It’s no surprise that skiers and riders are predominantly white. Your surmise is as good as mine; but regardless, there are people and organizations out there trying to change things up.

Rossignol

Rossignol kicks off the 2021/2022 winter season with the continued support of Women of Winter (WoW). In 20/21, WoW partnered with PSIA-AASI to expand their instructor program which is focused on encouraging participation amongst black and Indigenous women of color (BIWOC). For 2021/22, WoW and PSIA-AASI will provide 30 (up from 6 scholarships in 20/21) scholarships for women of color to receive PSIA-AASI Level 1 certifications.

A grassroots organization that provides women with scholarships for PSIA-AASI Level 1 certifications, avalanche
education, and more, Women of Winter aims to become the change they want to see by creating a community of
visible role models, building community, providing education and eliminating barriers to entry. Women of Winter’s
mission is to inspire and empower women and girls to get outside, to be courageous, and to boldly embrace and
pursue their dreams by carving their own paths in the mountains and in life.

“Rossignol is incredibly proud to stand alongside Women of Winter and PSIA-AASI to help foster greater diversity and
representation in snow sports,” said Nick Castagnoli, Brand Marketing Director, Rossignol Group North America. “As
we all work to create a sustainable future for our industry, one of the most crucial things we can do is to work to
create an environment where all feel welcome. Supporting and uplifting underrepresented voices is a critical cause
that our Group is committed to addressing through meaningful and sustainable actions.”

For the 2021-22 season, Women of Winter and PSIA-AASI will host Level 1 certification events for BIWOC scholarship
recipients at the following dates and locations: Big Sky Resort, MT March 5-8; Hyland Hills Ski Area, MN February 1-4;
Windham Mountain, NY February 7-10; and Eldora Mountain, CO February 7-10.

The deadline to submit is Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. Scholarship recipients will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
For more information on applying, visit: https://www.womenofwinter.net/psia-aasi-2022-scholarship

SheJumps

SheJumps’ mission is to support diversity, equity, and inclusion among women and girls in the outdoors. Their Snowpack Avalanche and Ikon scholarships address the inequity by generating opportunities for education, community-building, connection, and leadership development through skiing and backcountry avalanche certifications. 

In 2019, SheJumps and the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) launched the Snowpack Avalanche Scholarship Program in an effort to bring affordable avalanche education opportunities to women in the Pacific Northwest. They also started another scholarship specifically for women of color. The Snowpack Ikon Pass Scholarship Program will donate 15 Ikon passes to provide lift-accessed adventures to iconic ski destinations to Women of Color looking to get into the sports of snowboarding and skiing nationwide. 

In addition to the Ikon passes, scholarship recipients will receive a full-day ski or snowboard lesson voucher and one-day rental ski or snowboard gear (offered by Alterra Mountain Resorts), skis, bindings, and boots from Nordica, and boot warming product from Sidas and Thermic. The application is open to adults (18+) self-identified Women of Color with little to no skiing or snowboarding experience.

​The deadline to apply is Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 11:59PM PST. Applicants will be notified by email of scholarship standing by November 29, 2021.

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