MSU Strand Collective seeks to support female skiers

The female skiing community in Bozeman is growing thanks to a new chapter of the Strand Collective, a nonprofit based out of the University of Utah. The organization focuses on building community among female skiers and providing support for women on and off the mountain.

Junior Haley Serafino, the president of the MSU Strand Collective, founded the chapter in late November after learning about the organization.

“I struggled a lot with making friends, especially on the hill. I’ve always skied with a lot of guys [in Bozeman], but I grew up racing in Maine, so I really miss that girl community,” Serafino said. “What I felt aligned perfectly with what Strand aligned with.”

This semester, the MSU Strand Collective started holding Strand Saturdays at Bridger Bowl nearly every week. On these days, the group carpools to the hill and holds a breakfast tailgate before hitting the slopes. 

“I wanted there to be a group that was no tryouts, no judgment, no cuts. You come and you join and you have friends,” Serafino said. “That’s the thing at the end of the day, being able to give that confidence to girls that are a little more daunted by [skiing] is really powerful and exciting.” 

Vice President Grace Schad — a junior at MSU who also grew up racing in Maine — emphasized the importance of female ski groups.

“It’s very intimidating for a lot of girls to try skiing, because there’s not that many girls and there are so many guys who are crazy good,” Schad said. “We just want to make a space [for girls] to be comfortable and make friends.”

Though the chapter is not yet affiliated with the University, it has already gained 122 members. The group hopes that with growing numbers, it will be able to host more events, according to Schad, Serafino and Junior Lindsey Labaugh, the treasurer and outreach coordinator.

“We’re trying to host ski days, gear education sessions, membership events — all designed to make outdoor sports more accessible and confidence-building for women,” Labaugh said.

According to Serafino, these events are not only geared toward community building, but also safety and education for skiers and snowboarders.

“We always want to make sure that we’re [skiing] in the most safe way,” Serafino said. “Definitely, next season, we will be doing some avalanche clinics.”

Schad said the organization also hopes to plan ski trips to other mountains. “We want it to be bigger and be able to do stuff like that. Avalanche clinics and — like the girls in Utah — eventually get to the point where there’s trips you can sign up for. They’re going to Colorado, they’re going to go to Japan.”

Beyond encouraging community through friendship, the collective hopes to make skiing more financially viable for girls.

“Skiing in general is not affordable,” Serafino said. “If we can get to the point where we can help give back to the community and be able to give some girls skis or a season pass, that is definitely a goal we’re trying to reach.

Though the organization has many plans for the future, its priority is to increase female presence in the ski community.

“The mission is really just about inclusivity and empowerment. We’re just trying to create a lasting impact on the outdoor community,” Labaugh said.

No experience is required to join the Strand Collective. To learn more or get involved, visit its Instagram @strandcollectivemontana.