The Women’s Sports Foundation brings girls together on the slopes at Woodward – Park Record

On Tuesday evening, Woodward Park City was alive with energy, camaraderie and the empowering spirit of the Women’s Sports Foundation. The foundation’s Athlete Ambassador Program brought together over 40 girls, elite athletes and community members to encourage young women to embrace sports, foster confidence, and connect with inspiring role models. Young girls of all ability levels were invited to spend the evening learning new skills with their Olympic role models. 

“Who here is an expert?” opened Kendra Williams, the associate director of community impact at the Women’s Sports Foundation. As girls cheered their confident replies, Williams said, “Good. I like to hear that, because you believe in yourself. And you should because that is what today is about: believing in ourselves and having a good time.” 

Aiming to introduce participants to skiing and snowboarding while fostering lifelong physical activity, the event featured professional athletes and mentors who shared their journeys and helped the attendees master new skills on the slopes.

Lily Burky is a young ski racer from Park City who won her U10 championships last year.

“I love lots of things about racing,” said Lily. “My favorite event is slalom. I just really like the spirit. It’s so fun and it’s fast.”

Though Lily is a well seasoned expert, as her hand waved high in the air at the question, the event was about more than skiing for her. 

“She’s done a few of these Woodward women’s events,” said Amy Burky, Lily’s mom. “It’s just amazing to get connected with other women as role models. We really love the diversity and helping her get more freestyle type events.” 

Lily said she loves these events because she gets to meet and know people like Grete Eliassen, the past president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, six-time Winter X Games champion, and professional freestyle skier. Lily lit up when Grete recognized her from last year’s event and gave her a warm welcome on Tuesday. 

Eliassen brought the Women’s Sports Foundation to Woodward to pioneer these kinds of events for young women and girls in skiing and snowboarding last year. Many girls returned this year to reunite with their Olympic heroes and teachers, and to meet more girls on the snow. 

“It’s not only to get you into skiing and snowboarding, but to keep you physically active. We are here to keep encouraging you to keep playing,” said Williams. 

Brittany Higham’s daughter had never skied before the event on Tuesday. Higham brought her daughter to learn from her friends and mentors, and to have a chance to experience the sport in an environment that is accessible and exciting, she said. 

“Everything was free, rentals, passes — we just had to sign up,” said Higham. “This was huge for us. The access is incredible. It’s really great to have someone here who can actually teach her and get her out there.” 

Higham’s daughter was not the only one new to the slopes. She was joined by Lt. Victoria Fairbanks, a gold bar at the 368th Air Force recruiting squadron. Fairbanks spent her third day on skis at Woodward through the District WON program, connecting with young people in sports to inspire future leadership. 

Fairbanks and the group of young learners helped each other overcome their fears of falling and failing. As Fairbanks took her first turn on the magic carpet, she was cheered on by a group of young girls behind her.

 “French fries! French fries!” they counseled from the side. 

Alongside Fairbanks, girls found role models in four time Olympic snowboarder Faye Gulini; champion alpine skier Ava Jemison; Olympic gold medalist and speedskater Erin Jackson; and the world’s second-ranking aerial skier, Winter Vinecki. 

Vinecki has been participating in Women’s Sports Foundation events since she was 11 years old. Though she had been a skier for her whole life, she had never heard of the world of aerial skiing until she was introduced to it at a Women’s Sports Foundation event in 2011. 

“I got started with WSF. That’s how I got to where I am today,” said Vinecki. “I love coming out here and encouraging the girls, encouraging them to try new things and get on skis.” 

Twelve-year-old Dunan had never been on skis before Tuesday, and spent the evening on the magic carpet with Vinecki as her teacher. In just two hours on skis with Winter Vinecki by her side, Dunan ended the day with a fearless grin on her face, a successful trip up the chairlift, and even a pair of Armada skis. 

“I have a big prize for someone that really stepped out of their comfort zone today,” announced Eliassen at the end of the night. “It was their first time here. They’ve never skied before, and they skied down the chair lift, and dude, I am giving you a pair of skis.” 

The Women’s Sports Foundation began with the triumphs of tennis player Billie Jean King to empower young girls and women in sports. Grete Eliassen was introduced to the Women’s Sports Foundation when she was competing in the X Games in freestyle skiing.

“My friend Sarah Burke introduced me to this person at the Women’s Sports Foundation and she gave me a folder and talked to me about Billie Jean King, and up till then I had never heard of them,” said Eliassen. 

“I am a pioneer of freeskiing, and I was always fighting to be able to go off a jump or slide the rail as a woman,” said Eliassen. “I didn’t realize that every single sport went through this, and every sport had a woman who had to do it first.” 

The Women’s Sports Foundation offered Eliassen a community of strong leaders who could help her pave the way for herself and the women who would come after her in the sport. 

“Getting involved with the foundation, I got to meet those women and it just shows that the work you put in is worth it and it’s so inspiring,” said Eliassen. “I don’t feel as alone because we can do it together.” 

Eliassen spent the evening coaching girls on skis and snowboards down the Woodward Hot Laps lift and at the box jump. 

“When I started freeskiing, I was one of the only girls who would even try to hit the box, and now all of them are hitting it no problem, it’s just amazing,” said Eliassen. 

Eliassen helped Fairbanks work on her first box jump even though she had only experienced three days on skis in her life.

“I just tried the box and totally fell, but I came back and the second time I did it!” cheered Fairbanks. “One of the Olympians was telling me I just had to go for it and I did!” 

Eliassen’s mother, Kari, watched from the base of the hill all night. 

“When I grew up, my sister and I had to ski on the boy’s ski team because there was not a girl’s team,” said Kari Eliassen. “It’s just phenomenal how far girl’s sports have come. If you start young enough, once you’ve done it, you can come back to it. But if you have never done it, you don’t have anything to come back to. That’s why this is so important.” 

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