News, stories, articles and information about outdoor Divas.
Women are not small men. At outdoor DIVAS we live by this motto.
outdoor DIVAS is more than just a shop with a selection of 'ladies
models'. By devoting 100% of our space, inventory and energy to active women, we
offer superior products and a selection of gear and apparel designed exclusively
for women.
Masai Barefoot Technology shoes and boots will arrive soon in new styles and colors
Fall is approaching, and as the colors of nature begin the change, so do the colors of Fall fashion. As featured in Oprah magazine, MBT is coming out with some exciting new looks and colors. Be on the look out for some of our favorites:
Don't forget what MBT stands for: Masai Barefoot Technology. The shape of the sole engages muscles that don't usually get that much work while walking.
They also improve posture and gait, tone and shape your body, help with back, leg, hip, and foot problems, and so much more.
Our own Lauren shares about her 3 week NOLS backpacking trip.
The gear truly does make a difference. Having hiking boots that don't hurt, a woman specific pack that fits, a comfortable sleeping bag that stays on the pad and the layers you'll need for all weather conditions make for a more pleasant experience in the woods.
For all those years before they made women’s specific gear we were hacking it in boots that were too big, packs that rubbed and not to mention we felt ugly the whole time in our brown frumpy hiking pants. No wonder men tended to dominate in the woods. Now with all the cute and functional gear our time in the backcountry or off the beaten path will be all the more pleasant.
NOLS needs to take note, apparently they do not have one women’s specific piece of gear. No women’s packs, sleeping bags, rain coats, hiking boots, climbing harnesses…..nothing. Yet more and more girls are taking part in their courses each year. So a shout out to all the ladies who still hack it with boys despite the discomfort and ill-fits.
Lauren shares of her 3 week NOLS trip in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains north of Yellowstone.
If you have not yet heard of Women's Quest you'd better listen up.....these women are always up to something fun!
Join Women’s Quest and the Chipotle-Titus Women’s Mountain Bike Team for an amazing mountain bike day at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Whether you are a seasoned rider or just learning how to mountain bike, this day is devoted to you. They'll provide instruction for all levels and abilities and teach you how to be a kid again while riding on epic single-track trails lined with wildflowers and clear streams.
If you’ve always wanted to learn to ride better, this is your chance for a comprehensive introduction to the sport in a supportive and relaxing environment (there are sessions for more advanced riders, too). Devils Thumb Ranch is home to over 3,000 acres and 40 kilometers of single and double tracks. You'll be fitted for equipment by knowledgeable coaches and given group instruction on basic skills/techniques. Customize your day by choosing how to spend your afternoon: more riding, a personal coaching session or a bike maintenance and equipment clinic. Finish it off with a dip in the resort's geothermic pool and hot tub and a group yoga class for cyclists to unwind. For more details check out Women's Quest!
Before hitting the trail be sure to get yourself the correct gear. The women's specific bike gear is getting better and better, from cute bike short skirts to stylish jerseys by Shebeest, Pearl Izumi and more! Ride with a pair of padded bike shorts and you'll never go back.....believe me your fanny will thank you.
Nicole DeBoom doens't skirt the issue. Women's running skirts-skirt chaser 5k race series and fun!
You can't skirt the issue here, the movement is in full swing: convert to skirt.
Mark your calendar for September 6th, and start your 5k training. Nicole Deboom of SkirtSports chats with us about her experience as a CEO of her own company and the SkirtChaser 5K Race Series.
OD: Are you and your husband going to race, and if so do you think you'll beat him?
Nicole: I will not race this one and Tim will probably still be too sore from the Leadville 100, but if we were racing, yes, naturally, I would beat him! (if he’s smart!)
Nicole: Heck no, there will be dating games, beer and a band. It is meant to be a fun night out for couples or singles with a 5k thrown in the mix.
OD: When you were growing up were you a girlie girl or a tomboy?
Nicole: Tomboy all the way. And proud of it now!
OD: What do you think of a ski skirt?
Nicole: We have received interest from the ski community to do a skirt for hottie women skiers. I think it’s a great idea. Why not add a little more insulation where we women need it most? It won’t be the most aerodynamic, but your friends will definitely be able to spot you.
Nicole: I would love to give them the magic answers to all of our womanly woes. The problem is that there is no magic. They’ll hear from me what a real person has done to build a business, stay in shape, and hold her marriage and personal life together. I am by no means perfect, and I have made a lot of mistakes. I try to help people learn from my mistakes so they don’t have to make them on their own. I’ll also give a few training tips along the way -- tips from an ex-pro.
The DIRT DIVAS are a local Denver mountain bike club for ladies who just want to ride.
A word from the founder....
What was needed was a social riding group for those of the female gender. Specificially, a social mountain bike riding group. How many times had I heard, "I'll slow him down," or "he expects me to just fly over those rocks!" or "I know he says he doesn't mind, but....". Women ride differently than men do. It doesn't mean that we don't like to ride hard, we do. We can be totally "hardcore" -- but we are women, which means that we like to chit chat, stop and smell the flowers, encourage one another over obstacles, laugh and make the whole experience fun!
So, a few years ago, while working for a relatively large shop in the Denver area, I convinced my managers that we needed a lady specific mountain bike group. They were kind enoughto let me give it a try. By the second year, we needed a community group site to share our experiences, pictures and emails. I decided to develop a google group site as our communication device. That site has grown by leaps and bounds. Enough so, that we now have this site so that people can find us! It was so difficult to yell out "check out the google group site and search for Dirt Divas!" Who would ever remember all that?! So now, all I
I have been in the cycling industry for several years. I'm the tomboy girl who was riding bmx bikes and hittin the jumps and always trying to beat the boys. Hmmmmm, never did too often. Whatever! I totally had tons of fun -- and I still do. I don't race -- no time for training, but if I did it would be downhill or super d for sure! My goal is to encourage girls, women, ladies or whatever you want to call yourself, to get out on a bike and discover the joy of riding, of challenging yourself to always improve and to realize that nothing is too difficult if you believe in yourself!
Oh, and did I mention -- its totally cool to get OFF your bike and walk it !
women's rock climbing shoes, helmets, climbing harnesses and mountains, oh my!
Rocking out in the great outdoors for real. This summers women's rock climbing classes are in full swing. Stacey; our own DIVA got to take part in the climbing class last week and she says she's hooked! Maybe it was the great women's climbing harness she wore or her super cool women's climbing shoes or was it the indepth instruction she got from Ms Sarah Hayden? Whatever it was she had a blast and wants to seriously get into outdoor rock climbing.
Jennifer, Stacey and Sarah----all smiles from this group! Notice how cool Jennifer holds her women's climbing harness, just like a pro! When in Boulder you must get on the rocks and it will be all the more fun if you go with an expert. They can take you to the hot spots, help you decipher what TRAD climbing verse Bouldering is, and not to mention keep you safe.
Want to learn more about why those women's climbing shoes look so funny and how they are all made for specific types of climbing? Your are a mere click away....women's climbing shoe info!
She prepares for her climb with such ease and grace!
Maybe it is because of all the great women's gear that is now available?
An exceprt from the Mountain Hardwear's; DIVA and Conquer contest pages.....Lauren Ledford in my opinion is the essence of a Mountain Hardwear outdoor diva. Her passion for adventure and discovery is never satisfied through experiences she adamantly pursues. Whether it is daring to kayak down raging rivers, traversing through wildernesses with the simplicity of a backpack, exploring the dark and uncharted passages of caves not yet named, scaling rock faces, snowboarding down icy slopes, or paddling mysterious swamps in a canoe.
Lauren took the "outside" to another level not braved by many by making the outdoors not only her playtime, but also her career. Lauren and several others have begun a non-profit wilderness adventure camp in North Carolina. Through this Lauren unselfishly gives youth the opportunity to discover their own passion for the outdoors by teaching them how to kayak, leading them down the exciting passages of the underground, guiding them over mountains so beautiful they take your breath away, and by instilling in them the amazing gift of appreciating the amazing world that we live in. I know this first hand because I was one of the youths that she invested her time in. Because of her, I have a passion to explore the marvelous pursuits that nature offers. Lauren inspired me so much that I am currently studying Outdoor Education as an undergraduate degree.
Lauren not only enjoys her adventures but she shares them with others, and that in my opinion is the mark of a true outdoor enthusiast.
Nominated by Sophie Allen
Currently, Lauren resides in Winter Park and teaches kayaking classes for outdoor DIVAS in Boulder along with working for a rafting company in the Fraser Valley.
Enter the "catch me wave" and get a FREE exclusive race series running skirt!
The view from the back just got better; the skirt chaser 5k race comes to Denver. Don't skirt the issue, you want to look good while you workout, right?
WHAT: outdoor DIVAS and Skirt Sports are running up a storm in style. The SkirtChaser Race on September 6th will be an experience unlike any race you've run and any block party you've attended. Not only is it a brand new running race format, giving women a head-start on the men in a fun atmosphere, the entire event is innovative, from packet-pickup to the Block Party and all of its sponsors. From walkers to pro-runners, the SkirtChaser Race Series invites you to experience the most fun you've ever had while working out! With registration in the “catch me wave” you will get a FREE running skirt from the exclusive race series line. Register in person at outdoor DIVAS or online at http://www.skirtchaser5k.com/
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th * 5:00pm – 8:00pm
WHERE: outdoor DIVAS* 2717 east third ave. Cherry Creek North
About Skirt Sports: Nicole DeBoom, founder and CEO of SkirtSports, had the revolutionary idea for the first-ever running skirt, she also dreamt of creating a race series with the same message. Look good, feel good, perform better. Work hard and play hard. But, as SkirtChaser #1, Tim DeBoom looked on, Nicole decided she wanted to INCLUDE the men in her life in an edgy and fun event. Thus, three years after the company's birth, the SkirtChaser Race Series was born. Now, SkirtChaser has gone from nickname to tagline to race series to product line. Stay tuned for the launch of the SkirtChaser product line and the SkirtChaser 2009 tour dates.
About outdoor DIVAS: outdoor DIVAS, one of the preeminent specialty retailers addressing the needs of active women, is located in Boulder and Denver. outdoor DIVAS strives to inspire, educate and outfit active women. They believe that proper education, apparel and equipment will enhance women’s experience in any outdoor activity.
approach to tackling all of life's challenges... both on and off the trails.
Join the knowledgeable, patient and fun coaches from Babes in the Backcountry and Rip Stoke to increase your overall enjoyment on your mountain bike. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics or a veteran rider seeking to hone your technical skills on steep switchbacks and challenging terrain, the Bike Babes Get A Way offer this and more. The Babes' philosophy of moving from center is woven throughout the weekend, including morning yoga, afternoon spa treatments and healthy organic meals.
Why Women's Specific?
Although BIB offers limited coed and couples workshops, they have chosen to focus on women's specific programming to celebrate women exploring their passions. The Babes' workshops help to create a balance in the outdoor community by encouraging more women to become involved in backcountry pursuits.Stepping outside the traditional mixed gender environment, women of all ages have an opportunity to explore themselves in a place void of competition.When women gather, amazing connections occur. These are spaces/containers where women are able to reinvent themselves, reconnect with the strength and power within, and rejuvenate at a core level.Women only gatherings allow women to gain a deeper respect for other women of different backgrounds, ages and interests. Through this coming together, we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be all “one”- all “connected”.
