We asked the women of the OR Athlete Team to reflect on the unique experiences that shaped who they are today, their influences and mentors, and how they approach "clocking in" every day.
Sophia Rouches
“When I see another woman hitting a big feature or jump, I can see myself doing it as well.”
International Women's Day is important because it amplifies women's voices in sports and other male-dominated industries. In skiing, media coverage often leans heavily toward male athletes, and IWD provides a dedicated moment to shift the spotlight—celebrating women's incredible accomplishments in our sport. Representation matters. Seeing women showcased as powerful, capable athletes helps dismantle the societal barriers that so many of us face, not just in skiing but across all outdoor and professional spaces.
Skiing with other women and learning from female mentors has given me so much confidence—both in myself and my skiing. Having the support of other women who believe in my abilities pushes me to perform at my best. There's something powerful about being in an environment where you're encouraged rather than feeling like you have to constantly prove yourself as the only woman in the group.
I want to inspire the next generation of women in skiing to ski strong and not conform to the traditional boxes women have been placed in. The next generation of female skiers is already redefining what's possible, and I want to see that progression continue. By showing up, pushing boundaries, and demanding representation, we can create a future where female athletes are recognized as equals in the industry.
Being a professional female skier can often feel like a paradox. For a long time, I was overly concerned with how women's skiing was perceived—listening to online criticism and feeling like I constantly had to prove my worth. Overcoming that mindset wasn't easy, but I found strength in the support of other women in the sport. Instead of skiing to validate my place in a male-dominated space, I shifted my focus to skiing for the challenge, for the joy of pushing my own limits. Knowing that I have a community of
women who uplift and support me, regardless of success or failure, has allowed me to relieve some of the pressures I place on myself.
I feel very grateful to be in the position of being a role model to others. It's allowed me to be very intentional about my actions and really stand firmly in my beliefs. I strive for my skiing and my presence in the industry to reflect my values—whether through pushing my limits, supporting others, or advocating for greater representation in the sport.
Zoe Atkin
“Inspiring the next generation of women skiers means so much to me. I want young girls to be excited to get into the halfpipe, or any part of the mountain, and be inspired to make their skiing their own.”
Being a female action-sport athlete has its unique challenges. Having my older sister Isabel guide the way to excellence in skiing was so special for me growing up, as it broke the glass ceiling of what was possible for me. Forming my own community of friends and competitors in the outdoor industry has only furthered my admiration for female athletes— we are all strong, capable, and worthy of taking space in the outdoors. By pushing my own limits, I hope to show girls all over the globe what is possible, building their confidence and inspiring them to pursue their own paths.
Kirsten Van Horne
“I really enjoy the process of progressing on the bike, it’s quite a captivating feeling once things start to click and you see how far you’ve come.”
International Women's Day is important because it shines a light on all the exceptional achievements that sometimes go unnoticed otherwise. There are stories upon stories that are worth hearing and learning from. I look forward to reading about epic things ladies have been doing, and it's great because it fuels the momentum and stoke for myself and others. It's even more special when you get to see your friends being acknowledged for their achievements––the people I surround myself with are of great value and deserve every bit of support!
I have been lucky to have quite a few influential female role models within the outdoor community. The most impactful person is B.C.-based pro skier Leah Evans. I originally met Leah when I did my first week-long backpacking through an outdoor initiative youth group called GoWild. I was 15 at the time and one of a few girls on this trip, and Leah was one of the two guides. Her approach to acknowledging the space we were traveling in and her extensive skills in the backcountry were so admirable. Her calm presence while dealing with the group of very energetic and sometimes challenging teenagers was impressive, and I looked up to her attitude. She became a role model for me, and I looked forward to the backpacking trips with this group over the next two summers. Following these adventures, I also partook in two of her GirlsDoSki courses, which are women-led courses for all aspects of skiing for ladies in the sport or looking to get into it. It's a great community. The most defining moment was on a Glacier Travel
Course as we walked along the skin track. I had been biking for a few years at this point and had been told by a few people that I should put effort into becoming pro. I was tentative with this idea, mostly because there was a possibility of failing. Once you put out into the world that you want to achieve something, it feels very scary to not live up to that. Leah's advice was very simple, essentially saying if you don't try, you'll never know. She compared her experience of becoming a pro skier to how I felt. I took this conversation to heart and started pursuing this dream.
I hope to be a role model for the next generation and show that there aren't any limitations to what you can achieve. It has been really cool seeing the growth in the different biking disciplines. For example, when I first started riding at Gorge Road, the iconic Dirt Jump park in New Zealand, it was rare to ride with girls during the evenings there. It was pretty intimidating, so the group of girls would ride in the morning when the park was quiet. Flash forward a few years, and we have a good number of girls showing up most evenings and it's been great for visibility and inspiring other ladies to pick up a bike and try! Overall, I just want to bring visibility to the sport and be a friendly face to which girls can look up.
Freeride mountain biking is epic! But when it started to blow up, it seemed like the industry was happy with keeping the group of female freeriders small and didn't see the need to create opportunities to make more space for up-and-coming girls. With the help of some legendary female athletes already in the sport, they created spaces that provided more opportunities for keen girls like myself. Being determined and asking questions is what helped me get into this sport properly.
Being a good role model is not only being a talented athlete but also being a friendly, relatable face. When I think of people I look up to, a big part of why I think these people are exceptional is because of their characteristics and how they live their lives. I try to be a good role model by going out of my way to have positive interactions with people and have a good attitude. You never know who's watching and who might idolize you, so just try to put your best foot forward whenever possible. It's a privilege to be in this position as a strong female rider, and it's super special to embody the characteristics of someone I would've looked up to as a kid.
Beth Rodden
“I love being a woman in climbing…women use their heads more and don't muscle their way through things, which is so much more fun.”
Honoring women and what they do for their community and sport is essential. Every day should be International Women's Day.
My first and foremost mentor and role model was my mom. She is not a climber or an outdoor athlete. She showed me unconditional love, which everyone deserves, but sadly, not everyone gets. She always supported me in whatever endeavor I was interested in. Climbing is something she didn't know much about, but she saw that I loved it, and that was enough for her. Having someone you can depend on is instrumental––my mom was huge for that.
As for other female climbers, I learned so much from a few women in the generation before me. I idolized them and their accomplishments. I derived inspiration from how they climbed, which projects they chose, and how they executed them. I learned how to dedicate myself to my passion and incorporate it as the main focus in my life. Without them paving the way, it would have just been a hobby for me.
I hope that my small contributions to pushing the sport forward physically will inspire them to not be afraid to pursue their dreams, no matter how grand. But perhaps bigger than that, I hope my work pushing the boundaries of what is talked about and what is accepted regarding body image, gender inequality, etc., will help strengthen their already strong voices around those things and others.
When I started climbing, the inequity in pay and inclusivity between men and women was vast. How women were treated and valued so much less than men was ever present in the climbing community. Slowly, however, generations have started to right that ship, both with quiet and loud acts.
I never think of myself as a role model, but I try to live my life in a way that would have been helpful to my younger self. When I was growing up in climbing, there was so much pressure, criticism, objectification, etc., that trying to live more wholly and kindly is a small but important step.
Georgia Astle
“I feel so connected within the community of others who are also stuck in their passions for the same reasons. There are so many options and ways to make my passion my outlet and escape.”
International Women's Day is another great reason to celebrate what the ladies have been up to lately in the sports world. The resilient and relentless girls who pioneered being the only girl to show up in a male-dominated space have resulted in what we see today––a huge movement of girls getting after it. They've taught me to stick to what I love and push for change.
I want to make sure there is room in the growing phase of freeride mountain biking so that when girls are coming up, there are career paths and solid events with the athletes in mind. It took a few years to prove to my sponsors that women's freeride had value. But, I kept at it while continuing to ride in all the more popular disciplines before fully switching over from racing.
I am drawn to athletes who are confident yet humble and gracious in their approach, which is how I try to carry myself. It also applies to life––be nice and be your friend's and colleague's cheerleaders!
