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The reason why so few women go heli-skiing: Chemmy Alcott on the gender gap in the mountains

Chemmy Alcott reveals why, now she's a mum, she won't be slowing down on the slopes and other women shouldn't either - 2014 AFP
Chemmy Alcott reveals why, now she's a mum, she won't be slowing down on the slopes and other women shouldn't either - 2014 AFP

The Ski Club of Great Britain recently reported that 66 per cent of skiers are male and only 34 per cent female, with women’s participation in activities such as heli skiing also significantly less than men. These are statistics that four-time Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott, one of the most recognisable female faces in UK sport, is passionate about changing.

The recent report from The Ski Club of Great Britain shows nearly a 30 per cent difference in the number male and female skiers in the UK.

Why do you think that is and what do you think can be done to improve that ratio?

I was really surprised when I saw that statistic. Having become a mum in the last few years I know there are a lot of pressures and expectations on whether you become a full-time mum or go back to work.

I think it’s really difficult for mums out there who run their families and neglect themselves. They put everyone else’s needs first and it definitely shouldn’t be this way. I think it’s a societal issue. I went straight back to work when my son Locki was ten days’ old. I was a full-time mum and working but it was really important for me to do that because I didn’t want to lose my own identity.

I’m a better mum to my son because I follow my passions. It means that I enjoy every moment I have with him, because I’m confident in who I am as a person as well as a mum.

With heli skiing and backcountry, there’s probably an even greater bias towards men participating. This winter you’re going to Alagna in Italy with James Orr Heliski.

Are you hoping your involvement will help influence more women to go heli skiing?

So many of the girls I know who charge on-piste don’t think they’re good enough to go heli skiing. And yet boys I know who are half as capable are booking heli ski trips left, right and centre.

There is a lack of confidence because of a lack of understanding of what heli skiing is and I think that’s because we love watching ski and snowboard movies where the pro riders are winning gnar points because they’re dropping cliffs and jumping out of helicopters.

heli skiing - Credit: james orr heliski
Alcott believe women are often lacking confidence to take the plunge and try heli skiing Credit: james orr heliski

Look at the beginning of Ski Sunday, it’s epic. Presenters Graham Bell and Ed Leigh jump out of a helicopter but that’s far from the reality of heliskiing for regular skiers and snowboarders.

When I go heli skiing it feels safe. You’re bouncing on these pillows of snow led by amazing mountain guides. I think we don’t promote that kind of safe, fun side enough. It’s always been “This is so gnarly. This is so extreme. Look at this face.” Not “Oh my gosh, that was so much easier than I thought!"

You’re seven months pregnant now, so that means you’ll be going to Alagna shortly after giving birth. A lot of female athletes such as Serena Williams and Jess Ennis have competed at the highest level shortly after childbirth.

How do you feel about skiing so soon after?

Skiing is my love, it’s my passion, so I’m training now for the trip, doing loads of pilates and exercise that will knit my core back together really quickly.

I was very lucky first time round being able to ski 10 days after giving birth. I didn’t ski very well, but having overcome many injuries, I have very good body awareness.

Lots of people commented what a natural you were during the BBC’s Olympic coverage last winter.

It seemed like you and Clare Balding had a real chemistry?

Clare is phenomenal. Often, you’re sitting next to an anchor as the expert and they feel nervous to use you because they think they’re supposed to know it all, but Clare is very good at making you feel comfortable while using your specialist knowledge.

It was jumping in at the deep end for me. I was actually booked just to be an expert on ski racing but after the first night I was promoted and became almost an all-round winter sports expert.

chemmy alcott sochi - Credit: 2014 Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
Alcott competed in her final Winter Olympics in 2014 Credit: 2014 Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein

So, from thinking I was going to be on TV for an hour a day, I was on for about five hours a day.

There were a lot of women on the BBC presenting team for PyeongChang but there was a discussion at one point as to whether it was sexist to refer to female athletes as 'girls'.

How do you fall on that debate?

Well, firstly I’m a feminist in that I want to empower all women to be confident in themselves and to try new things, to be the best they can be, regardless of their gender.

Having said that, I call the athletes ‘girls’, because they are friends of mine, so I’m commentating on girls in the World Cup who I know and feel weird calling them ‘women’ because that distances yourself from them.

It was suggested that because of my age – I’m 36 – I should be calling them women, because I’m not a girl any longer. I didn’t really understand it, especially as I’m always out there promoting women’s sport.

When you were racing did you feel it was demeaning to be called a ‘girl’ as opposed to being called a ‘woman’?

No, not at all. For me there’s not a certain timeline in your growth when you suddenly think “I’ve become a woman now”.  What are we saying, that you lose your identity from one and become another? Is it a maturity thing? Is it life experience? I don’t think it is. My reasoning is that I’m friendly with them so they’re girls to me.

Last winter one of the episodes of Ski Sunday featured a head-to-head parallel slalom race pitting you against Graham Bell. You came out the winner.

How did it feel being able to prove that the ‘girls’ can be faster than the boys?

It was such a fun race. I think Graham actually suggested the idea to the producer, maybe to shut me up a bit. I was petrified, really nervous, and for three nights before the race, I didn’t sleep at all

In Graham’s defence, the day before he had to do lots of filming whereas I was able to get in a bit of training though I hadn’t done anything physically demanding since I’d had my son.

Obviously, Graham is a bit older than me and we are both downhillers, but it was very interesting to see that while he’s very comfortable on downhill skis, he doesn’t really have it in him any more when it comes to making short, sharp slalom turns.

Graham took his defeat really well. He wasn’t bitter or angry or trying to make excuses. I think he was just surprised I was that fast.

It was a great fun event though quite intimidating though as there 10,000 in the crowd watching, so our egos were on the line.

Chemmy Alcott will be hosting a one-off heliskiing adventure with James Orr Heliski in Alagna, Italy from March 7 to 11. The trip costs £2,275 and includes three days skiing off-piste with a qualified mountain guide, one day of heliskiing with two helidrops, four nights’ half-board accommodation at the three-star Hotel Cristallo and private transfers to and from Milan Malpensa airport.