Naked Ski-Touring For Women Only in Colorado
A woman’s group is planning a naked ski run as part of an all-female ski festival at a Colorado ski area.
The idea behind the Boot Tan Fest, which launched last winter at the new Bluebird Backcountry ski area, is to make backcountry skiing a “more inclusive, accessible and empowering sport,” the organisers say. Bluebird Backcountry has no lifts and is for back country skiers only.
Last year’s event included an impromptu naked lap in which more than 20 people took part, this spring the plan is to make it a more official event with a maximum of 300 people. The naked ski lap is not something participants need to feel they have to take part in, but it’s there for those who want to.
The Boot Tan Fest will be a day of live music, beer, tacos and gear demonstrations before the optional naked ski lap.
“It is the best feeling. You feel supported because every body is different and every personality is different. But when you’re outside and you’re exposed like that and there’s no men around to judge you, it’s the most powerful feeling ever,” event founder Jenny Verrochi told local media, adding that the event was open to non-expert skiers and splitboarders.
“Skiing in general is intimidating. Backcountry skiing is intimidating times 10, and the ski industry as a whole is intimidating. It’s just filled with white, privileged men. It’s difficult to break your way into that scene,” she added.
The event also offers discounted tickets for women of colour and an all-female film crew will create film from the event entitled “Full Frontal Freedom,” which aims to spotlight women who are traditionally underrepresented in films about the outdoors. Backcountry safety will remain the priority with participants expected to carry avalanche safety equipment.
End of season nude or nearly nude ski events are not unusual around the world and particularly in the Western US. Crested Butte ski area allowed an unofficial regular end of season naked ski day for all genders for some years in the late twentieth century but ended it when it “got out of hand.”
