SAM Magazine—Dresser, Wis., Dec. 20, 2024—Photo credit: Krista HoldenSeventeen female terrain park builders gathered Dec. 8-14 at Trollhaugen Ski Area for the 4th annual Take the Rake—a weeklong event where female diggers and snowcat operators attend shop clinics and on-hill workshops to learn about topics ranging from rail setting and park maintenance to feature fabrication and welding. At the conclusion, a park built entirely by the participants is opened to the public to enjoy.

“We hope Take the Rake can be an inspiration and a catalyst for more women to join in on park crew and operations at their home resorts, and for ski area managers to ask how they can foster a work environment that continues to draw in a new and diverse generation of employees,” said Take the Rake creator and Trollhaugen marketing director Marsha Hovey.

Photo credit: Krista HoldenEvent attendees are selected from a pool of applicants. Those that attend are required to participate in all the education sessions, including a design clinic, welding clinic, feature-setting clinic, and feature fabrication clinic, in the lead up to build day. Hovey said the welding and fabrication clinics are crowd favorites.

On the final evening, attendees are recognized with awards. One up-and-coming crew member is given the title “The Future,” which comes with a scholarship sponsored by SAM and Timberline Lodge to attend Cutter’s Camp in May at Timberline on Mt. Hood in Oregon. This year’s winner is Hope Gienger, 19, a mechanic by trade who works on the park crew at her home hill, Mount Ski Gull, Minn.

“Hope was the first one on the rope every day, and the last one off,” said Hovey. “She soaked up every single opportunity that the week provided and was the very clear winner of this scholarship,” adding that Gienger also spent time in the Trollhaugen maintenance shop and did ride-alongs with grooming operators during her free time at Take the Rake.

Photo credit: Katie Aley“I think every girl who is part of this community, whether she is a hardcore rider or she just likes the snow, needs to do this,” said Gienger of Take the Rake. “To be supported by an entire group of powerful, strong women, it’s what I’ve wanted forever. You want to meet new people? You want to better your skills, or even learn how to rake a lip because your ski resort won’t teach you? Trollhaugen has your back—and now all of these (Take the Rake) ladies do, too.”