Women Who Ski + Snowboard January 2022
Finally after a couple of postponements (due to you know what) the bi-annual DLAM X KALUMA Travel Women Who Ski + Snowboard trips are up running again and it is SO good to be back.
The Women Who Ski + Snowboard trips were founded a few years ago by me (Zoë) and luxury holiday company Kaluma Ski. We wanted to create a stress free, fun, relaxing, ski holiday for women in the Austrian mountains. A trip that they could come on on their own (or with a friend), meet like minded women, eat well, party (if they want), do yoga, be cooked for and just generally enjoy being in the mountains and all it has to offer.
The trip usually runs from Sunday to Wednesday. We put together an itinerary - including group lunches, yoga, spa time, massages, aprés ski - but no one is under pressure to participate in anything they don’t want to. It is open to all levels - we have had women who have never been to the mountains before to Olympic downhill ski racers come before - every woman is welcome.
Kaluma takes care of all the details (as well as all the delicious food, drinks, drivers, ski hire, lift passes, ski guiding etc.) so there is maximum time to ski and enjoy yourselves. We work with St Anton resort leaders Intersport Arlberg and The Great Valluga for our ski hire and equipment. We also have the full support of the (incredibly helpfu) St Anton tourist board - who are always happy to welcome more women to the resort.
Every year we invite a ski / snowboard expert to join us for a couple of days. This year we had the honor of local off piste ski instructor, guide and mountaineer Geli. Geli spent time with all the different groups/ levels offering advice to improve our skiing to taking women to do their first off piste. In 2020 we had the inspirational (and great fun) Chemmy Alcott join us who shared incredibly valuable skiing improvement tips.
We enjoyed lunch together at The Arlberg Hospiz in Tyrol where the stairs have a slide and enjoyed a tour of the cellar, which is the biggest big bottle wine cellar in the world. Yoga was held at the stunning local wellness and yoga center Arl Flow.
The thing about this trip is that it's not just a trip, it's a reset for all the women who come on it. They arrive perhaps a bit nervous, possibly tired and bogged down with life and they leave with their head held higher, a bunch of new friends and a new found confidence in their step. They often report stronger stomach muscles from laughing so much too!
I didn’t think the Women Who Ski + Snowboard trip couldn’t get any more fun but every trip keeps getting better and better - meaning that this trip was the best so far and the next will be even better!
If you are interested in joining us on the next trip please follow Kaluma and email lucy@kalumatravel.co.uk to register your interest. If in doubt - just come!
Photography by Christopher Brown