WHAT iS vamps?
VAMPS stands for ‘Vomen And Muffy’s ProgramS’
The dictionary says that a vamp is a woman who is believed to use her sexual attractiveness for the seduction and manipulation of others. Muffy’s definition of a VAMP (before she looked in the dictionary) was a woman who is in our ski class who wanted to learn more and have fun in the process.
Muffy says: “It all started in 1997 when a friend wanted me to give her private lessons twice a week for the entire season. I told her to think of a couple other women who might want to join her and I’d then continue the conversation. That winter, I wound up coaching the small group of four women all season. The next year it grew to 40 by word of mouth and I hired three more coaches. The next year it grew to 60. I think there was a niche that needed to be filled here in the Sun Valley area.”
Now, there are around 120 skiers in the program with coaches chosen from Olympians, national team skiers, skiers supported by ski companies, winners of past American Birkebeiner, Boulder Mountain Tour or Yellowstone Rendezvous races and just generally great all-around athletes with an interest in seeing more women learn to ski correctly. We encourage our skiers to participate in events but the main goal is to learn good technique, get fit and have fun.
The VAMPs program is run through the Galena Lodge Ski School and operates at Galena Lodge, the North Valley Trails and Lake Creek.
The dictionary says that a vamp is a woman who is believed to use her sexual attractiveness for the seduction and manipulation of others. Muffy’s definition of a VAMP (before she looked in the dictionary) was a woman who is in our ski class who wanted to learn more and have fun in the process.
Muffy says: “It all started in 1997 when a friend wanted me to give her private lessons twice a week for the entire season. I told her to think of a couple other women who might want to join her and I’d then continue the conversation. That winter, I wound up coaching the small group of four women all season. The next year it grew to 40 by word of mouth and I hired three more coaches. The next year it grew to 60. I think there was a niche that needed to be filled here in the Sun Valley area.”
Now, there are around 120 skiers in the program with coaches chosen from Olympians, national team skiers, skiers supported by ski companies, winners of past American Birkebeiner, Boulder Mountain Tour or Yellowstone Rendezvous races and just generally great all-around athletes with an interest in seeing more women learn to ski correctly. We encourage our skiers to participate in events but the main goal is to learn good technique, get fit and have fun.
The VAMPs program is run through the Galena Lodge Ski School and operates at Galena Lodge, the North Valley Trails and Lake Creek.
What is Dons
To quote the Grateful Dead, “That’s Right, the Women Are SMARTER!”. For many years, the Galena VAMPS have had great success, helping women become better nordic skiers. Feeling left out and with Muffy Ritz’s blessing, in 2017, 8 men gathered to form the DONS.
While the Merriam-Webster dictionary gives various high brow definitions like powerful Mafia leader, fellow in a college in Great Britain, or Spanish nobleman, we don’t aim so high. We are quite simply the Dudes On Nordic Skis. If you can come up with a better description, have at it!!
If you already have the basics of nordic skiing and want to improve, then this program is for you!
Are you:
1) Looking to cement basics?
2) Finish the Boulder Mountain Tour (with ease)?
3) Win races?
If so, we want you to join the “DONS!” Our aim is to stratify members with similar abilities and goals, providing weekly coaching, both at Galena and Lake Creek. Coaching will be modeled after the VAMPS, with more options offered as the program grows.
While the Merriam-Webster dictionary gives various high brow definitions like powerful Mafia leader, fellow in a college in Great Britain, or Spanish nobleman, we don’t aim so high. We are quite simply the Dudes On Nordic Skis. If you can come up with a better description, have at it!!
If you already have the basics of nordic skiing and want to improve, then this program is for you!
Are you:
1) Looking to cement basics?
2) Finish the Boulder Mountain Tour (with ease)?
3) Win races?
If so, we want you to join the “DONS!” Our aim is to stratify members with similar abilities and goals, providing weekly coaching, both at Galena and Lake Creek. Coaching will be modeled after the VAMPS, with more options offered as the program grows.
VAMPS/DONS January/February Ski Clinic Descriptions
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Beginner SKATE (Co-ed or women's)
Advanced beginner through lower intermediate skate skiers (not for Never Evers). Students will progress through the basics of skiing and learning how to use skis as a mode of enjoyment, fitness and fun. They’ll be learning to perfect their V1, V2, V2 alt as well as learning to ski in all types of terrain. 8 week option at Lake Creek Nordic 4 week option at Quigley Nordic 1.5 hour clinic Beginner CLASSIC (Co-ed or womens')
Advanced beginner through lower intermediate classic skiers (not for Never Evers). Learn how to kick and glide in the tracks with confidence and efficiency. 8 week class at Durrance Loop/North Fork Loop (women's 4 week class at Quigley Nordic (co-ed) 1.5 hour clinic Intermediate SKATE (Women's)
Intermediate skate group focusing mostly on technique with some workout training. We will touch on all the techniques of skate skiing in all terrain and in all conditions so that you will feel efficient and comfortable on uphills, downhills, cornering and flats. Agility practice, individualized technique training, some long distance skiing and team relays are all what makes this class fun and effective! 8 week class at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic Upper intermediate skate (women's)
Women's Only Upper intermediate skate group - wanting to be pushed, perfect their technique, do some intervals and time trials, and have some adventurous skiing. Most in this group enter the local races as well as races in the inter-mountain area. 8 weeks at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic Advanced Skate (Co-ed)
Co-ed Advanced level skate group - wanting to be pushed, perfect their technique, do some intervals and time trials, and have some adventurous skiing. Most in this group enter the local races as well as races in the inter-mountain area. 6 weeks at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic |
Dons Lower Level Skate (men's)
Men's Only This tier of DONS focuses on learning the nuts and bolts of Skate Skiing. This class is not designed for "Never Evers". This is a class for people who haven't skied as much and centers on learning and practicing basic techniques. There are still some work out and fitness aspects but these aren't the focus of this group. Humor and camaraderie are also offered at no extra charge. 8 weeks at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic Dons Intermediate level skate (men's)
Mens' Only The intermediate level DONS clinics have a balance of technique and fitness based drills based around V1, V2 Alternate and V2 Skate techniques. There's typically a challenging work out thrown in after a warm up and technique and skill based work. There is a fair bit of comedy and camaraderie as well. 8 weeks at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic INTERMEDIATE CLASSIC (Co-ed)
Co-ed Group Skiers can expect to focus on proficiency of glide, “attacking” all sorts of terrain and discovering how much fun classic skiing can be. Think agility and confidence on skis! Skin skis are great, waxable are fine in good ski conditions. 8 week classes at Lake Creek Nordic 1.5 hour clinic |
