Women Skiing Activities
Winter 2022-2023 & 2023-2024
*Winter 2024* – We are excited to offer our second Women Ski & Connect Retreat at the Talus Lodge!
Women are wired to gather, connect, and share. When women get together, it has the capacity to improve their health and wellbeing. It helps balancing their hormones, releasing tension, and gives them a way to share their journeys. It also allows them to be playful and have fun! Laughing and witnessing others on their woman’s journey can be a powerful healing force.
This past winter with Olivia Sofer, certified ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guide) ski guide, we offered two Avalanche 1 courses for women and two single day backcountry skiing trips for women. All offerings were positively received by women. For Winter 2022-2023 we are excited to offer a Women’s retreat at the Talus Lodge January 30 to February 2, 2023. Dates are also coming for more Avalanche courses for women and day trips.
December 2021 Avalanche 1 for Women group. All smiles at the end of our field day! Thank you Olivia!
We will update this page whenever new offerings come, so please visit back and push the “refresh” button to make sure you are looking at our latest offerings.
The group sizes are limited. Register early if interested… to avoid disappointment.
For any additional information about our Women group activites, please email: info@inspirecanmore.com
For additional information about Olivia Sofer, visit: www.wildtrips.ca
I hope to see you on your skis, in the backcountry!
Sincerely,
Anne-Marie Fafard, PT & Manual Osteopathy Therapist
Women’s Connect & Ski Retreat at the Talus Lodge 2024
About the retreat
For the second year in a row, we are delighted to be offering a women’s retreat and backcountry ski trip combined. Women’s Ski & Connect seeks to inspire women to connect with themselves, each other, and nature. It is a chance to embark on an adventure with a group of women to grow your backcountry skiing experience in a safe and supported environment. It is also an act of self care: an opportunity to invest in your physical, mental, emotional & spiritual wellbeing.
Overview / Flow
Day time focuses on skiing/split boarding in the pristine high alpine of the East Kootenays. “Après” is dedicated to relaxation, wood-fire sauna, comforting food, and mingling. After dinner, group sessions focus on women’s health teachings and on stretching bodies, minds, and hearts together.
Who, Where and When
The skiing adventure is led by Olivia Sofer and Thomas Grandi (owner of Talus Lodge or another Talus Lodge guide). Both are ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) accredited.The evening sessions are led by women’s health therapists Anne-Marie Fafard & Janine Mak, owners of Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy.
The group of 12 to14 women stays at The Talus Lodge, accessed by helicopter in the winter. It is a rustic and comfortable place, ideal to slow down and connect (= no internet access).
Dates are Monday, January 29 to Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Fee
The total base fee for the Retreat is $1825 (GST included). Breakdown as follows:
$400 to Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy
$1425 to the Talus Lodge
The information below explains what is included and not, for Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy and the Talus Lodge.
The Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy Fees cover:
$100 Registration fee (Non-refundable). It covers the administrative cost to organize the trip, save your spot and pay for Olivia Sofer’s administrative fee.
$300 for the Retreat group sessions led by Anne-Marie Fafard & Janine Mak.
Not included:
Anne-Marie Fafard and Janine Mak are not offering individual physiotherapy, manual osteopathy therapy or clinical Pilates sessions during the retreat. The focus of the retreat is on the group experience.
The Talus Lodge Fees cover:
-$200 non-refundable registration fee.
-All meals
-Lodging
-Helicopter rides
-Taxes
For more details, Click here
Not included:
-Insurances: trip cancellation, evacuation, or private health insurance.
-Gratuities for the guides.
-Alcohol
For more details, Click here
Registration
To complete your registration, complete the steps below:
1- Complete your registration with Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy. First, email info@inspirecanmore.com to register and save your spot!
2- Fill out your online registration form with Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy. If you are new to Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy, a new file will be created for you in our booking system.
3- Pay $400, the retreat fees to Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy: $100 non-refundable registration fee + $300 retreat fee. We accept credit cards (visa & mastercards) or e-transfers.
4- Inspire Physiotherapy & Osteopathy will forward your name & email to The Talus lodge. Then the Talus lodge will email you to complete their guest agreement and payment for their $200 non-refundable registration fee.
5- We strongly recommend you research insurance coverages options available to you; i.e.trip cancellation, interruption, evacuation, or medical insurance from a reputable company. The Talus lodge provide a link to a free quote with Lifestyle Insurance: click here. This is to protect your investment. Some insurances can only be purchased at the time of booking your trip. This step is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
6- The Talus Lodge will process your final payment of $1225 on December 1, 2023.
Avalanche 1 for Women: (AST 1: Avalanche Skill Training Level 1)
This course will provide an entry-level decision-making framework that is:
1. Based on the most advanced knowledge available
2. Suitable for use by people with basic training and little experience
3. Will demonstrate and educate on the use of the Avaluator to provide a consistent and structured approach to trip planning, slope evaluation and decision making in avalanche terrain
4. Will demonstrate the use and educate on companion rescue
5. Students will leave with a certificate of completion
Prerequisites
The AST 1 is appropriate for anyone who is interested in or required to make decisions involving exposure to avalanches. It is aimed at entry level decision makers who have no prior training and little to no experience.
Olivia teaching us how to assess the snow layers
Course Agenda
Day 1 – 3hrs of Theory online, on Zoom
Day 2 – Field Day starts at 9:00 am
Dates:
Pre-study: 4-8 hours of self-study of virtual content before the online Zoom meeting.
Friday January 13, 2023: 4 to 7 pm: Online on Zoom
Saturday January 14, 2023: Field day, backcountry, *location TBD
*The location is decided before the field day depending on the weather and snow condition
Instructor: Olivia Sofer, ACMG ski guide (www.wildtrips.ca)
Fee: $255 + GST = $267.75
Participants: 8 women
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations up to 7 days before: $45 administration fee retained. The balance is refunded.
Cancellations within 7 days: No refund
This includes if the participant decides not to join due to weather. Our instructors assess the weather, avalanche conditions, group experience and other safety elements before deciding on the location and plan for the day.
Covid related Cancellations:
In case of cancellation due to having covid symptoms, or being sick, the fee can be:
– transferred to another day if available, or
– half the course fee is refunded, or
– the participant find another person to replace them. Note that the replacement is required to do the self study and the online portion of the course prior to the field day.
Registration: To register, please email: info@inspirecanmore.com
Payment: e-transfer at: olivia@wildtrips.ca
Backcountry Day Trips for Women:
1 day of skiing/ split boarding in the backcountry with a guide.
Requirements:
– Ability to ski blue or black runs at the hill, carry a backpack and be in the outdoor and physically active for the day.
February 9, 2022 Ski day for Women at Crowfoot Glades. We were 4 women with Olivia Sofer. We had a wonderdul day!
– Open to work with the group and learn.
– Wanting to have fun with other women!
*Experience with Avalanche gear is an asset, but is not mandatory.
All participants will carry their avalanche gear.
A quick review of how to use the transceiver is done at the beginning of the day.
These day trips are an excellent way to try backcountry skiing.
Please email: info@inspirecanmore.com if you have questions about your own level.
Dates 2022-2023:
Olivia Sofer of Wildtrips is our guide for these day trips. wildtrips.ca
*Monday, November 21, 2022 (* at Sunshine ski resost working on technique. This is not a backcountry day)
Thursday December 15, 2022
Monday January 16, 2023
Thursday February 9, 2023
Monday February 27, 2023
Monday March 13, 2023
Location: It is determined closer to the date. It is dependent on the current weather and snow conditions.
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm (9 am is start time)
Group size: 3 to 5 women (per 1 guide)
Fee: $150 + GST = $157.50 per day
Registration: email info@inspirecanmore.com with your desired date and level of experience.
Payment: email: olivia@wildtrips.ca
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations up to 7 days before: $45 administration fee retained. The balance is refunded.
Cancellations within 7 days: No refund
This includes if the participant decides to not join due to weather. Our instructors assess the weather, avalanche conditions, group experience and other safety elements before deciding on the location and plan for the day.
Covid related cancellations:
In case of cancellation due to having covid or being sick, the fee can be:
– transferred to another day if available, or
– half the course fee is refunded, or
– the participant find another person to replace them. Note that the replacement is required to have the physical ability to ski or split board for the day. They also need to have their avalanche gear.
In case of cancellations due to our guide being sick, a full refund will be provided.