“Sport is one of the most effective ways of empowering people,” say Lilli Schaut and Jule Saalmüller. With their “Girls Skiing” initiative, they offer women in Innsbruck a free ski course. In doing so, they create space for more women on the slopes. We at Zanier are proud to support a regional project like Girls Skiing, its participants and to be part of their mission.
Two friends, one vision: how Girls Skiing came about
Lilli and Jule got to know each other during their training as ski instructors. They were the only women on the courses, which increased the pressure and the comparison with the male participants. This experience gave rise to the desire to found an all-women's group. In winter 2023, they put their vision into practice. Their project enables ten women to take free ski lessons - a first step towards more inclusion and empowerment in winter sports.
How outdoor sport strengthens social participation
“Winter sports are not a matter of course for many people - financial barriers, lack of previous experience or lack of access make participation difficult. Especially in Innsbruck, where winter sports often play an important role in social interaction, this can increase social exclusion. Low-threshold offers not only enable sporting activity, but also greater social participation,” explain Lilli and Jule. Initiatives such as Girls Skiing create safe spaces and promote interaction. Nevertheless, there is still a need for action to make mountain sports accessible to everyone.
Empowerment on the slopes: How women learn from each other in skiing
Lilli and Jule have made it their mission to share their passion for skiing with women and increase the proportion of women on the slopes. By working together with the educational and advisory organization “Women from all countries”, Girls Skiing creates an integrative and local offer that brings women from different cultural and social backgrounds closer to winter sports and at the same time offers them the opportunity to experience the formative nature and landscape of Tyrol.
Women experience discrimination both structurally and individually - migrant women in particular are often even more affected by this. The offer is therefore aimed specifically at women in order to enable them to actively participate in winter sports and counteract discrimination - an important step towards greater social participation and integration.
Girls Skiing focuses on building a supportive community based on empowerment, diversity and mutual respect. Lilli and Jule are convinced that women can learn from each other and motivate each other. It's not just about sporting success, but about encouraging women to gain self-confidence and find their place in the outdoor world.
“The program taught me to love skiing” - voices of the participants
The participants were able to learn at their own pace and gradually gained more confidence, so that initial insecurities turned into confident skiing. The exchange within the group not only strengthened their confidence in their own abilities, but also encouraged the sharing of personal stories and experiences. Below we introduce you to two inspiring women: Aisha and Bayan, mother and daughter, who took part in the Girls Skiing program together and share their experiences and impressions with you.
“My name is Aisha, I'm from Syria and I found out about the Girls Skiing program through the German course I had previously attended. I was told about it there and I really wanted to have this experience myself.
I wanted to live this new and exciting experience because it was something completely new for me. Skiing was a challenge as I had never done it before. It was difficult, but I wanted to overcome my fears and take on this challenge. I also wanted to see the beautiful views and experience special moments.
I really enjoyed this experience because it helped me to get out of my comfort zone and try something completely new. It was a wonderful time full of new impressions and experiences. The change was good for me and I really learned to love skiing. If I have the opportunity to have this experience again, I will definitely do it!”
Aisha (mother)
“My name is Bayan, I am from Syria and came to Austria eight years ago. I found out about the Girls Skiing program through advertising. My mother sent me an application. I signed up and was accepted. After my first experiences in the program, I realized how much I loved it.
I love making new experiences and really wanted to try something I've never experienced before. The trainers motivated and supported us every time. Their encouragement gave me a lot of strength and pushed me to keep improving.
I learned to love skiing through the program - it has become one of my hobbies. The experiences I had there were unique and showed me how important it is to face new challenges. It was an experience I will never forget and one I am very proud of.”
Bayan (daughter)
What began as a small project is getting bigger and bigger
After the success of the first season, Lilli and Jule are determined to continue expanding Girls Skiing. This year, they are back on the slopes with their 13 protégés. Their vision is to reach even more women with their program, offer more courses and grow the project. The focus remains on inclusion, community and empowerment. We look forward to following Lilli and Jule's story and seeing how they contribute to a lasting change to the outdoor world for women.
Why women get cold faster - and which gloves really help
Women freeze faster than men - this is partly due to their lower muscle mass and the resulting reduction in heat production. Women are also more frequently affected by Raynaud’s-Syndrom, a circulatory disorder that can lead to white, numb fingers in cold and stressful conditions. This makes it more important to keep your hands warm. The GLOCKNER.TW 2.0 mitten offers skiers who are particularly sensitive to the cold enough space to move their fingers and rub them together. The additional layer of insulation ensures cozy warmth and protects against chilling.
To ensure that the participants of Girls Skiing don't have cold hands on the slopes, we were able to equip them with our RIDE.GTX and SERFAUS.STX models. These gloves are not only particularly warm, but also have a HEAT-PADS pocket. Once activated, the natural heat pads inside provide pleasant warmth for up to eight hours - perfect for a long day of skiing full of new experiences and unforgettable moments.
