Women of Winter: A Nonprofit Making Snowsports More Accessible to Women of Color

In honor of Women’s History Month, I’m writing here to put forth an outdoor organization that holds a special place in my heart. 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Women of Winter (or W.O.W) is a trailblazer in snowsports accessibility for marginalized populations in the United States. Founded in Montana back in 2018, W.O.W is the brainchild of Chris Walch, a Big Sky ski instructor who sought to expand leadership and educational opportunities for BIPOC women within the ski industry. Now into its eighth year since its founding, this grassroots group not only encourages women of color to boldly take up space on snow, but also provides scholarships for doing so.

Partnered with PSIA-AASI, W.O.W gives out a series of educational scholarships each year for BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ individuals to pursue ski and snowboard instructor certifications. 

There are several scholarship options to choose from. And those that apply just might get a worthwhile chance to expand their horizons and start (or build upon) their snowsport careers. How do I know all this? I received my first scholarship with W.O.W back in 2022. Four years and two additional continuing education scholarships later, I am now a W.O.W. alumna and certified snowboard instructor. It’s safe to say that this organization changed my life for the better. If you are somebody that’s interested in applying, read on for further details and inspiration. 

W.O.W. Background

Gender equity is at the core of Women of Winter’s mission. Starting out as a talk series during its first year, W.O.W showcased women in snowsports and creative fields, local to communities in (and surrounding) Big Sky and Bozeman–creating a platform for women to vocalize their journeys and career pursuits within the ski industry. 

Since then, W.O.W has expanded beyond Montana to deliver opportunities for women of color across the nation. Over 100+ scholarships have been provided to BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ individuals to gain instructor certifications, helping to break down financial and social barriers across ski resorts and ski schools.

The purpose of these scholarship events is not only to get more women of color certified to teach, but to provide safe, constructive environments for participants to learn and be valued. The reality of the ski industry at large is that it’s still very homogenous to a particular demographic: predominantly white, male-centered spaces. BIPOC/LGBTQ+ women and individuals have, systemically, experienced the least access and representation across all levels within snowsports. Time to rewrite the narrative.

Scholarships

The combined partnership between PSIA-AASI and W.O.W offers the following scholarships:

1. Level 1 Alpine and Snowboard Scholarships

If you’ve never applied for a scholarship with Women of Winter, your journey starts here. In order to become a PSIA-AASI instructor, you’ll begin your certification process by taking the Level 1 on snow exam. Not only does this scholarship cover all tuition costs for the prep course and exam itself, it also provides new ski/snowboard gear from PSIA-AASI/W.O.W official sponsors to recipients. This includes both hard goods (Rossignol skis/snowboards, Giro helmets/goggles, and Leki ski poles) and soft goods (Hestra gloves/mittens, and Phunkshun facemasks/balaclavas). 

In addition, to help offset the cost of certification, steeply discounted lodging and lift tickets are offered for each day of the Level 1 programs. Recipients have the option to apply for one certification discipline (either alpine or snowboard), and will receive their corresponding gear at the start of the certification event. What’s really great about this scholarship is that you don’t need prior experience working as an instructor in order to apply. You do, however, need to be comfortable skiing and riding on beginner through intermediate terrain (by comfortable, I mean proficiently connecting turns with ease). Trust me when I say that it’s 100% worth applying! 

2. Level 1 Freestyle and Children Specialist Scholarships 

For all W.O.W alumni who have already passed their Level 1 exams–if you are seeking to expand upon your on-snow continuing education, then these specific opportunities are for you. The Children Specialist exam is a prerequisite to achieving your Level 2 certification. It’s also, in my opinion, one of the most fun experiences. The Freestyle Specialist track is optional, but I highly encourage taking it–working with introductory terrain park features expands your horizon for teaching freestyle-focused students (*I recommend practicing all required Level 1 freestyle tasks in the terrain park consistently for a whole season, before signing up to take this exam). 

Both specialist tracks complement and build upon one another. And the order in which you take them is completely up to you. Through W.O.W, scholarship recipients of the specialist routes will also have all tuition costs associated with the exams covered (in addition to provided lift tickets).

3. Level 1 Avalanche Safety Scholarship (*NOT certified through PSIA-AASI)

Looking to get into the backcountry? In partnership with BSAFE (Big Sky Avalanche Foundation for Education), this three-day course offers the opportunity for selected applicants to learn from experienced avalanche instructors on how to navigate safely in backcountry environments when skiing and riding. Scholarship recipients will not only learn how to recognize and analyze avalanche hazards, but also conduct stability tests and decision-making procedures through group dynamics. 

As women, we should be in all places where decisions are made. Especially when our lives are at stake. W.O.W and BSAFE strive for women to take command and have the educational resources to make informed decisions in backcountry scenarios. This scholarship event takes place alongside the PSIA-AASI offerings mentioned above. Like the other scholarships at hand, you must identify as a woman, or non-binary/gender non-conforming individual who is comfortable being in women-centered spaces. Knowledge is power.

*Check this link for further scholarship information, event details, and resources.

My W.O.W Experience 

If I’m being completely honest, this organization has been one of the few groups that have made me feel seen, heard, and valued. That I wholeheartedly belong. Earlier, I mentioned the emphasis on safety for underrepresented groups navigating the ski industry. I say that for a reason. On more than one occasion, I’ve experienced harassment (mostly by men)–both verbal and physical–to varying degrees out on the slopes; a topic that’s difficult for me to even mention in the first place. 

Women of Winter has been a huge safety net for me to show up as my most authentic self, without fear of judgment or retaliation. And as somebody that struggles with social anxiety and depression from time to time (no doubt based upon several unwanted life experiences), I deeply value organizations, groups, and individuals that support me and have my back. And through that support, I feel I can regain a flow-state when I’m out on my snowboard. Especially when surrounded by other badass BIPOC/LGBTQ+ women/individuals. W.O.W certification events prioritize respect–no matter what level our skiing or riding ability, we all have stories and perspectives to voice. Community is key.

My first scholarship with W.O.W in 2022 took place at my local ski resort in Colorado (Eldora). And after receiving my PSIA-AASI Level 1 snowboard instructor certification, I’ve gone on to also complete both my Freestyle and Children Specialist Level 1 certifications with W.O.W at Big Sky. Each time I’ve gone back, it feels like a reunion. A breath of fresh air. I get to see familiar faces and meet new ones. I get to snowboard amongst a diverse group of skiers and riders that prioritize both learning, and having fun in the process. 

Now, as an instructor of roughly five years, my aim is to keep embodying the lessons and leadership of the W.O.W community. To lead (and teach) by example, continuously push for inclusivity both on and off the slopes, and help dissolve barriers to entry for historically excluded demographics. To pay gratitude and respect back, and keep it circulating. The medium of writing is one way for me in doing so. 

A Conversation With W.O.W Founder, Chris Walch

Q. Why does gender and racial equity in snowsports matter? 

A. In the world I live in of snowsports instruction, the first thing we need to build with our clients is trust. Trust is built in several ways, but an inherent way that it’s immediately created is through shared experience–whether as a woman, a woman of color, as an LGBTQ+ person, etc. Shared life experiences matter. 

In 2020, Snowsports Industries of America released a report that stated how 32% of new snowsports participants are people of color. In that same year, PSIA-AASI released a member survey where only 8% of instructors identified as people of color. This incongruity shows that as a snowsports instructor community, we are not meeting our clients where they are at. So, as a result, we may be ultimately falling short of ensuring that our clients return to the hill and continue to enjoy snowsports.

Additionally, I believe that many perspectives help us to make better decisions. So, it is my personal goal to see women–in particular, women that have been historically underrepresented–placed in positions of leadership within the snowsports industry, where high impact decisions are being made. 

Q. What kind of community does W.O.W foster? 

A. There are a lot of “old boys clubs” that exist, and they simultaneously continue to exist in snowsports, and the broader ski industry as well. I wanted to create a community that would personally cheer for you when you tried something new for the first time ever. A community that would help pick up your skis if you fell, and tell you, “You got this next time!” I sought to foster a space where we’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders as we navigate our own individual snowsports journeys, and be the people that you’d call when you want to hit the slopes on a powder day. 

We also have an incredible group of trainers, clinicians, and coaches that work with the W.O.W scholarship recipients, and have acted as mentors for them.

Q. In what ways has W.O.W impacted the snowsports industry?

A. Just one small case study: In 2021, when we first started the BIPOC Alpine Level 1 Scholarship, there were no instructors at Big Sky that were women of color. And now in 2026, through our scholarship program, we have women of color across the country that have become certified instructors–including Snoqualmie, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Eldora, and Liberty (just to name a few). 

Q. What do you look forward to most from W.O.W’s annual instructor certification event in Big Sky, Montana?

A. This year, I told Carolyn Stempler (our ED) that after so many years of doing advanced training and seeing folks come back, we should encourage our returnees to consider training and prepping for their Level 2 instructor certification. It’s so rewarding to see our scholarship recipients/alumni return each year, and watch them invest in and grow their skillsets. 

I also love welcoming the new W.O.W recipients to the community. We have such a supportive, warm community–everyone instantly feels like a close friend (this goes back to our participants having so many similar, shared experiences that they can relate to). 

Q. As a skier, what drives and inspires you on the slopes?

A. My own personal skiing goal is to be on the PSIA-NRM (Northern Rocky Mountain) Education Staff, so that I can one day deliver the W.O.W Alpine Level 1 certification exam. I want our scholarship recipients to see someone like them being able to offer them training at that level. I really hope one day that person can be me–and also other W.O.W members! 

On a day-to-day basis, I genuinely love teaching skiing, no matter the level. I think the best instructors–career instructors at the highest certification level–are incredibly good diagnosticians and prescribers. They look at each individual client–how they move, how they work their equipment, how they respond to different types of instruction, how their emotions come into play, etc.–and really think about what will impact that particular client’s skiing, in the most positive way. When you develop that lens, each lesson brings a unique opportunity to you. Not only as an instructor, but also as a coach, leader, and guide. 

Q. As Founder and Board Chair, what are your hopes for the organization’s future?

A. W.O.W, since its founding in 2018, was completely volunteer run. Meaning no one, not a single volunteer, has taken pay for their time. I appreciate that so much, but W.O.W is now at a tipping point where it needs to support 250+ members. And that means we need a paid staff. So, my #1 goal is to seek sponsorships, funding partners, and revenue streams that will help us to sustain our team–so that in turn, we can further support our community. 

In the long term, that statistic I mentioned earlier (how 32% of new participants are people of color, but only 8% of instructors are people of color), I want to see those numbers change to become equal.

Q. For those applying for scholarships, what #1 piece of advice would you give? 

A. Be your most authentic self when you share your story with us–and please do share your story. In the application process, we only get a really small glimpse of who you are and what impact you’ve had on the world. So, the more you share with us, the better understanding we have of you as a person, and what you would bring to your scholarship group at the exam. 

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*Also–this is new–it’s painfully obvious when someone has used ChatGPT to create their answers. When you get close to 100 applications, it’s so incredibly refreshing to read an application that somebody genuinely took the time and pen to produce, and didn’t let AI technology take the wheel. This also gives me hope that, in an AI future, human creativity, art, and taste will always stand out. That originality will always have a place amongst a sea of the same AI-generated materials. We want to see you!