Soft landings aren’t only found in snow
Our story
Co-founders Brigid White, Daphne James, and Mariah Grover launched Empowder after White’s first freeride competition—the Silver Belt Qualifier at Sugar Bowl. She entered as a newcomer, nervous at first, but was struck by how safe and supportive it felt, especially the athlete-judged format, and by how freeride invites creativity—scouting features, linking turns, and building a cohesive line.
That excitement was paired with a clear gap: roughly nine women competed compared to 40+ men, with noticeable differences in terrain difficulty and overall depth between the women’s and men’s fields. The trio kept asking the same questions—why weren’t more women+ showing up, and what education, coaching, and community would help them feel ready to push progression?
The idea for Empowder grew into a two-day festival blending progression-focused coaching, community-building, and an approachable avenue to competition experiences, kept accessible with a low entry fee. As momentum built, they formed the Empowder Core Team—Maia Bickert, Sophie Tight, Mariko Kelly, Amanda David, Danielle Green, and Adi Sadeh—focused on creating the supportive freeride space for women+ and non-binary athletes they wanted, but couldn’t find elsewhere.
the EMPOWDER effect
Progression in freeride matters because persistent gaps still show up between men’s and women’s fields—often in participation, access to coaching and mentorship, and the confidence that comes from having space to experiment and learn. Too many women+ are left to “figure it out” on their own, which can slow development and make bigger terrain, airs, or new techniques feel out of reach. Empowder is built to help close that gap by adding structure where it’s often missing: progression-focused on-snow sessions, education on line-building and decision-making, and supportive coaching that normalizes trying, adjusting, and trying again. The result is an environment that encourages athletes to push their limits—without the pressure to be perfect—and where it feels safe to fail on the way to leveling up.
“ Soft landings aren't only found in snow—they're found in the kind of safe, supportive energy that holds all the complex emotions freeride skiing brings to the surface. ”
—EMPOWDER ATHLETE