LINCOLN, New Hampshire — This season, Loon Mountain creates a more welcoming environment for women skiers and riders of all ability levels with the new Women’s Breakthrough Workshops and Droppin’ In Weekend. Skiing and riding can sometimes be intimidating and these specialty workshops offer a supportive and relaxed environment for women, taught by women.

The new Women’s Breakthrough Workshops are designed for women skiers aged 40+ and feature coaching from Loon’s top women instructors. The workshop will run every Sunday from February 4 ??“ March 25. The cost is $59 per person, and a lift ticket or pass is also necessary for participation. Reservations can be made in advance or guests can sign up the morning of the clinic at any Loon Snowsports Desk. The group meets for coffee and muffins between 8:30 and 9 a.m. at the Slopeside Deli, and then spends the next three hours on snow, from 9 a.m. ??“ noon. The Mountainside Rental Shop offers women’s-specific skis and boots for participants who want to rent equipment.

“These programs will allow women skiers and riders to learn skills in a comfortable, relaxed and supportive environment with other women of similar ability levels and around the same age,” said Snowsports Director Booie Alward. “The philosophy of ???for women, taught by women’ provides an effective learning experience because the pressure to impress a husband or boyfriend is taken away.”

The Women’s Breakthrough Workshop features PSIA-certified instructors Roz Lowen, Karyl Silva and Elaine Whitlock. Lowen brings her 35 years of ski instruction experience with a strong emphasis on helping women use modern ski equipment to the fullest. Silva has taught at Loon for the past 13 years and supervises the Flying 50’s Seasonal Program. She has organized and taught many Women’s Getaways at Loon. Whitlock also works with the Women’s Getaways and Flying 50’s and specializes in teaching women.

The Droppin’ In Women’s Weekend is a great option for ladies curious about freestyle snowboarding. This women’s weekend is a two-day getaway combined with a specialty clinic that focuses on all aspects of the terrain park (riding it and building it), as well as the freestyle lifestyle, with coaching from Loon’s highly-trained women’s snowboard staff and special guest coaches. The weekend includes protective gear, equipment tuning lesson, specially-priced meals, video review, a private park for learning new tricks or fine tuning existing skills, and much more. Prices start at $189 without lodging or $389 for the full package including premier slopeside lodging at the Mountain Club on Loon.

For more information and the latest on snow conditions, please visit www.loonmtn.com or call 1-800-229-LOON (5666).