Learn about the ladies of SAFE AS!
A non-profit women’s avalanche safety workshop series this winter!
Elyse Saugstad
Elyse Saugstad is a professional freeskier. Her home mountain is Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska. She won the 2008 Freeride World Championship with her fluid and strong skiing. She was involved in the 2012 Tunnel Creek avalanche, but with the help of her avalanche airbag backpack her life was saved.
Lel Tone
She began patrolling in Squaw Valley 19 years ago and began heli-ski guiding 15 years ago. Her infectious enthusiasm and overwhelming experience are apparent and have earned her numerous accolades and media exposure for decades. Her fame and experience are offset by an easy-going approachable skier that’s happiest just skiing powder with her friends and guests.
Sherry McConkey
Sherry is a devoted mother, philanthropist, yoga instructor, and all-around badass. Her humble, sweet, and encouraging attitude is an inspiration. Sherry set up the Shane McConkey Foundation and has continued to pour herself into charitable works. She is also known as the woman who stole Shane McCokneys heart.
Ingrid Backstrom
Ingrid Backstrom is an internationally ranked professional skier from Seattle, Washington. Backstrom established herself on the freeskiing scene through her performances in Matchstick Productions. She has gone on to win several other awards for her performances in ski films.
Michelle Parker
She got her start as a ski racer at her home resort of Squaw Valley, California. By age 15, she realized her passion was freeskiing, not racing. Michelle, one of the ski industry’s most versatile female skiers, has appeared in over a dozen ski films and in 2013, she won Best Female Performance at the Powder Video Awards. She is also an advisory board member for the High Fives Foundation.
Jackie Paaso
Jackie grew up on the East coast where she was a member of freestyle mogul ski team at Sunday River. Jackie then transplanted out to Lake Tahoe in search of powder and coached the Alpine Meadows Freestyle Team and then the Squaw Valley Ski Team. She became the second woman in 11 years to win the highly coveted Sickbird award at the 2008 US Freeskiing Nationals at Snowbird, UT.
