Women and non-binary skiers will have the chance to ski naked down a Colorado mountain as part of a festival that organizers describe as “total freedom.” And no man would secretly look at a skier without any clothes on.
The Boot Tongue Festival is gearing up for its fourth edition, inviting women to take to the slopes naked for an after-hours ski run on March 29 and 30 at Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs .
Founder Jenny Verocchi, 33, said the event was started “unintentionally” to create a “safe space” among female skiers where women could be “free” in privacy.
This year, they opened the festival to non-binary people who identify as femme, she told the Thursday Post.
Verokhi also said her top priority is “protecting women.”
Asked if men might try to sneak in by pretending to be non-binary, as was the case at the women's tech job fair, Verroki isn't worried.
“We've never had a problem identifying men or men.”
Tired women don't have to take off their clothes, but Verrocchi, who is also attending the event, said she may not want to take them off by the end of the event.
“By the end of the day, not a single person had any clothes on,” she revealed.
She described the experience as a “collective joy” and said she felt free to take off her birthday suit because most of the women were like-minded people and there were no prying eyes around. .
The women dress until they get on the ski lift and then re-enter the Sunlight Mountain Resort facility once they are fully dressed.
In addition, only female staff will be on the mountain when the women and ladies zip down, and male employees will be prohibited from using cell phones for safety reasons, Verroki told the Post in a phone interview.
Literal ski enthusiasts will be picking up their stuff at the base of the mountain.
Participants will be required to check in to the event, and extra security will be in place to keep women and femme safe, Verrocchi said.
What's more, the slopes the women use during off-hours are privately owned and there are no other paths to cross, leaving no room for sleazy men trying to reach the top.
The resort is open to everyone, including men, during the day, but after closing time at 3pm, only those with tickets to the Boot Tongue Festival can stay and shred .
During the day, the Merchant Village highlights women-owned businesses and festivities including comedy shows, live music, and tailgate parties.
Verroki hopes that each year the women walk away having found “a new love for their bodies” and with “friendships” and new experiences.
“It was wonderful. [hosting the event]” the Carbondale native told the Post about the “liberating” event. “We call it total frontal freedom.”
“I’m really lucky that this is my job.”
The event started in 2021 with just 27 backcountry skiers, but grew to 200 in its second year and 350 in its third year.
This year, an expected 1,500 women and female-identifying skiers, ranging from beginners to advanced skiers, will strip down for a fun run at Sunlight Mountain, about 260 miles outside of Denver.
Prices for the March 29 event were $169 for one day skiing and $200 for two days. Tailgate-only tickets are also available for $100.
This is also the first year the event will be held at Sunlight Mountain, which has a ski lift and is open to beginners. Although the event's previous location, Bluebird His Backcountry, has closed, the Carbondale native still wanted to keep the event close to his hometown.
The newspaper has contacted Sunlight Mountain Resort for comment.
