How’d I almost let this slip by? Blame it on Hurricane Irene (see my last two posts). I’ve been so distracted by the disaster here in Vermont that I almost forgot something well worth noting:
TheSkiDiva.com is now five years old!
Hard to believe how time flies.
Back in the dark ages (before I started this site), I thought I was the only woman in the world with a passion for skiing. None of my friends skied, and no one had any interest in talking to me about anything to do with skiing. So I did what everyone does today: I turned to the internet.
At first I wasn’t very successful. The established ski forums were predominantly male with a decidedly male dynamic — lots of chest thumping and very little interest in anything to do with women’s skiing or gear.
So I took matters into my own hands. Why not create a site that I could feel comfortable in? One where women could discuss skiing in a way that they could relate to?
And this is the result.
Thanks to the TheSkiDiva, I’ve learned that I’m far from alone. There are women like me all over the place — New England, Canada, Europe, out West, Australia, and so on. I’ve made loads of friends. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be a jacket slut; what to do when I’m boot shopping; why I simply must have powder skis. You know, all the important stuff. Whenever I have a question, I know all I have to do is ask the Divas, and their collective wisdom will see me through.
But that’s not all. The site has had another, unexpected benefit. Even though it started out as a group to talk about skiing, it’s become something more: a community of friends. When one of us is ill, loses a loved one, gets a promotion, has a baby — whatever — all of us share in the event. Even though we all participate using assumed names, that doesn’t diminish the friendships that develop.
Today, TheSkiDiva.com has nearly 3,000 members and gets thousands of visitors each month. We’ve become the leading online community for women who love to ski. Yes, I’m proud of what I’ve created it. Truth is, I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I’ve ever put in. And I’m sure I’m not alone.
So if you’re a woman who loves to ski, come join the fun. You can participate in this great community simply by registering here. We’d love to have you join us.
And the next time someone asks you if you ski, stand tall, look at them in the eye and say, “Don’t you know? I’m a Ski Diva. There’s a web site just for me.”
And you’d be right. It’s here.
