While we all love the men in our lives, it can be nice to spend some time just with the girls, right? This year – why not turn this girl time into a full on trip?! There are so many supportive, inspirational, fun and friendly women out there that share our passions for all things mountain and learning alongside such like-minded females can do wonders for your learning. For this reason, many girls only ski camps have been popping up across the globe, aiming to create a supportive environment focusing on enhancing female learning. When you plan your next winter getaway with the girls, here are the key camps to consider!

Girls Only Ski Camps in Europe

Ticket to Ride Girls Only Ski Camp

Ticket to Ride’s Girls Only Camp was born out of the knowledge that men and women often learn differently and progress at different rates. Therefore, it makes sense to have dedicated girls-only weeks, where girls can come and learn in the style that’s best for them, benefitting from a whole host of other female-focused activities along the way.

In 2018, Meribel is the destination, with a fabulous catered chalet playing host to daily yoga, healthy home cooked meals and a lot of fun, laughter and great company. These camps are mainly aimed at intermediate skiers who want to improve their skiing in a friendly, non-judgemental atmosphere. Top coaches will provide focused ski training and create an atmosphere of security where you will never feel nervous to try out something new! If you’re after a new challenge, want to master a new skill or simply progress your piste performance, this girls-only camps may be just the ticket.

Element Women’s Camps Verbier

Tapping into the idea that women learn differently to men, Element’s women-only ski camps are designed to maximise learning in an encouraging, comfortable environment, both on and off the slopes. With both weekend and week-long camps on offer for intermediate, advanced and expert skiers, there’s an opportunity for everyone to develop here.

The groups are small (with a maximum of 6 people) and each group is coached by some of the best female ski coaches in the Alps. Smaller groups foster a much better atmosphere for learners and will benefit your confidence on the slopes. Element Ski School are a small operation in general and strongly believe in quality over quantity. All their instructors are extremely highly qualified, with years of experience in Verbier and a fun, friendly attitude. If this fantastic on-slope coaching wasn’t enough, video feedback is provided as part of the women’s camps, as well as an action plan for the future, so that you can keep developing even after the course is over.

Verbier itself is an incredibly popular resort, and is so for a reason. Fantastic skiing combined with a beautiful Swiss village and amazing off-slope facilities, you will hugely enjoy spending time in this resort.

However, what we love most about this course is that they have joined forces with Women Who Move Mountains (WWMM) to offer life-coaching as a part of the course. Elaine France, Founder of WWMM specifically tailors this coaching for mountain-loving women, empowering you to fully benefit from the course, connecting with your experiences. You will leave your time with Elaine feeling confident in your power on the slopes, inspired to overcome challenges and throw yourself into new adventures.

As they say, “skiing like a girl” is a compliment!

Ski Goddess

Combining all the fun of a great ski holiday with the learning experience of an intense course, Ski Goddess have hit the nail on the head.  ‘The Goddess Approach’ is born out of the knowledge that women and men are different, learning, assessing, absorbing and responding differently, elements that are at the forefront of tuition.

Ski Goddess Founder Katie has been a ski instructor for 20 years and holds the highest international qualification, which allows her to work independently in France. Her ski sessions are focused on the fun of skiing, improving ability whilst still enjoying yourself. She works by combining on-slope teaching with ‘sophrology’ (the science of the mind in balance with the body). Katie helps people to transform their skiing and in those that may have a fear or lack of confidence on the slopes, their mindset. Ski Goddess was born out of her own experiences speaking to women that weren’t particularly enjoying traditional tuition, while their male counterparts were thriving.

Men and women can reach the same level of skiing ability within the same time period, so long as the training is specific to their learning needs. Therefore, Ski Goddess’ courses offer women female-focused ways to advance their skiing skills. 4, 5 or 6 day courses are available for all levels of ability and additional video analysis sessions each afternoon work to effectively enhance your learning.

Upon booking, the Ski Goddess will contact you personally to discuss your ski abilities, your hopes and fears on the mountain and what you want to achieve. You will even be given pre-course mind techniques to practice before you even get to the course!

What makes Ski Goddess so great is the fact that they offer you the entire holiday package rather than just the camp itself. A gorgeous chalet in a great location, with 3 or 4 course meals each evening; it’s a perfect way to have a relaxing holiday as well as developing your ski abilities. The courses run in Chatel in Les Portes du Soleil, a fabulous ski area with a huge amount of skiing. If you have never visited Les Portes du Soleil, it’s definitely a ski area we would recommend and offers a lot for skiers of all abilities, from beginners to experts!

Women’s Mountain Club Chamonix

Women’s Mountain Club Chamonix strive to bring together like-minded ski lovers with awesome guides and instructors, allowing women to explore the amazing terrain of Chamonix in a safe and enjoyable way.

Founder Rachel Kerr first started skiing at the age of 8 in Scotland and found her passion for the slopes very quickly! After gaining a degree in Sports Science with Psychology, she went on to become a fully certified BASI level 4 ISTD Ski Instructor with French equivalence and now lives year-round in Chamonix.

The goal of the Women’s Mountain Club is to join the women of Chamonix together for memorable days, challenging, teaching and inspiring them to be the best they can be. Focusing on the psychological and physical areas specific to female skiers, they aim to offer a fun, friendly environment for all ladies to work on their skills.

Women’s Mountain Club Chamonix offer guides that can teach skills and safety both on and off-piste. If you want to leave the slopes, you can try your hand at touring, steep skiing, rope work, axe and crampon use, avalanche assessment and glacier travel.

Indeed, Chamonix is the perfect place for women looking to develop any and all areas of their skiing, with a huge variety of terrain on offer. Popular with piste-lovers and powder-hounds alike, Chamonix is one of the most sought-after destinations in the Alps for a reason.

These camps are day sessions rather than full packages. However, they offer very good value for money and are the perfect opportunity for ladies who may be in Chamonix for the week to spend a day doing something a bit different. Take a look at their Facebook page to see which sessions are running and when and to learn more about the Club!

Girls-Only Ski Camps in the USA & Canada

Leave the Boys Behind

We have to admit this is our favourite name out of all the camps we have come across so far and boy, does this camp do what it says on the tin.

Leave the Boys Behind is a program that was started by Aspen Alpine Guides, a professional guiding service that have been operating in Aspen, Colorado since 1987. The program itself was born out of an intention to create an all-female wilderness experience to allow women of all ages and abilities to enjoy all that this incredible area has to offer. Leaving the men at home, many women feel a certain pressure is taken off and that they can really enjoy themselves, supporting and encouraging one another.

Their winter courses range from ‘Backcountry Basics’ to AIARE Avalanche Rescue courses, which we would definitely recommend for ladies looking to explore the mountain. In our opinion, the McNamara Hut Trip in particular is a great choice. You ski or snowshoe to a rustic alpine hut in the Colorado backcountry and learn all about the basics of planning and overseeing this sort of a trip. Days are filled skiing and snowboarding with a supportive group, with some avalanche safety training thrown in for good measure.

Keely’s Ski Camp for Girls

Keely’s Ski Camps for girls aim to empower, inspire, educate and connect the next generation of girls in skiing. Founded by former US Ski Team athlete Keely Kelleher, who raced on the World Cup Circuit for four of her twenty-two years competing, Keely’s Ski Camp was the first girls-only racing camp in North America.

Less than 1/4 of ski racing coaches are women, which is a statistic Keely’s Ski Camps are hoping to change through providing emotional and mental support to help younger female athletes fully achieve their potential. They do so by providing a positive and nurturing space for girls, with the coaching team a group of fantastic role models who serve as proof of what these girls can achieve.

Indeed, Keely’s camps are some of the most popular within the industry not only due to the brilliant atmosphere, but also the world class female coaching. The coaching team’s collective achievements make for some very impressive reading, with Freeskiing World Champions, US Ski Team Members, Winter Olympians and World Cup Medallists. In addition to her own impressive competitive CV, Kelleher has also been coaching skiing herself for 11 years, so you know this is definitely a team that will get you to the best of your skiing abilities!

With a wide variety of camps on offer, from backcountry to racing, Keely’s Ski Camps provide a supportive learning environment for female skiers of all abilities looking to improve. From camps for girls looking to develop their skills and further a future in skiing, to women looking to refine their technique with a group of like-minded, supportive ladies.

Backcountry Babes

Focusing on getting women into (you guessed it) the backcountry, Backcountry Babes offer women of all ages and abilities the opportunity to explore the mountains.

Founded on the desire to provide opportunities for women to explore and learn about the outdoors, trying to diminish any fear or vulnerability that they may have. Aware that gender-related dynamics can sometimes affect women’s learning experiences and empowerment, they do so in a female only environment.

With incredibly well qualified female instructors, guides and coaches who all have a great passion for the mountains, you will be inspired throughout your time with Backcountry Babes. Realising that women have different needs to men but also that the mountains should be a place to relish, Backcountry Babes keep the focus on having fun and enjoying the outdoors, learning along the way.

Founded over 20 years ago by 3x Telemark champion Leslie Ross and now owned by mountain fanatic Emily Hargraves, Backcountry Babes are continually growing and expanding their boundaries. With operations in Alaska, Colorado, British Columbia and Japan, there are many options for those wanting to experience these camps for themselves.

They have an incredible range of camps on offer, from beginner backcountry and introduction to splitboarding, to AIARE Avalanche Courses and ski hut trips.