Chicks on Sticks VT

Once upon a time, way back in 2016, some strong ladies* sat in the audience of a ski and snowboard film festival and noticed that there was not a single female-identifying person in any of the videos on the screen in front of them. Determined not to let it happen again, they set out to create their own edit. When they talked to all of the other rad lady shredders in their lives, they realized they were all tired of this exhausting, male-dominated culture that prevailed in the sports they loved. The idea to create an edit then grew into a club of incredible female-identifying skiers and riders at the University of Vermont (UVM). Within a few years, Chicks on Sticks went from a small group of women meeting in the comfy chairs on the first floor of the Davis Center to a Student Government Association (SGA) recognized club with over seventy members attending weekly meetings. Our focus shifted from creating an edit to promoting access and equity in the outdoors. From coordinating rides to mountains, backcountry skiing and raising money for nonprofits or running mentorship programs, Chicks on Sticks VT continues to bring people together to do what they love most - spending time outside, sliding on snow. Chicks on Sticks is a group of female-identifying skiers and riders advocating for accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors, specifically snow sports. We fulfill our mission through on campus outdoor programming, youth mentorship programming, community partnerships and fundraising. Our core values of adventure, community, leadership, gender equity and sustainability guide our work.