Blizzard Tecnica Celebrates 10 Years Of Women 2 Women Initiative

Blizzard Tecnica is marking the 10th anniversary of its Women 2 Women (W2W) initiative, a program created to elevate women’s voices in skiing and design products with their needs at the center. Since its launch in 2015, W2W has grown into a global community built on four pillars: product, education, inspiration, and community.

“Women 2 Women was created to listen to women, to understand their needs, and to make sure they see themselves reflected in every part of the sport,” said Leslie Baker-Brown, Global Leader of the Women 2 Women program. “Ten years later, I am proud of the change we have sparked and excited about where we can go next.”

Baker-Brown, a former competitive ski racer and longtime product executive in the ski industry, has led the program since its founding. Her own career in the hardgoods industry was often spent as the only woman in the room, and that perspective shaped her mission to build a more inclusive future for women in skiing. Under her leadership, W2W has designed award-winning skis specifically for women, fostered opportunities for mentorship and professional development, and cultivated a thriving community of skiers known as the W2W Wolfpack.

At its heart, W2W is built on four pillars:​

• Product — To specifically design the most relevant and best performing women’s products that act as tools to enhance the experience for passionate and committed female skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. For Women by Women.​
• Education — To create educational opportunities and offer resources for women to increase their knowledge in all aspects of skiing and the outdoors. Knowledge builds confidence, helps women find their voice, and creates belonging. W2W aims to encourage women to step into leadership roles that ultimately create a comfortable space for all women.​
• Inspiration — To create content that inspires all women, regardless of ability, to step outside their comfort zone; to try and do things they never thought possible. To showcase that women are strong and powerful, and that the possibilities are endless.​
• Community — To create a diverse and inclusive environment where ALL women feel a sense of belonging—on the hill, in the mountains, at the shop, or wherever their skiing and outdoor adventures take them.​

W2W’s product pillar focuses on developing gear for women, by women, with the goal of providing the tools to enhance confidence and performance on the hill. Blizzard Tecnica has also continued to evolve its ski designs through the W2W lens. For the 2025/26 season, Blizzard will introduce exciting new updates to award-winning products designed within the W2W group.

“As a product team, we start by listening to women. Their input informs every change we make,” Baker-Brown said. “The latest Black Pearl updates are a direct result of feedback from women skiers around the world, and they reflect our commitment to building gear that works better for them.”

One of the most impactful pieces of W2W is the Hilaree Nelson Professional Development Program, which honors the late mountaineer and alpinist Hilaree Nelson, who passed away on Manaslu in 2022. Each year, the program supports 100 women in pursuing professional growth in skiing, avalanche safety, and outdoor leadership. It also funds organizations advancing climate solutions and women’s voices in the outdoors, extending Nelson’s legacy of courage and advocacy. Applications for this year’s program open on November 17th.

In prior years, Blizzard Tecnica hosted a one-time fund in conjunction with a special edition model of the Sheeva 10, which raised over $60,000 towards non-profits dedicated to organizations uplifting and aiding women in the outdoors.

“Education is critical to building confidence and creating opportunities for women to advance into leadership roles in the snowsports industry,” said Baker-Brown. “When women see what other women have achieved, it instills the belief that anything is possible.”

The Inspiration pillar brings visibility to athletes who are redefining what is possible in the mountains. Professional freerider Caite Zeliff, big-mountain ski pro Elyse Saugstad, and rising star Piper Kunst are among the athletes championing the W2W mission, helping the next generation see that women belong at the center of skiing.

“I put this pressure on myself, because I want to make sure my level of skiing represents women well,” Zeliff said during a recent interview. “But when I watch the footage, I’m comparing myself to my counterparts, who are men. And I am not a man.”

Now, however, she feels a shift both in the industry and in her own confidence: “This sport is for me,” she says. “I don’t have to do it like a man. The way I ski can be a feminine expression of creativity. I'm leaning into that.”

The Community pillar has flourished through W2W events, mentorship opportunities, and the global W2W Wolfpack, which unites women of all levels and backgrounds on the mountain and off.

Elisa V ottero, former ski racer and current ski instructor in Italy, prides herself in hosting events on and off the snow to foster community for female skiers that need a place to share opinions, encouragement and conquer their fears.

“When you are without judgement, you can just be yourself and share the passion and share theideas with the other women,” V ottero said. “We ask, we listen, and we act—all with the underlying goal of sharing experiences and celebrating our passion for the sport,” said Baker-Brown. “That spirit has created a diverse and supportive environment where all women feel a sense of belonging, on the hill or wherever their
outdoor adventures take them.”

Blizzard Tecnica continues to evolve its ski designs through the W2W lens. For the 2025/26 season, the brand will unveil new products developed through the program, including a limited-edition Black Pearl 88 created in collaboration with Taos-based artist Malia Reeves.

As W2W enters its second decade, the initiative remains committed to creating space for women in skiing while carrying forward the legacy of trailblazers like Hilaree Nelson. “It’s much easier to be something when you see a path put down by women before you,” Nelson once said. For Baker-Brown and the women of the W2W Wolfpack, that path now stretches into the next 10 years and beyond.