It’s not very often that a backcountry skiing scenario consists mostly of women but that all changed for Rossignol’s We Rise event on Sunday, February 13.
A total of 23 women gathered at the base of Solitude Mountain Resort to learn, ski and progress together. Equipped with Rossignol’s new uphill-oriented equipment, including the Escaper touring skis, six knowledgeable guides from Ski Utah and an avalanche forecast presentation from the Utah Avalanche Center, the event was setup for every skier to succeed—no matter ability level.
“We wanted to create an event that brings women together, helps set a solid foundation for backcountry touring and gets them outside in the mountains that we all love,” says Nina Czekelius Wright, the marketing and sales coordinator for Rossignol.
With the choice to focus on snowpack analysis in the Student group, route finding and avalanche terrain identification in the Explorer group or go for a bigger tour in more complex terrain in the Seeker group, participants were able to tailor the event to individual goals. After a full rundown of how to read an avalanche forecast and a discussion of the day’s conditions, the ladies split off into their desired groups and headed out of the ski area’s gates. What the snow conditions lacked, the sunshine certainly made up for to provide a beautiful early spring day.
“It was amazing to see so many first-time backcountry skiers and riders show up for this event,” says Czekelius Wright, “along with a large group of women who wanted to improve on what they already knew.”
To cap off the day, everyone reconvened at the Last Chance Southwest Grill for aprés and a raffle. Three lucky women walked away with a scholarship to their first Backcountry 101 course and everyone walked away with at least one new ski partner.
