POUGHKEEPSIE, New York — Female skiers and snowboarders have sought recognition by the snow sports industry for decades. Women and girls are enjoying winter sports more than ever. In the ??в„ў05-??в„ў06 season some 49% of the 59 million lift ticket buyers were women, up 5% from the previous season according to the National Ski Areas Association. Further, the total dollar sales of female-related ski goods has grown 64% since the ??в„ў01 ??“ ??в„ў02 season according to Leisure Trends Group, a research firm that tracks outdoors sports.

Ski Chick LLC is filling a void in clothing and accessories designed for the female snowboarder and skier. The company was founded on celebrating girls of all ages and their love of riding and sliding. When company founder Teresa Scanlon was first teaching her daughter to ski, she looked hard for apparel or accessories that would encourage her then five-year-old to be proud of her downhill skills. Frustrated by limited selection at mountain and local shops, and on the internet, she launched Ski Chick LLC.

Scanlon says ???Encouraging women and girls to celebrate their passion for snow sports is what Ski Chick is all about. Girls are on the mountain to stay. We??в„ўve found they want to wear fun clothing and hip accessories that reflect their love of sliding and riding. Grade-schoolers, hipsters, and even lodge Moms will find that skichick.com has something for everyone.???

In addition to accessories and clothing, www.skichick.com features free snowboarding and skiing news for women and girls, with a free current events calendar on women and girls-only clinics and competitions.