FemiGnarly

In my most recent review of the Elan Ripstick 102 W, I mentioned that there’s a lot of repetition in the women’s 100-something ski space: moderate flex, carbon laminates, -8cm mount point and 1700g in weight. I call them Vanilla skis. They’re palatable crowd-pleasers, and they make a lot of sense in the wide, women’s … Continue reading Gear Review: Women’s Coalition Snow SOS Skis

Last November, I got a message asking me to talk about gloves and mittens, help break down the components, and make her feel more confident making purchases. Do I remember who asked? No. Can I find the message? Also no. But I know it’s been on my to do list for months, and I really … Continue reading Gloves & Mittens 101

A little over a month ago, I posted a piece on the sexist marketing trope of how expert women’s gear allows them to “keep up with the boys,” sending the message that men are generally better, but some women manage to keep up. My friend Reid dropped in my DMs to ask question about how … Continue reading How Men can Advocate for Gear Equity

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Skis in the mid-100s give me déjà vu. Lots of directional skis with a moderate flex and carbon laminates that clock in at 1700g. They’re accessible to progressing intermediates, but supportive enough for experts, and pretty versatile around the mountain in soft snow climates. The Elan … Continue reading Gear Review: Women’s Elan Ripstick 102 W Skis

It’s new gear season! This is the time of year where brands introduce their lineup for the ’22-’23 season, and the ski media talks about what new men’s products will be on the market next year. I am not a “get invited to gear shows” caliber of influencer, so I read all of the articles, … Continue reading Women’s Ski Gear Preview – 2023

Ski season is here in Western Washington, so it’s a good time to talk about backseat skiing. Whether you’re feeling rusty at the start of the season or planning out your goals for the year, finding good form works wonders for both. But before I dive in, a quick clarification. Form is optional. If you’re … Continue reading Backseat Skiing

Every year, I review topsheets. Are they an important aspect of a ski’s construction and performance? Absolutely not. But they mean a lot to me. I’ve worked in marketing and branding, and I know how design work focuses deeply on who the customer is and what the customer likes. It gives me a good sense … Continue reading Superficial Ski Reviews – 2022

I recently got a reader email asking my thoughts on stiff boots for women. It’s a topic that’s been discussed a million times, memed into oblivion, and yet, stiff boots are scarce on the shelves at most ski shops. What gives? Turns out, it’s a complex business problem. Some boot product line managers see the … Continue reading Why Don’t They Make Stiff Boots for Women?

The Sheeva 10 is my favorite ski I have never owned. I think the ski is an incredible one-quiver resort ski for the Pacific Northwest, and that they provide an ample runway for growth. But as someone who to test, collect, and turn over gear somewhat regularly, those qualities were deal breakers. But those are … Continue reading Gear Review: Women’s Blizzard Sheeva 10 Skis

Ladies and (a few upstanding) Gents, it has been 21 days since our last incident of wildly problematic marketing in the outdoor industry. Today’s clownery comes from Pit Viper. They posted a problematic reel that trivialized date rape and drugged drinks. They got a few comments about how their post was super rapey and they … Continue reading Pit Viper, Rape Jokes, and their Alt-Right Problem