I'm not the Morals Police....

....But I do have a problem with the new "Playmate" snowboards recently introduced by Burton.

Now, I know I'm not the intended audience here. First of all, I'm not a boarder. And second, to be blunt about it, I'm no kid, either. And though I do believe that yes, the body is beautiful and yes, we should encourage artistic freedom of expression (the umbrella that Burton is hiding under), I don't think these boards were rolled out in celebration of either of these things.

My feeling is that these images are merely a shrewdly calculated marketing device designed to capture a particular market segment -- in this case, adolescent boys -- to whom graphics of naked women are very appealing. Instead, what they actually do is objectify women as sex objects -- something we've been trying to move beyond for decades -- as well as alienate a very large segment of the population.

I think Burton tries very hard to market itself as an "edgy" company. It does a lot of stuff purely for shock value. Face it, there's a certain element that likes to buy stuff because 1) it either ticks people off, or 2) it makes people do a double take. Plus it gets Burton a lot of exposure, like when they encouraged boarders to poach skiing-only resorts last year.

This type of marketing is what you do when you're completely out of ideas. The oldest trick is the book is to show an image of a naked lady. It's Neanderthal, it's juvenile, and it's just plain dumb. I think Burton should know better than that, and I'm incredibly disappointed that they don't.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Pink Chase.

That's the name of K2's breast cancer fundraiser.

As many of you already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And as part of this, the women of K2's women's development teams will ski as much vertical, or walk as many kilometers, as they can to raise money for breast cancer research.

Anyone who makes a donation or a pledge though K2 will have the opportunity to win prizes, including a complete K2 Skis package, travel luggage, Polar watch, tickets to Arapahoe Basin and more. The fundraiser runs through October 30, so there's still time to participate. Go here for more information on how you can participate.

Who among us doesn't know of someone who has been stricken by this awful disease? Here's our chance to make a difference. How incredible would it be if there was a cure for this in our lifetime!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

I love Fall.

I really do. It's a beautiful time of year, especially here in the Green Mountain State. So I thought I'd post a couple pictures to share the beauty of the season.

Right now my local mountain is scheduled to open on  November 15, but things are going to have to change dramatically for that to happen. All the same, A-Basin is open in Colorado, as is Loveland. So the season is ramping up, and pretty soon, the leaves will be down here and everything will be covered in a blanket of white. I don't know about you, but I can't wait. 

Still, when you look at these pictures, it's nice to have such a beautiful world to look at, in the meantime.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Show Your Inner SkiDiva.

It's easy, when you visit the new TheSkiDiva.com store.  You'll find a wide range of apparel featuring the TheSkiDiva.com logo available in a variety of embroidery colors. There are fleeces, vests, jackets, hats, shirts, and more, perfect for the cooler weather.

To commemorate our Grand Opening, we're offering a special edition TheSkiDiva.com hoodie for only $19.99. Be sure to stop in and take a look.

While you're at it, visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Deal on Kids.

Anyone who wants to make skiing a family affair knows how expensive it can be. But in a few states, skiing is more affordable, thanks to programs offered by various state ski associations. 

In my home state of Vermont, the Vermont Passport allows fifth graders to ski or ride free free at a number of resorts, when accompanied by a paying adult. 

Here are a few states with similar programs:

Maine: WinterKids Passport 

Michigan: Cold is Cool

New York State: 4th graders Ski and Ride Passport

Utah: Fifth Grade Passport

Colorado: 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program

Granted, requirements vary -- in some states, the program is for fourth graders, in others, for fifth graders, and so on. There are also various fees involved. And your child must be enrolled to participate.

Another way to save is to check with your ski resort.  Many offer free tickets for children up to a specific age. And virtually all offer discounts for junior skiers.

No matter how you do it, there's no denying that getting your kids out there is a great way to introduce them to a lifetime of fun.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.