All-female ski festival, complete with naked lap, finds new home
A female-focused ski festival that features a signature bunsout lap returns in 2024, this time to a new home resort.
Boot Tan Fest, as it’s coyly called, comes to Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort in Glenwood Springs on March 29-30 inviting women, female-identifying and nonbinary individuals to enjoy a weekend of skiing, special events and the camaraderie of a supportive community.
Jenny Verrochi started Boot Tan Fest somewhat inadvertently in 2021 after organizing a casual, ladies- only naked lap at Bluebird Backcountry near Kremmling. In 2022, it became a ticketed event welcoming 200 people for a ski day that concluded with a run in the buff. In 2023, the event grew to 450 people.
What’s the allure of shredding nude?
“It is the best feeling,” Verrochi previously told The Denver Post.
But in July, Bluebird Backcountry closed leaving the fate of the unique event in limbo. Verrochi solicited resorts from West Coast to East Coast and was pleasantly surprised by how many offered to host. She ultimately decided to keep it close to home.
“We went with Sunlight because, one, they’re local and, two, they’re privately owned,” Verrochi said in December. “It’s a super low-key, very chill vibe. This wouldn’t be possible at Aspen Mountain or Vail Resorts.”
With a new venue comes new amenities, perhaps most notably chairlifts. Bluebird Backcountry, as the name suggests, required skinning up the mountain to ski down.
With three chairlifts providing access to more than 730 skiable acres, Sunlight Mountain does not require any backcountry experience. Because of that Verrochi is expecting upward of 1,500 attendees from Europe, the States and beyond at the 2024 fest.
“Now that it’s at a ski resort with lifts, it’s much more accessible for people,” she said. “The
location is more accessible, there’s hotels around, parking lots, there’s ski lifts, which makes it beginner-friendly and anyone can join.”
Unlike previous iterations of the festival, Boot Tan Fest will not be taking over the venue for a private event. Sunlight Mountain will operate like a normal day, meaning all genders are welcome to join skiing and snowboarding. However, once the resort closes at 3 p.m. on March 29, the slopes will be limited to Boot Tan Fest ticket holders who can ride up and strip down for the naked lap.
“It’s a normal ski day with your clothes on and then it’s an after-hours thing,” Verrochi said. Removing your clothes is by no means a requirement, she added, as Boot Tan Fest aims to be a safe space no matter how skiers and snowboarders decide to celebrate.
During the day on March 29, Boot Tan Fest will also host a vendor village spotlighting women- owned makers and brands, including its title sponsor Kari Traa sportswear. Ticket holders also have access to a 3:15 p.m. show from comedian Shanel Hughes and live music during an après ski tailgate from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There will even be a tattoo artist at the mountain base that day offering permanent souvenirs to commemorate the festival.
Many folks will also be skiing on March 30, during which programming includes a 9 a.m. guided journaling practice paired with live music.
“Kari Traa is passionate about supporting creative events like Boot Tan Fest that offer women a space to gather, grow, and play outside together,” said Taylor Murphy, head of North American marketing. “It is in Kari Traa’s brand DNA to outfit women to work together to showcase the strength, rawness, and diversity that make us who we are. Boot Tan Fest does just that, so Kari Traa is proud to be the title sponsor for the 2024 and 2025 Boot Tan Fests.”
For Verrochi, watching Boot Tan Fest grow up from “a scrappy backcountry festival to a major resort with a major sponsor” has been gratifying, and she hopes any women interested in meeting other like-minded skiers will join the party.
“We want it to be welcoming. Come by yourself and you’re sure to walk away with friends,” she said.
Tickets to Boot Tan Fest cost $171 for one day of skiing or $222 for two days of skiing. Ladies can join the après tailgate only for $102. Overnight camping for the event is sold out. Find tickets and more information at boottanfest.com.