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Vail Today: Skadi Vail unites women on the slopes (video)

Brooke Skjonsby, of Vail Resorts marketing, left, and Vail Today's Tricia Swenson discuss the Skadi Vail women's ski festival.
Andrew Taylor | Special to the Daily |

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It’s not you; it’s the equipment. That phrase has been used in many sports, and it certainly holds true in skiing. Ladies, if you are not feeling comfortable on the slopes, maybe you haven’t found the right ski. The annual Skadi Vail Ski Fest helps women find the right ski, as well as wine, yoga and some swag.

Skadi, the Norse goddess of winter, is the inspiration behind this female-specific event. Designed by women for women, Skadi Vail is offered for any level of skier. Attendees are treated to customized on-mountain guided experiences with female instructors, evening VIP events and female-specific ski equipment demos.



Each morning, the group would get ready for the day by doing a yoga class.

“The most important thing is to get your muscles warmed up so you can prevent an injury,” said Emily Selonick, who is a yoga instructor at Revolution Power Yoga in Eagle-Vail. “Especially when you are going out in the cold, you want to get the blood flowing and your joints warmed up so you can react to any bumps and lumps you may find on the hill.”

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Nearly a dozen brands had various models of skis to demo at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Skiers were able to take the skis appropriate for groomed runs on the corduroy and try to fat skis in the powdery Back Bowls.

“Women-specific skis are really about increasing confidence and providing a better experience on the mountain,” said Krista Crabtree, ski test director for On the Snow and one of the event organizers. “Manufacturers have put a lot of money and research into developing products that work with a woman’s body.”

In the evenings, women gathered to share their experiences and talk shop with the representatives from the different ski companies. Wine, cheese, desserts, raffle prizes and a little dancing rounded out this event that united those with a passion for skiing and the outdoors.


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