SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., August 4, 2021—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has partnered with grassroots organization Women of Winter to host three education events specifically for women in snowsports who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Women of Winter at Big SkyThe three instructor certification events, slated for the 2021-22 winter season, aim to encourage BIPOC women to pursue opportunities to teach skiing or snowboarding. All participants will be provided scholarships to attend.

“PSIA-AASI remains committed to helping grow inclusion within the snowsports industry,” said PSIA-AASI CEO Nicholas Herrin. “After seeing the success of Women of Winter’s events, we’re thrilled to partner with them to create more opportunities for women, and especially BIPOC women. I hope this partnership is one way to be part of the change as we diversify snowsports instruction and welcome more people to the ski and snowboard industry.”

The three certification events will be held at various locations around the country during the 2021-22 season and are being developed in collaboration with BIPOC women, for BIPOC women. The goal of the initiative is to empower BIPOC women in snowsports with the education to feel confident in their skiing, snowboarding, and teaching skills and to use this education to welcome other BIPOC women and girls into the snowsports community.

In addition to scholarships, the event partners plan to eliminate cost barriers to participants by providing them with gear from PSIA-AASI’s official suppliers.

“We are so proud to partner with PSIA-AASI and are grateful for its leadership championing these efforts,” said Women of Winter founder Chris Walch. “For us to achieve our mission of inspiring and empowering women and girls to get outside and boldly pursue their dreams by carving their own paths in the mountains and in life, we’re focusing a large part of our efforts on BIPOC women, the most underrepresented demographic in snowsports,” she added. 

In 2021, Women of Winter, with support from PSIA-AASI, awarded scholarships to six BIPOC women to take a PSIA Alpine Level 1 certification course at Big Sky, Mont.