pilates apres class and Crystal and the Jackson Hole Babeforce for a women’s empowerment session. The Jackson Hole Babeforce is a scholarship organization supporting women seeking adventure in the mountains.
The rest of the time is for relaxing and getting to know the other skiers at the Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa.
Dates:
January 14 – 18, 2019
Costs:
Packages are $1,650 without lift ticket and $1,950 with the lift ticket. Lodging isn’t included. Skiers can receive a 20 percent discount and a $30 credit for daily breakfast at the Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa.
2. Alta and Snowbird Women’s Ski and Snowboard Camps, Utah, USA
Alta Women’s Programs and Camps in Utah offers intermediate and advanced level women skiers a couple of opportunities to hit its slopes with passionate shred Betties like themselves with the Alta Lodge Women’s Intermedia to Advanced Camps and the Alta Lodge Women’s Advanced – Expert Camp.
These four-night, three-day all-women ski camps offer lodging, breakfast and dinners, and three days of coaching by the best instructors from the Alf Engen Ski School. The difference in slopes, skis, and lifts depend on the package based on your skill level.
The Alta Lodge Women’s Intermedia to Advanced Camps offer skiers comfortable on blue runs ready to take the leap to ungroomed or steeper terrain. Skiers learn about the latest in women’s skis during the welcome dinner and while being fitted for skis. The session also includes two yoga sessions.
Camp dates and costs are:
January 24 – 28, 2019 (Thursday arrival – Monday departure)
$2,870 per person, double occupancy, standard room
$3,572 single occupancy, standard room
March 3 – 7, 2019 (Sunday arrival – Thursday departure)
$2,815 per person, double occupancy, standard room
$3,459 single occupancy, standard room
The Alta Lodge Women’s Advanced – Expert Camp is for dedicated skiers who are comfortable skiing black diamond terrain on and off-trail. The all-inclusive camp for women was designed for the expert off-trail skier who is looking to learn techniques to confidently ski steeper lines in a variety of conditions. The camp offers two days skiing at Alta and one-day skiing at AltaSnowbird high-end demo skis and boots, lift tickets and an optional yoga class.
Dates:
January 13 – 17, 2019
Costs:
$2,860 per person in a standard room (double occupancy)
$3,504 single person in a standard room (single occupancy)
The ski resort also offers the Alta Ladies Day every Thursday starting January 10 through February 14 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for $600, not including the lift ticket.
The Snowbird Women’s Camps are being led by veteran ski school coach and instructor Carol Levine and ski instructor Mermer Blakeslee. Carol will coach blue and black level women skiers through Snowbird’s challenging terrain in three- and four-day camps. Skiers will be able to examine video analysis of their abilities and skills on the slopes, group dinners and events, such as the Après Ski Celebration.
At the end of the day, skiers will be transported to their accommodations where they can enjoy a 50-minute spa treatment and access to the Cliff Spa, all included in the package.
Dates:
January 10 – 13 and March 10 – 14
Costs:
The package for the three-day camp is $1,366 per person (double occupancy) and $1,786 (single occupancy).
The package for the four-day camp is $1,818 per person (double occupancy) and $2,403 (single occupancy).
3. The North Face Women’s Ski Camp, Canada
The North Face Women’s Ski Camp at Whistler Blackcomb in Canada offers the most weekend ski opportunities with six two-day sessions starting December 8 through March 31.
The Two-Day Weekend Women Camps include the resorts top coaches and dual mountain terrain providing women skiers with the opportunity to build all mountain skills and all condition skills during the day. In the evening, skiers get treated to Apres receptions and get to participate in a North Face silent auction that donates 100 percent of the proceeds to the Howe Sound Women’s Centre. Oh, there’s a North Face goodie bag too!
Packages begin at $285 ($379 Canadian dollars) for first-timers to the ski camp to $521 ($693 Canadian dollars) with lift and rental from beginner to advanced level skiers.
4. Rippin Chix
Rippin Chix is leading seven intermediate to advanced women’s ski camps led by experienced professionals at a variety of ski resorts in Canada, Colorado, and Wyoming this winter.
The women and girls ski and mountain bike camps have been helping them improve their skills since 2001.
The ski camps open mid-January to late March.
Whitewater Camps, British Columbia, Canada
The Whitewater Camps (Blue to Black or Steep and Deep) are hosted at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. These camps provide skiers with some experience with off-trail skiing and experienced skiers an opportunity to test and increase their skills. The camp doesn’t provide lodging, food and beverages, gear rental, lift tickets or transportation. Guests choose to stay at The Adventure Hotel at a discounted rate for registered campers in rooms that range from budget to deluxe starting at $95 up to $165 per night for double occupancy or at nearby hostels or vacation rental. Special discounts on lift tickets are available for campers at the ski area with the caveat that lift tickets must be reserved at least two weeks before the camp by emailing Rippin Chix.
Dates:
Whitewater Camps – Blue to Black or Steep and Deep on January 12 – 13, 2019
Costs:
Whitewater Steep and Deep Camp is $499
Whitewater Blue to Black Camp is $379
Silverton Steeps Ski Camp, Colorado
The Silverton Steeps Ski Camp gives advanced and expert skiers “loads of nature’s finest black diamond skiing in America,” according to the Rippin Chix website. Skiers get raw terrain to ski through on ungroomed trails that don’t have clearcut runs providing a real mountain experience with “plenty of adventure on tap,” said the Rippin Chix. Due to the raw terrain, skiers will get the backcountry trails relatively to themselves during the camp in Silverton, Colorado.
A female guide and coach will guide skiers through up to 1,819 acres of backcountry mimicking terrain that is similar to cross of experiences: heli-skiing, snowcat skiing, and resort skiing accessed via a chairlift. Trained Silverton Mountain Guides are also on hand to assist skiers.
Dates:
Silverton Steeps Ski Camp on January 26 – 27, 2019
Costs:
The two-day camp includes coaching, lift tickets, and a ski guide for $779.
Backcountry Snowcat Skiing, British Columbia, Canada
The all-inclusive small group (maximum 10, minimum 6) Backcountry Snowcat Skiing sells out fast. The camp gives women skiers guided experience with coaching and video analysis for cat skiing during this two-day ski camp outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After a day out on the powder guests are treated to cozy accommodations with delicious homestyle meals, appetizers, and snacks; and relax in the hot tub.
Dates:
Backcountry Snowcat Skiing on February 19 – 21, 2019
Costs:
$1,750 per person, includes double occupancy lodging (single occupancy available for a small surcharge based upon availability), meals, coaching and guiding, and cat skiing and powder ski demos.
Crystal Mountain Steeps Camps, Washington, USA
Multi-level off grooming skiers get the chance to ski at the award-winning Crystal Mountain Resort in Enumclaw, Washington two times at the Crystal Mountain Steeps Camps.
Space is limited in this intimate camp that gives skiers near personalized experience with expert coaches. Group sizes maximum is six skiers to one coach for two days of coaching and video analysis.
Discount ski lift tickets are available for campers. Gear is not included.
Guests will stay at Crystal Mountain Hotels slope-side accommodations making it easy to get to and off the slopes. A discount rate is available for campers.
Dates:
Crystal Mountain Steeps Camps on March 4 – 5 and March 7 – 8, 2019
Costs:
$549 per person
Alta Steep Skiing Camp, Utah, USA
The Alta Steep Skiing Camp pairs small group (six skiers to one coach or seven skiers to two coaches) skiers seeking to improve their off ungroomed terrain skills with all National and World Champion Free-skiing women coaches at the Alta Ski Resort in Alta, Utah.
Skiers will learn how to navigate through air, bumps, chutes, crud, ice, jump-turns, moguls, pillows, powder, rocks, roots, straight-lines and trees. At the end of the day, coaches will provide video analysis of skiers to help them gain deeper insight and build confidence.
Accommodations, transportation, meals, and gear rental aren’t included.
Dates:
Alta Steep Skiing Camp on March 23 – 24, 2019
Costs:
$495 per person
5. Telluride Women’s Week and SheRide Women’s Snowboarding Camp, Telluride, Colorado, USA
(Photo: Courtesy of Telluride Women’s Week)
Get a long weekend or a week away with shred Betties like yourself on the slopes during Telluride Women’s Week or SheRide Women’s Snowboarding Camp in Colorado.
Telluride Women’s Week offers three-day and five-day camps for women skiers and SheRide offers a three-day camp for women snowboarders of all levels.
The three-day camp offers intermediate to advanced skiers two opportunities to increase their skills and make friends with January and March camps in a world-renowned American ski town.
Telluride women ski coaches will identify the best ski groups, based skills observed in an initial group run. Skiers will learn how to improve their stance, steering, edging, and pressure on the skis under coach’s guidance and video review during the three-day camp.
During the five-day camp, skiers will be welcomed with a reception before the camp begins and will close out the week with a closing dinner. During the week skiers will enjoy various apres ski activities, yoga classes, tech talk, and complimentary usage of the ski valet in the Mountain Village. On the slopes after an initial group ski, skiers will break away into smaller groups based on their skills assessed by the women Telluride ski coaches on the initial run where they will learn how to improve their stance, steering, edging, and pressure on the skis under coach’s guidance and video review.
Dates:
Three-day camp: January 18 – 20 or March 1 – 3, 2019
Five-day camp: February 3 – 7, 2019
Costs:
No lift three-day $625 and 5-day $1,525
Including lift three-day $775 and 5-day $1,775
SheRide Women’s Snowboarding Camp
The SheRide Women’s Snowboarding Camp offers would-be women snowboarders to advanced female snowboarders ways to increase their skills as they surf the powder. The three-day camp includes classes taught by Telluride’s women expert snowboarders, discounted Burton Snowboard demos, SheRide T-shirt, a group victory ride, and celebration dinner.
Accommodations, transportation, and meals aren’t included.
Dates:
Haven’t been determined yet. Check SheRide for dates.
Estimated costs:
$1,300 with lift tickets
$1,000 without lift tickets
Book your next trip to the slopes with Girls That Roam Travel. Contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel at 415-517-7239 or at .
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