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Kristi Leskinen has been collecting her own anecdotal evidence for 13 years and took the last year to get more scientific by surveying top ski and snowboard athletes, both male and female.

Her findings support the theory that women would benefit from smaller jumps and separate courses than men in order to advance their sport. See the original ESPN article here  and Kristi’s extended survey results on her blog. 

In a follow up to the ESPN post, Kaya Turski has also written an excellent piece on her point of view. 

My hat goes off to you ladies for taking the initiative to collect and analyze the data, and to speak out on your point of view!

I also happened to flip through the SBC Skier photo issue this weekend. It has coverage of the 2011 Nine Queens event with multiple points being made about how great the event was for women for the exact reasons that Kristi and Kaya discuss; features that were made for them that everyone felt comfortable on and felt comfortable pushing the limits of their tricks and style. Excerpt: 

…alongside Ashley Battersby whose injury-plagued career has kept her off many podiums over the past five years but certainly hasn’t affected her smooth, strong style. The Chateau’s main booter is scaled down…  …but the custom design was built specifically for the ladies. This wasn’t a double-flip fest, but it does break serious ground: Kaya Turski and Maria Bagge both bagged Switch 1080s, a first for the fairer sex.  -SBC Skier 11.4 “Queens of the Castle” by Chris K O’Connell

women's freeskiingKristi LeskinenKaya TurskiNine Queenssurveyprogressionslopestylewomen's slopestyle. I t hink