ESR Women's Program 

We are honored to serve as your ESR Women’s Program Advisors. Our goal is to be a resource for women patrollers by creating opportunities to connect, build skills, share experiences, and strengthen both patrolling and personal confidence.

Continuing a Strong Tradition

The Women’s Program builds on the legacy of Trudy Nye, who became the inaugural Women’s Program Advisor in 1998. Her groundbreaking work helped refine ski, snowboard, and toboggan-handling training so female patrollers could gain confidence, strengthen technical skills, and uphold the National Ski Patrol’s highest professional standards.

Trudy organized a memorable day at Heavenly, where she patrolled beginning in 1978 with two Bay Area patrols. The event brought women patrollers together for skiing with PSIA clinicians, toboggan work in the handles and on the tail rope, and meaningful conversations on the lifts about challenges and successes across different mountains.

Get Involved

We invite you to continue this tradition by joining upcoming Women’s Program events, sharing your own stories, and learning alongside fellow women patrollers. Check the ESR Calendar for Women’s Toboggan events being planned and offered through ESR and MLR.

Contact

Darla Smyth (darlasmyth775@gmail.com)

ESR Women's Program Advisor