Jason Stockfish | [email protected]
As the new year rolls in, the Ladies Ski Club will be starting up its sixth season of lessons for women of all abilities.
Marie-Pierre Flipo-Bergeron, the creator of the ski club, offers two programs – one on Tuesdays and another on Sundays – for women looking to get out skiing with friends, old and new.
The program is five weeks long, and registrants can ski four out of the five available weeks, which allows participants an opportunity to miss one of the classes if they are sick or have a prior engagement.
The lessons are held at Marmot Basin, and Flipo-Bergeron handpicks the female instructors that are hired through the local ski hill to ensure that the students are grouped with an instructor best suited for the ability level of the group.
To ensure that the skiers are partnered with others of similar skill levels, they are asked to complete a questionnaire on their registration form that inquires as to where the individual is most comfortable skiing on the mountain, and their goals for what they are hoping to accomplish during the program.
“I make the groups (according to) their goals and abilities,” Flipo-Bergeron said.
“The biggest thing is, sometimes people ski 60 times a year but they ski blue runs all their life and they want to ski a black run, but they’re terrified. So, I try to adapt (the programs) to the needs of the women and I build a ski group for them.”
Flipo-Bergeron started the Ladies Ski Club in 2018, and roughly 20 women registered in the first year. Every year since, she has seen an increase in participants over the previous year, and so far, 38 women have signed up for 2023.
Women drive from Edmonton, Edson, Hinton, Valemount, Tete Jaune and McBride to take part in the ski club, and more than 10 of the women currently registered have been participating for numerous years.
“I think that’s pretty special that they keep signing up,” she said. “They want more every year. I take their feedback, and this year is the first year we are offering a double black diamond group.”
Flipo-Bergeron started the Ladies Ski Club for many reasons, but three in particular.
“The selfish reason (I started the ski club) is when I work at the ski hill, I don’t have time to see my friends or to hang out with other women or adults, and I wanted to create something fun that (allowed me) to potentially hang out with my friends while I’m working,” Flipo-Bergeron said.
She added that after becoming a mother she realized that so many other moms don’t take time for themselves to see their friends and hang out with other women.
“My target age was 30-60 years old, and about 80 per cent of my clientele is (in that age bracket), which I think is so amazing because we all have the same needs, we all want to hang out with each other (and) why not hang out and learn something new or improve.”
Another reason she started the ski club was monetary.
“I just really wanted more hours (at work), because at Marmot Basin, we’re really quiet during the week from Monday to Thursday…and I wanted to be busier, so I created my own hours.”
The third reason she noted was for professional development and satisfaction.
“I don’t get to teach many advanced lessons…so to have an advanced group of women that I can see each week for four to five weeks, that is just amazing,” she said.
“And to see…that continuity of improvement, it’s huge. It’s very satisfying.”
When the Tuesday program starts up on Jan. 3, 22 skiers will be split into three groups according to the abilities and goals of the participants.
Currently, the Tuesday program is full, and there is only one or two spaces available for Sunday lessons.
However, those hoping to join the ski club can contact Flipo-Bergeron at 780-931-6044 or by email at [email protected] as opportunities may open up if there are cancellations or if there are significant requests to create more spaces.
“There are possibilities to build more groups if there is the demand,” she said.
Registration runs until Dec. 30 or until the programs are full.
