Taking the Kids: Make sure Mom gets out to play in the snow
Certainly other resorts have women coaches and women's multi-day clinics -- I've done some of them and they certainly can be empowering. But what I like best about this initiative is that it's designed for moms coming to the mountain on a family trip, who otherwise aren't as likely to carve out time for themselves. (Check out the Taking the Kids Guide to Fun in the Snow.)
Those of you with daughters who balk at ski school will be interested to know there's also the Ski Girls Rock program at five Vail resorts. There are no more than four girls per group led by a female instructor who focuses not only on improving skills, but empowering girls through the sport. "We're more likely to get girls confident and excited when they are with other girls," notes Lynch. "It starts with them." Especially when a celebrity and role model like ski champion Lindsey Vonn is involved.
Each resort program for skiing and snowboarding moms is a little different. Check them out if you're heading for the slopes during your kids' school break. Ask whether such a program is available where you're going. There's the Ladies Club at Park City Mountain Resort, a Women’s Social Ski Tour in Beaver Creek and the Women's Ultimate 4 Lessons at other Vail resorts, including family-centric Keystone and Breckenridge.
The best part, said Amy Easterbrook, "It was all about me and skiing ... nothing else to worry about!"
That's rare for multitasking moms! The fact that the coaches are women is key. "A lot of women are intimidated skiing with men," Northstar's Pearlman said. "They absolutely have more fun with women."
"We were giggling at women-only jokes," said Reitter.
"I'm always wearing my mom hat, my wife hat, my work hat," she added. That day on the mountain, "I realized I'm still me and I had the rare opportunity to wear that hat. It's so worth it!"
Reitter's group, she said, is already planning their second day together on the mountain.
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Read more Taking the Kids at www.takingthekids.com or @takingthekids on Twitter or Facebook; Check out Eileen's new series of Kid's City Guides, including one to Denver and Colorado Ski Country.
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