Ski Moms Fun Podcast

Check out our Father’s Day Gift Guide for Ski DadsSubscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/support Subscriptions start as low as $3/month. You'll get:1. Exclusive Content.2. Merchandise Discounts: Get discount codes to our favorite ski brands3. Swag: Get a welcome gift of your choice.  4. Monthly Ski Mom RecipeIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host Adrienne Saia Isaac, Director of Marketing and Communications at the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).  Adrienne tells us more about the NSAA, their members and vision. Adrienne walks us through some of the numbers and insights from the recent 2022-23 Ski Industry End-of-Season Report.  We were very excited to learn that the ski industry reported a 4 million visit increase year over year! And keep in mind some ski resorts are still open, so expect that number to keep rising. It was a lot of fun to dig into these ski industry numbers with an expert and make sense of what it all means.Keep up with the Latest from the NSAA:Website: https://www.nsaa.orgInstagram: https://instagram.com/nsaa_orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NSAA.orgBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Check out our Ski Mom’s Mother’s Day gift guide!Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host Julie Smith, head of the quality programs at Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Brewery) in Waitsfield, Vermont. Julie shares her career path and some great Lawson’s history. We talk about why there aren’t more women in the brewing industry, although Lawson’s has done a great job in this space and is close to 50% women.Julie tells us about the Pink Boots brewery program which is a fantastic global non-profit focused on getting more women into the brewing industry. Pink Boots has local chapters, events, scholarships and more. It was so interesting to get Julie’s firsthand views into life at a famous Vermont brewery and we already planned to meet there for our next apres beverage!Keep up with the Latest from Lawsons:Website: https://www.lawsonsfinest.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawsonsfinestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawsonsFinestLiquids/Resources:Pink Boots: https://www.pinkbootssociety.orgBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Check out our Ski Mom’s Mother’s Day gift guide!Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host Cassie Cohen, the Snow Reporter at Mad River Glen in Fayston, Vermont. Cassie started skiing as a toddler with her mom at Mount Snow and has been skiing as long as she can remember. Cassie gives us a look at her typical day as the Snow Reporter at Mad River Glen, starting at 5 AM!  She loves getting to ski while also having the opportunity to write and be creative.Cassie tells us about what we can expect to find at Mad River Glen - including their famous single chair. Mad River Glen has a full service ski school and rental department.  There is a great lodge that includes a cafeteria and Stark’s Pub. And The Birdcage is an on mountain lodge and dining option. And they have Day Care!It was so interesting to get Cassie’s firsthand views into the life of a snow reporter. And she does not ski every run every day, but she does get out on the mountain every day.   Mad River Glen is not on Ikon or Epic, they do have some great ski pass deals (we love the mid-week pass). Mad River Glen is skier only. Keep up with the Latest from Mad River Glen:Website: https://www.madriverglen.com/Snow Report: https://www.madriverglen.com/conditions/Instagram: https://instagram.com/madriverglenBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Check out our Ski Mom’s Mother’s Day gift guide!Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host Margo Wade, Director of Planning & Regulatory Compliance at Sugarbush Resort.  At a high level, Margo’s role is focused on keeping the resort in compliance with operating, land use, technical and environmental permits. The permits range from federal to state and local level permits as Sugarbush spans 3 Vermont towns and uses some US Forest Service land. Margo gives us an inside look at what it takes to staff a ski resort, seasonally and year round. Sugarbush’s employee population grows from 250 year round staff to about 1,000 in the winter ski season. The combination of resort staffing and staff housing shortages has been a challenge across the entire ski industry.  Margo gives us insights into what is causing this shortage. Sugarbush houses employees in a variety of units around the Mad River Valley ranging from Sugarbush owned to rented facilities.  One important project was transitioning the Sugarbush Inn from visitor use to staff housing. Sugarbush bases workforce housing rent rates are based on employee’s wages.Sugarbush has a large international employee population that leverage different visa programs ranging from short term cultural exchanges to longer term for more senior employees.It was so interesting to get Margo’s firsthand views of what it takes to staff a ski resort and the creative solutions Sugarbush is bringing to the industry. Keep up with the Latest from SugarbushWebsite: www.sugarbush.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/sugarbush_vtBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Heidi Dusek. Heidi is a mother of 3, an author and a podcast host - among many other things. Heidi’s work is focused on inspiring families to connect through simple adventures. Heidi always had an adventurous side and wanted to to continue her adventures when she started a family. Heidi started her podcast Ordinary Sherpa during covid in November of 2020. Heidi saw the need for parents to find a place to connect with other parents - that allowed us to enjoy the often overlooked positives of the world shutting down.  Heidi saw the opportunity to spend more time with her kids and wanted parents to have a place to connect and share.Heidi started with simple afternoon family field trips, walks in the woods, climbing trees. She realized that she felt great after these outings and that they didn’t have to be overplanned or elaborate.In the winter Heidi’s family gets outside in Wisconsin - snowshoeing, cross country skiing and alpine skiing at a small local mountain. Heidi shares great budget friendly tips to outfit your family for outdoor adventures. Heidi tells us about how her approach to untourism - a different type of family travel experience.  Untourism supports the local flavors and activities that benefit the local people, small businesses and communities as opposed to commercial tourism.We are excited to follow along with Heidi and her family on their “family gap year” adventure through 2023! To follow along go to ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe and choose Family Gap Year Adventures.Keep up with the Latest from HeidiWebsite: https://ordinarysherpa.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/ordinarysherpaFacebook Podcast: The Ordinary SherpaResources:Heidi’s Book Beyond NormalPowder Mountain (Utah)IndyPassCheck out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Kimberley Blaine, a licensed developmental psychotherapist (LMFT) who has been named one of the most powerful moms in social media by Working Mother Magazine.  Kimberley is a speaker, author and a nationally recognized child mental health and social and emotional well-being expert. She’s also a California ski mom who loves to go to the mountains every chance she gets. Kimberley’s favorite place to ski in California is Mammoth Mountain, about a 4 hour 40 minute drive from LA. Kimberley tells us all her tips for planning a trip to Mammoth, which can require planning and preparation given the unpredictable snow and travel conditions.  This season Mammoth has had over 600” of snow! Roads can close for 24 hours at a time. Kimberley was a Venice beach baby, who first saw the mountains and snow when she joined in on her high school’s ski trip. It was love at first sight and she knew she needed the mountains to be a part of her life.Kimberley shares all sorts of great tips to plan a wonderful Mammoth vacation. Mammoth can be a challenging place to get to and from, but that is what makes it so special.  We have Mammoth on our ski bucket list and can’t wait to check it out. Keep up with the Latest from KimberleyWebsite: http://thegotomom.com/meet-the-go-to-mom/Instagram: https://instagram.com/thegotomomTwitter: https://twitter.com/thegotomomFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/allmtmamas/Resources:Mammoth Mountain: https://www.mammothmountain.com/Big Bear: https://www.bigbearmountainresort.comSnow Valley: https://snow-valley.com/Use Ski Butler for your next ski trip to Mammoth! Create your Ski Butlers profile here for 20% off your equipment rentals https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/momtrendsBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Subscribe to our Apres Ski Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Sarah Wojcik the founder of All Mountain Mamas and the associate editor and new business director at Ski Area Management Magazine (SAM). Sarah started skiing when she was very young at a small ski mountain, Blue Mountain in PA. As a teenager, Sarah became a junior ski patroller at Camelback (Poconos, PA) and she has been in the ski industry ever since.  Sarah walks us through her career path from ski patrolling to her job at Ski Vermont and to her current position at Ski Area Management. Sarah tells us more about Ski Area Management Magazine, their readers  and what types of topics are covered in their articles. We also hear Sarah’s founder’s story that led her to start All Mountain Mamas. All Mountain Mama’s is a fantastic Vermont ski resort resource for moms - check them out in our links below. Keep up with the Latest from Sarah & All Mountain MamasWebsite: https://allmountainmamas.skivermont.comWebsite: Ski Area ManagementInstagram: https://instagram.com/allmtmamasTwitter: https://twitter.com/allmtmamasFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/allmtmamas/Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Kristen Ulmer. Kristen is a high performance facilitator and fear/anxiety expert who draws from her tenure as the Hall of Fame most ‘fearless’ woman extreme skier in the world for 12 years, from studying Zen for 15 years, and from facilitating over ten thousand clients on the subjects of fear, anxiety and achieving flow states.Kristen grew up in Henniker, New Hampshire skiing at Pat’s Peak. Kristen loved skiing from a very young age, but did not get serious about skiing until age 16.  Kristen went to college in Utah and starting skiing moguls. Although she had almost no formal ski training, she made the US Ski Team!  She could not afford to stay on the US Ski Team, so she switched over to big mountain extreme skiing and filming in movies. Kristen tell us more about film skiing and the film skiing industry. Kristen has filmed 24 ski movies with producers like Warren Miller and Teton Gravity.  Kristen was the one female skier in this very male dominated industry.  Kristen tells us about her addiction to fear (her poor parents!) that came out of her ski experiences.An experience at Burning Man (an arts festival in the desert), inspired Kristen to quit her ski media career.  She started a mindset only ski camp led by a zen master (who she then studied with for 15 years). There is a camp session coming up at the end of March in Alta, Utah. Kristen’s book, The Art of Fear: Why Conquering Fear Won't Work and What to Do Instead  is a great place to start navigating your own relationship with fears (not conquering them!).  The magic comes from the belief that we are not trying to avoid fear, but instead change our relationship with fear.Keep up with the Latest from KristenWebsite: https://kristenulmer.comArt of Fear Ski CampTed Talk: https://youtu.be/MLDeef-YolYInstagram: https://instagram.com/kristen.ulmerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ulmer.kristen/Please Help Support our Podcast:We have a full list of great ski books for kids!Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community!Follow us on Apple Podcasts and please rate and share with a friend!Be sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

Subscribe to the bonus Apres Ski Content here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882919/supportIn this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Becky Munsterer Sabky. Becky is the author of a series of animated children’s books about skiing (The Little Rippers) and is a former Director of International Admissions at Dartmouth College. Becky grew up skiing and ski racing at a little ski area in New Jersey called Hidden Valley.  Throughout high school Becky was a ski racer, but her ski racing career ended when she started at Colby College. Becky continued to ski for fun and found she loved the powder and moguls just as much as gates. Becky shares her experience growing up as a weekend warrior, her family would drive from New Jersey to different ski resorts around New England. It was a great family activity and an outlet to meet new friends and families outside of their community. Now Becky lives in Vermont and skis at the Dartmouth Skiway (NH) and Burke Mountain (VT).Becky has always been an author, her first published piece was an article called “Ski Dads” in Ski Magazine. Becky wanted to combine her love of writing and skiing and that led her to start her series of animated children’s books (The Little Rippers) about kids having ski adventures.  Becky tells us about how she came up with the story ideas and the five main characters. We were so excited to learn that Becky was first inspired to write The Little Rippers at Sugarbush!Book 1 takes place in Vermont, in Book 2 the gang heads to Colorado, Book 3 is about skiing President’s Day Weekend, and Book 4 is in the works.  We loved hearing about how Becky named her characters, which she said was a really fun part of writing the books. And while not ski related, we both found Becky’s college admissions book (Valedictorians at the Gate) to be a tremendous resource as we navigated the college admissions process with our kids. Find out more about Becky:Website: https://beckysabky.com/Buy The Little Rippers on AmazonPlease Help Support our Podcast:We have a full list of great ski books for kids!Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole joins Sarah as she gets a ski boot fitting and custom footbed with Allison Kozar, a boot fitter at Inner Bootworks in Stowe, Vermont. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SKI MOMS APRES SKI PODCAST HERE.Sarah’s had ski boot pain for years and just thought it was something she had to live with. The boot pain impacted how long Sarah could ski and her overall enjoyment on the snow.  A friend recommended a custom boot fitting.  Allison (a local boot fitter) was recommended to Nicole and Sarah so we made an appointment online and headed to Stowe, Vermont.  The boot fitting process took about 2 hours start to finish. We walk through the boot fitting process, what to bring with you so you are well prepared and how to find the best boot fitter in your area.  Sarah opted for a whole new setup - new boots, new custom Bootdoc footbeds. Sarah is so happy with her new ski boots, they are warm and comfortable and she can ski all day with ease.  If your ski boots are causing you pain or discomfort, consider investing in a boot fitting!Find a Bootdoc Hotronic Retailer near you! HereKeep up with the Latest from Bootdoc Hotronic:Website: https://www.bootdoc-hotronic.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/bootdoc_hotronic_officialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bootdochotronicofficialPlease Help Support our Podcast:Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah learn about ski tuning, care and maintenance. We visited Kelly Bair, owner of Peak Performance Ski Shop in Killington, Vermont. Peak Performance is a premier ski shop with a ski racing focus. Peak Performance has a wide variety of equipment options for both ski racers and recreational skiers.  If you can’t get to Peak in person, they ship all over the world. Kelly is the mom to two ski racers, but she grew up water skiing in Florida and never imagined she would be running a ski shop in Vermont. We talk about how as moms we often do not invest in the right gear and equipment for ourselves.  But we all agree that finding the right equipment and taking care of our gear is really important. Kelly gives advice on how to best prepare for your ski shop purchase. Know what you have tried and what you like - sizes, brands, etc. Know where you plan to ski - conditions, region. Kelly recommends starting with your boots and then demoing some skis to really figure out what you like before making a purchase.We talk about how to keep our equipment in good condition and the importance of a good maintenance plan. For example, wax your skis, get your edges sharpened, and have your bindings checked.  Some ski shops like Peak Performance do overnight tuning, so you can drop your skis off on your way to apres ski and pick them up the next morning. We got to check out the Wintersteiger Jupiter tuning system and had our skis tuned to perfection.  We could not believe how much of a difference a good tune could make!Find a Wintersteiger near you! Keep up with the Latest from Peak Performance:Website: https://www.peakskishop.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/peakskishopFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakSkiShopResources:Wintersteiger Jupiter (tuning machine)Killington Mountain (on the Ikon pass)Please Help Support our Podcast:Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community!Follow us on Apple Podcasts and please rate and share with a friend!On Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the SkiBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Connie Marshall, the first Director of Marketing and PR at Alta Ski Area in Alta, Utah. Connie grew up in Ohio, her family loved the outdoors, they hiked a lot and skied as much as they could.  Connie learned to ski at Clear Fork (in central Ohio), a ski area built on a reclaimed garbage dump. Connie first saw Alta when she was in 6th grade during a visit to her aunt and uncle’s home. Connie’s Uncle Chic was the then GM of Alta. She took her first flight (on TWA) in her first pair of blue jeans. (To hear Connie talk about it, it sounds like just yesterday.)After her first visit out west, she knew she wanted to get back there. After college when her dreams of the Peace Corp did not come true, Connie headed back to Alta and got a job working in the ticket office.And from there one thing led to another, Connie spent 44 years working at Alta in a number of roles. Her last role before retiring was as the Marketing and PR Director. Connie tells us about her early days at Alta and her tips for navigating the resort area for those visiting now.  If you are visiting on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or a holiday you need to make a parking reservation ahead of time. And the ski school is amazing, it’s a great place to learn or improve your skills. Alta is on both the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective Pass.Keep up with the Latest from Alta:Website: https://www.alta.com/plan-your-tripInstagram: https://instagram.com/altaskiareaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/altaskiarea Alta Ski School: https://www.alta.com/ski-schoolPlease Help Support our Podcast:Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community!Follow us on Apple Podcasts and please rate and share with a friend!On Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun StoreEmail us sarah@skimomsfun.comBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host ski mom Brenda Dragon, the President & Founder of Aurora Heat. Brenda was raised in Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories, Canada (look it up on a map!).  Brenda has loved skiing her whole life, there is mostly Nordic skiing in the Fort Smith area. Brenda taught her children to ski and it was always a favorite family activity. After raising her family and working in different industries, Brenda decided to take the plung and start her own company, Aurora Heat. Brenda tells us about Aurora Heat, which started with the idea that natural and reusable products are best - for both function and the environment.  Brenda saw the waste that comes from single-use products (like disposabe handwarmers), and looked to her family’s fur trapping heritage for a solution. We loved learning about Brenda’s parent’s fur trapping history and what it meant to her family. Today, Aurora Heat makes a variety of sustainable, reusable, natural fur based products to keep you warm - from head to toe.  They have natural hand warmers, foot warmers, ankle warmers and more. Aurora Heat also provides jobs in a community where there are limited employment opportunities. The company gives back to the community through a number of social impact programs. Nicole loves her Aurora Heat handwarmers (with thumb insert), she’s been using them all winter and can’t stop talking about them!  Get yours below and use our discount code for 10% off. Keep up with the Latest from Aurora Heat:Website: https://auroraheat.ca/Ski Mom Fun listeners can use discount code: SKIMOMSFUN for 10% off your purchase (they do ship to the USA).Instagram:  https://instagram.com/aurora.heat.nwtFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/auroraheatnwtPlease Help Support our Podcast:Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2023 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Jen Gurecki, the co- founder & CEO of Coalition Snow, a women-owned and operated Reno-based snowsports brand on a mission to deconstruct the status quo.Jen started skiing in high school and fell in love with it right away.  Jen’s high school had a ski club that hosted affordable ski trips that helped her get time on snow. Jen was hooked. She’s now primarily a snowboarder, but most of her team is made up of skiers. Jen tells us about her path from college to her work in outdoor education and how she came to the decision to start Coalition Snow and make skis and snowboards.  It started when Jen was disappointed by the lack of high performance ski and snowboard equipment for women and decided to fill that gap. She saw that the lack of representation of women across the industry - so she jumped in and figured out how to make skis and snowboards. Coalition Snow doesn’t make a lot of beginner equipment, but that wasn’t the void Jen saw in the industry - she wanted to make more advanced/expert equipment for women.  Jen tells us about some of the new equipment Coalition is launching in the coming seasons that she’s excited about and where we can find their gear. Coalition sells direct to consumer and through a number of online retailers and in some physical locations.  Coalition has a unique approach to marketing, their presence is authentic - and Jen sees it as one tool to make snowsports more inclusive. Check out their social media below to see for yourself!Keep up with the Latest from Jen & Coalition Snow:Website: https://www.coalitionsnow.com/Instagram:  https://instagram.com/coalitionsnowYouTube: https://youtube.com/@CoalitionsnowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coalitionsnowNewsletter: Subscribe to the Lady Parts newsletter hereResources: Where to find Coalition Snow products near youCoalition Snow far out adventure tripsPlease Help Support our Podcast:Get your Ski Moms Fun Neck Buff here!https://skimomsfunshop.myshopify.com/products/ski-moms-fun-neck-buffCheck out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2022 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Jasmine Tay, a ski mom of 3 boys, the oldest (Harry) is an adaptive skier. Jasmine shares all her learnings, tips and advice on getting your child into an adaptive ski program.  For those unfamiliar, adaptive skiing uses specialized equipment and/or training to allow people with disabilities to ski. Jasmine grew up in Australia and started skiing at age 3 at a ski resort called Threadbo in the Snowy Mountains (Australia). Jasmine and her family relocated from Australia to New York City, their home mountain is now Windham (New York State). Becoming a ski family was always something Jasmine and her family planned.  Jasmine’s son Harry has a physical disability that requires him to use crutches, so traditional ski school was not an option for him. Jasmine researched programs outside of NYC and found a great adaptive ski program at Windham (link below).  There are programs all over the northeast and across the country, so her advice is to just start researching programs in your area.Children with disabilities have a different set of needs so Jasmine recommends first talking to the program coordinator to discuss your child’s needs to find the right fit.  Booking adaptive ski lessons can take more lead time than traditional ski school, so planning in advance is important. Harry started with a one day lesson - he loved it and kept wanting more time on the snow. Jasmine tells us about adaptive equipment and the unique way that adaptive lessons are managed. Over the years, Harry has progressed to independent skiing - and they achieved their dream of becoming a ski family!Resources:Where to find and Adaptive Ski Program for Your FamilyThredbo (Australia) https://www.thredbo.com.au/Windham (New York) https://www.windhammountain.com/Adaptive Sports Center WindhamVermont Adaptive: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/Please Help Support our Podcast:Mabels Labels at www.mabelslabels.com and use code SKIMOMS for 15% off your first orderCheck out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2022 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Katie Ertl, the SVP of Mountain Operations at Aspen Skiing Company. Aspen Skiing Company includes 4 mountains, across 8 miles — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk. Katie grew up in the Aspen Valley, her mom was a ski instructor and she taught Katie and her twin sister from the age of 3. She went on to alpine ski race. Katie taught ski lessons in college, and after graduating decided to continue down that path. Katie coached kids ski racing in Australia and loved it so much she went back and forth coaching between Aspen and Australia. Katie worked her way into ski school management and concurrently became a ski instructor educator, giving clinics to ski instructors through PSIA.  That led Katie to her role overseeing the 4 ski schools at Aspen Skiing Company - and their 1,300 instructors!  After 12 years in this role she moved to her current role, as the SVP of Mountain Operations. Katie explains the role of Mountain Operations - which includes everything related to the mountain infrastructure, from getting the lifts running every morning, to grooming the hill and guest services.  Aspen Skiiing Company is undergoing a 180 acre expansion called Pandoras, which is keeping Katie busy.Katie walks us through the history of the 4 mountains.  She describes how the various mountains are situated and what makes each mountain and town unique.  We also learn about the sustainability programs that Aspen Skiing is involved in across the valley and more broadly. Create your Ski Butlers Profile here: https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/momtrendsKeep up with the Latest from Aspen Skiing Company:Website: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/aspensnowmassFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspensnowmass/Twitter: https://twitter.com/aspensnowmassResources: Pandora Expansion PSIA: https://www.thesnowpros.org/who-we-are/ Nastar: https://nastar.com/national-championshipsPlease Help Support our Podcast:Check out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2022 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Diane Boyer, the President of Skea Ltd. a women’s ski wear company run by women and designed by women who love the active outdoor lifestyle. Diane grew up skiing at Mount Southington (a small ski area in Connecticut), while she was in boarding school nearby and at Stratton. She went on to Dartmouth College, where she skied every day, both teaching and practicing freestyle.  Diane made her way to Vail, where Skea Ltd is now located.Diane walks us through the history of Skea, which started when her family brought the one piece suit to the US in the ‘70’s.  They started with an imported one piece from France and added insulation to make it suitable for cold New England ski days. In the early 80’s Skea started to manufacture in their own factory in Denver. Skea makes beautiful women’s ski clothing, their motto is “follow your passion to your dreams”. Skea believes that you can look feminine and feel confident and also be a seriously great skier.  Skea’s high-performance outerwear combines experience, functionality, quality, and performance.Skea’s collections are not the typical blue and black jackets or pants commonly seen around ski resorts. Skea has fun patterns and vibrant colors that look great on and off the hill.  Some of Skea’s designs are from original art that they make into patterns.  Skea products can be found in specialty retail ski shops.  They can also be found online (links below). We were excited to learn that Skea added inclusive sizes this season!  And Skea is now making great clothes for golf and pickleball!Keep up with the Latest from Skea:Website: https://www.skealimited.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/skealtdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/skealimitedTwitter: https://twitter.com/skealimited**Skea is offering a special discount to our listeners! Use code SKEASKIMOMS for 25% off full priced items**Please Help Support our Podcast:Mabels Labels at www.mabelslabels.com and use code SKIMOMS for 15% off your first orderCheck out the Ski Pack at www.puremountainfun.com and use code SKIMOMS2022 for 20% off your orderBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Tracy Keller, ski mom, and Head of School at Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS) in Waitsfield, Vermont. Tracy shares her ski and career journey with us from racing at Dartmouth to her first job at Sugar Bowl Academy and finally to GMVS where she is the Head of School.Tracy learned to ski when she was six at Pico Mountain in Vermont and started ski racing at a young age.  She went on to ski at Dartmouth College and after college took a job teaching, coaching and dorm parenting at Sugar Bowl Academy in California.  Tracy clearly defines a ski academy - a high school (and in some cases middle school) designed for and to serve the needs of competitive ski racers. Most are independent schools, many have a boarding component. Tracy gives some great advice on how to check out what a ski academy is like by attending a ski camp.  While students can enroll as early as 7th grade at GMVS, many students do not start attending full time until 9th grade.  Many academies offer winter term programs (typically 6th, 7th, 8th grade) starting in November through the ski season. A ski academy is a good fit for a student that is passionate about skiing - they ski every day, in all weather, and you really need to love it. Students need to be resilient, hard working and have the ability to recognize that competitive skiing is a process. Another key factor is that the desire to ski competitively needs to be driven by the athlete and not their parents. We also learn about a typical year at a ski academy - which can consist of international and domestic camp travel, on-site physical conditioning and local training.  Keep up with the Latest from GMVS:Website: https://gmvs.org/Instagram: https://instagram.com/gmvsskiFacebook: GMVSGMVS Ski CampsGMVS 7th Grade Winter TermResources:Sugar Bowl AcademyWaterville Valley Academy (NH)Rowmark Academy in Park CityThe Winter Sports School Park CityOkemo Mountain SchoolUSCSA (college ski racing)NCAA College SkiingPlease Help Support our Podcast:Mabels Labels at www.mabelslabels.comBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Beth Howard, ski mom, and VP and Chief Operating Officer of Vail Mountain in Vail, Colorado. Beth shares her career journey from the University of Northern Iowa where she studied Food & Nutrition and Business. When a college internship led her to the Vail Valley, she packed her car and headed west.  Beth fell in love with Vail and immediately knew she wanted to figure out how to live there after college. Find out how to use Ski Butler to get rentals brought to your ski condo or hotel.Beth grew up skiing in Minnesota at Afton Alps with her brothers, but did not expect her career to lead to the ski industry. The combination of her love of sports and college studies led her to Vail. Beth started in the Food & Beverage area and had a number of roles at different resorts before becoming the COO of Vail Mountain. Beth shares a typical day as the COO of Vail Mountain - which starts with a coffee and her “power hour” where she gets up to speed on everything going on at Vail. You may even see Beth out greeting guests, look for a blue jacket and gray pants - and her name tag. Vail is 5,300 acres and has all levels of terrain, family and beginner ski areas - there is really something for everyone.  Beth tells us about how the mountain is laid out and about the various villages at Vail, inspired by European ski villages.  The villages have all sorts of fun things for families - ice skating rinks, great shopping, even a candy store which is always a hit. The Vail ski school is a fantastic resource for families learning to ski or just looking for a guide to show them the lesser known areas of the vast mountain.  The Epic Mix app has lots of of great information for guests - from weather alerts to predictive lift lines, terrain openings, trail maps and GPS tracking. This year marks the 60th season for Vail and to celebrate they have tons of fun events planned. There are music events, parades and they are bringing back the ice barsResources:Epic Military PassAfton Alps (Minnesota)Vail Ski SchoolEpic Mix AppKeep up with the Latest from Vail Mountain: www.vail.comVail 60th Anniversary ScheduleInstagram: https://instagram.com/vailmtnTwitter: https://twitter.com/vailmtnBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole and Sarah host Barbara Cochran, ski mom, Olympic gold medalist and sports psychology consultant. Barbara tells us about the incredible history behind her father Mickey’s vision to build a ski hill behind their house in Richmond, Vermont in 1961.  Mickey built a tow rope and put up lights so all his kids and anyone else who wanted to (it was open to the public), could ski train after school and into the night.Barbara is one of four children, they all grew up to be world-class ski racers and represented the U.S. in the Winter Olympics. Barbara started racing in World Cup races when she was still in high school. She shares her Olympic story of winning the gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. We loved hearing about what was going through Barbara’s mind as she prepared herself to race, and how her father’s words could calm her down and get her thinking positively (even at the Olympics!).  Barbara discovered the powers of positive self talk and having a growth mindset - long before it was a well-known practice. Barbara shares the Cochran’s Way, a powerful and positive message for ski racers and parents pursuing this crazy sport. She tells us about the letter she wrote to her son Ryan Cochran-Siegle, before he headed to the Olympics.Barbara’s words have inspired us to stay positive and keep the big picture in mind - the invaluable life lessons our kids learn from skiing. Resources:Barbara’s Sports Psychology BusinessCochran’s Ski Area Keep up with the Latest from Barbara & Cochrans:Barbara on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bacochrancoachFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsSuccessCoachingCochran’s Ski Area Instagram Cochran’s Facebook Please Help Support our Podcast:Visit Mabels Labels to personalize your own labels!Use code SKIMOMS at checkout for 15% off your purchaseBe sure to check out our sponsor, Athletic Brew! Athletic Brew is delicious non-alcoholic beer you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, with no worries and no hangovers.  Support the showJoin the Ski Moms Fun Community! Follow us on Instagram @skimomsfunCheck out the Ski Moms Fun Store at www.skimomsfun.comContact us sarah@skimomsfun.com