Reflecting on the inaugural year as a group, building bonds and expanding boundaries, through shared experience and untethered encouragement. Hear it from the ladies who call themselves Jaydies.
Written by Cari Reynolds
Community. Confidence. Camaraderie. These words echoed strong among the group clustered in the meeting spot on the first morning. Each participant was asked to choose one word to describe what they hoped to get out of the program.
Some expressed wanting to be able to keep up with their spouse and/or kids on the mountain. Others wanted to feel more confident in their skills to level up to harder terrain. Yet another was just plain tired of skiing alone. But one common desire was met with enthusiastic agreement; to meet a group of like-minded women to explore the mountain with.
The inaugural Jay Peak Women’s Camp was eighteen strong, hailing from far and wide, with differing ability levels and goals. The tie that bound was not only a desire to improve skills and confidence, but to find new friends. Led by Ski & Ride School instructors Mimi Magyar, Andi McGunnigle, Kim Chait, Keeley Frost, and Elm Finley, the camp had several duration options of 4, 6, and 8 weeks to accommodate busy schedules. The come-as-you’re-able structure allowed for participants to compound their attendance, so there was no worry about missing a week if needed. The group assembled at 9 am on Sundays each week, with an instructor-led focus point that incorporated everyday life experiences into a goal for the day’s activities.
Community. Confidence. Persisting. Self-care. Strength. Line choice. Process. Transition. Each of these words applied not only to what women experience daily, but also a mindful approach to skiing and riding. After a quick trip up the Taxi Quad for an equipment and vibe check, the pack was off with hoots and hollers to explore the terrain. Instead of a regimented plan of attack, the mornings took shape based on conditions, the group’s interests, and the focus point for the day. To maintain a low-pressure environment, different ability levels were free to choose a way down (mild or spicy), with instructors mixed into each group for coaching and encouragement along the way. The mornings were filled with laughter, chairlift chats, hype-ups, skill-building, and more than one cup of hot chocolate. On several weeks, the group even opted not to take an indoor break so as not to waste a moment of being on snow together.
They were, as they coined themselves, The Jaydies.
One thing was for certain- Sunday was eagerly looked forward to by all. As the weeks went on, the comfort levels grew and the bonds formed. The group felt comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns during the pre-run gathering, with definitely more than one emotional moment shared. One week in particular was a difficult one for many, but one Jaydy was heard to say, "I didn’t really want to come today, but I did because I knew you’d all be here. And I’m so glad I did."
It’s easier to try new things when you’re surrounded by a supportive girl gang, and it gave the campers the confidence boost they needed to step it up a little each week. Sometimes, all you need to hear is a simple “you’ve got this”. Triumph and glee shone on faces as moguls were successfully navigated for the first time, or a detour into a tighter tree run wasn’t so intimidating after all. Women who had either spent most of their time skiing or riding alone out of necessity, or feeling like they had to perform like “one of the guys” to earn their stripes, suddenly found themselves in the midst of kindred spirits- and it began to reflect in their skiing and riding.
This was especially satisfying for coach Andi. “I’m invigorated by empowering women, and seeing them gain confidence and skills throughout the season,” she said.
Those who were hesitant to approach moguls were soon deliberately heading towards them. The number of Jaydies dropping into tree runs increased each week, and the “spicy” option group outgrew the mild. By the end of the program, hesitations lessened and courage amplified amongst the group, and everyone wished the Sundays could continue.
The instructors hoped that this camp would give women the confidence to take up space on the mountain and truly shred like girls. “We were hoping to create a community among all these ladies, and what it did was create a community for all of us,” said coach Mimi.
In addition, they strove to create a welcoming environment where participants could try something new, be open about their hesitations and needs as riders, and find a community. Coach Kim added, “It was really cool to work in an interdisciplinary setting with both skiers and riders, and we all took away some nuggets to change the way we ski and ride.
Many of the participants expressed their eagerness to return next year, and hoped that more ladies would join in to keep the camp growing. “The only prerequisite is that you like to have fun on snow,” said coach Elm.
Sessions run Sundays, Jan. 4th – Mar. 8th, with flexible 4, 6, and 8-week options.
