Meet Rachel Vecchitto, the new owner of TheSkiDiva.com, a popular, and groundbreaking, website for women who ski (and snowboard). She’s the new ski diva in town. And before we get too far, Rachel wants to make one thing clear, “I own TheSkiDiva.com website now, but the site’s founder, Wendy Clinch, is still THE Ski Diva.”
Gracious as that is, I like to think that just as we all can be brave ski moms and brave ski dads (as well as brave ski grandparents and so on), all women can be ski divas if they want to. It’s simply a matter of taking charge, chasing thrills, and having an unquenchable enthusiasm for all things snow.
For Women Who Ski
When TheSkiDiva.com was founded in 2006, Wendy Clinch recognized that there wasn’t a space online for women to converse with other women who ski and women who snowboard in a serious, and also fun, manner.
So Wendy created a forum that quickly drew women who rip and ride. Rachel Vecchitto was one of these women. “I was drawn to the site because everyone I skied with were men and it was bumming me out. I lived in New York City, and in general found it hard to meet ski friends. I wanted to meet women and become part of a ski community.”
Fast forward, and Rachel is a very active member of the Ski Diva community and forum. She helped out as a moderator, and participated in annual Ski Diva ski trips where she met Wendy and became friends with numerous like-minded women. Knowing that Wendy was interested in moving away from the day-to-day operation of the website, Rachel didn’t want to risk the forum, the connections, and the community going away.
The New Ski Diva in Town
So she bought TheSkiDiva.com in June 2023. Asked about her plans for the website moving forward, she answered, “When it comes down to it, I don’t see the site changing very much. I’d like to get some people out of the woodwork and put effort into reengaging and retaining members.”
Rachel shares that she also hopes to channel members’ energy and talent into helping the community be as strong as it possibly can. “I want to make it more community run. There are lots of women who want to help and would be great at helping.” An example of this is deploying members to help with social media. She also hopes to feature other female voices through guest posts on the website blog and holding more regional Ski Diva ski days.
A software engineer who relocated to Coloradoin 2011, Vecchitto credits the Ski Diva community with helping her make the move west. Because of her connections through the Ski Diva, she knew that “even if I moved to a new place, I’d know people to ski with. No matter where I was, I’ve made friends.”
Wendy Clinch is delighted with where Rachel is headed. “Rachel has been an active member of TheSkiDiva since it started in 2006, so I know how much she loves the site. That, combined with her expertise and experience in outdoor tech, makes her the perfect person to lead TheSkiDiva in the years ahead. I know she’ll do a terrific job, and I wish her all the best.”
As for the operation of TheSkiDiva.com, membership is still free and nothing is changing regarding login or access for current members. For the coming ski season, there are two ski trips on the books: Diva West is at Steamboat, Colorado beginning January 27, 2024 and Diva East is at Jay Peak, Vermont beginning March 17, 2024.
For more information about this incredible community for women who ski and women who snowboard, visit TheSkiDiva.com.
Enjoy!
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