Colorado Naked Women's Ski Festival Cancelled After Heatwave Melts Snow
Organisers of the Boot Tan Fest, an annual skiing event for women and non-binary participants billed as offering full-frontal freedom, have announced its cancellation this year. The decision was made public on Tuesday after a severe heat dome hit Colorado, causing significant snow melt across the state. This unusual weather phenomenon has forced many ski resorts to close early, including Sunlight Mountain Resort, which was scheduled to host the festival.
Event Details and Historical Background
The Boot Tan Fest began in 2021 and has grown into a popular weekend event featuring skiing, live music, vendors, and its signature naked lap, where attendees strip down to ski. Festival founder Jenny Verrochi created it with the aim of empowering women to ski nude in a safe and private environment. According to Verrochi, the festival started unintentionally and has since provided a unique space where women can feel free, with nudity being entirely optional but widely embraced by participants.
Impact of Unseasonably Warm Weather
This year, an unusually warm winter season has led to premature closures at numerous resorts. Sunlight Mountain Resort, the festival's host, ended its season on March 22, two weeks earlier than planned. Verrochi explained to The Denver Post that despite efforts to salvage the event, the conditions were untenable. We asked Sunlight if we could run just the lower lift, and there's no possible way, she stated, noting that a river was running through the resort due to the lack of snow. The heatwave has effectively melted all snow, leaving no viable option for the skiing component of the festival.
Adaptations and Continued Activities
Despite the cancellation of the naked laps, the Boot Tan Fest will proceed in a modified format from April 10 to 12. The event will include alternative activities such as a talent show, yoga classes, and saunas, though chairlifts will not be operational. Verrochi remains hopeful that ticket holders will still attend, emphasising the festival's unique atmosphere. It's still a one-of-a-kind festival, she told The Denver Post, highlighting the magic of the safe space it creates for celebrating womanhood in the mountains.
Controversies and Safety Measures
Verrochi has also addressed complaints about the festival being women-only, adjusting marketing language to use terms like private and no men allowed to clarify its focus. She noted that while nudity is not prohibited on federal land, the event prioritises safety with female staff and extra security on-site. Male employees would have had their phones confiscated, and skiers would have been offered a private slope with no intersecting trails to ensure privacy. Verrochi expressed a desire for the festival to survive, hoping for future snowfall and continued support from attendees who value its empowering ethos.
