The “shrink it and pink it” approach to designing women’s ski gear really didn’t sit well with Leslie Baker-Brown. She was tired of seeing women get hand-me-down designs from men’s gear. So, in 2015, the ex-professional ski racer and longtime ski industry product executive started Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women (W2W) initiative — to amplify women’s voices in skiing and design products specifically for them.
This year, the W2W program turned 10 years old. Over the last decade, it’s grown from a small Blizzard Tecnica initiative into a global community dedicated to uplifting female voices in skiing and, most importantly, developing gear for women by women.
“I’m extremely thankful that our company, on a global scale, believes in this project and has been willing to support financially and with resources for the last 10 years,” Baker-Brown told GearJunkie. “[Ten] years is a huge commitment, and it continues to grow. Our project managers are also all in on working with the women’s teams, listening to our feedback, and working hard to make the best equipment for women that they can.”
For W2W’s 10th anniversary, on October 27, Blizzard Tecnica unveiled a brand-new limited-edition Black Pearl 88 designed in collaboration with Taos-based artist, ski patroller, and Blizzard ambassador Malia Reeves. Proceeds from sales of the special-edition ski will benefit W2W’s Hilaree Nelson Professional Development Program, which honors the late mountaineer, who passed away on Manaslu in 2022.
“I wanted a more vibrant and lively design for this one,” Reeves said in a statement about the skis. “Reflecting the energy that W2W inspires and the complexities and diversity it represents.”
Women2Women: 10 Years, 4 Pillars, And a Force to Be Reckoned With
Throughout Baker-Brown’s executive career in the ski industry, she was often the only woman in the room. That experience inspired her to find a way to amplify women’s voices in the industry. W2W has done that, and a lot more in 10 short years. The program is built on four pillars: product, education, inspiration, and community.
On the product front, W2W has made vast strides in a single decade, according to Baker-Brown. “I’m proud of the progress in women’s equipment that we’ve been able to make,” she said.
Now, all Blizzard Tecnica boots are made in sizes down to 22, and women’s boots have stronger flex options. The W2W team also works with Blizzard’s ski designers to build women’s skis specific to women’s body sizes. The Black Pearl 88 is the brand’s flagship example.
“On the education front, our Hilaree Nelson Professional Development program is in its 6th season and has supported over 100 women with over $115,000 in course fees and product,” Baker-Brown continued.
To inspire women worldwide, Blizzard Tecnica has recruited pro female athletes to stoke the fire of younger skiers. Freeride skier Caite Zeliff, big-mountain skier Elyse Saugstad, and big sender Piper Kunst have all taken up the W2W banner to motivate a new generation of female shredders.
The final W2W pillar is community, which Baker-Brown has fostered through the program’s “Wolfpack.” This global community unites women of all backgrounds and skiing skill levels, both on the mountain and off. The 2025/26 special-edition Black Pearl 88 honors the latest initiation into the W2W Wolfpack, Malia Reeves, who designed the topsheet artwork for the Blizzard Tecnica Hilaree Nelson tribute skis in 2023.
New Black Pearl 88s: Malia Reeves Special Edition
Reeves designed the topsheet artwork of her Black Pearl 88s to honor the W2W initiative’s 10-year legacy. She thoughtfully crafted the illustration, intentionally placing mountains, flowers, and specific iconography to represent the program’s mission.
Describing her artistic process, Reeves said, “The top mountains are the Kaiser Mountains near Mittersill. The bottom mountain is Cinque Torri in the Dolomites. The flowers are Snow Roses and Snow Drops … both wildflowers that bloom through the snow in the Alps. I love the idea of delicate, beautiful flowers that are strong and hardy enough to love the snow and alpine climate.”
And of course, the wolves are representative of the Wolfpack she’s now a standing member of.
“Each wolf has its own personality and look,” Reeves said. “Whether a woman feels more kinship with the tough little wildflower or the prowling wolf, we all love the mountains and the snow!”
Like all Black Pearl 88s, the Malia Reeves special edition uses a beech and poplar wood core. It also has a single strip of titanal to keep the ski “powerful, yet maneuverable.” It’s available online on the Blizzard Tecnica website now in 152, 158, 164, and 170 lengths. It retails for $800.
For the 24/25 season, Blizzard gave the Black Pearls some big updates, featuring new molds, rocker profiles, and a metal layup. Every model now has its own specific wood core. That makes the ski feel like it was tailored specifically to your size.
For each pair of the Madison Reeves special-edition Black Pearl 88 sold, $125 goes into the Blizzard Tecnica Hilaree Nelson Professional Development Program (HNPDP). This program aims to extend Nelson’s legacy of courage and advocacy. Annually, it supports 100 women worldwide in pursuing professional growth in skiing, avalanche safety, and outdoor leadership.
“We are super excited to continue to move forward with this program,” Baker-Brown said. “And [we] are looking forward to the next 10 years!”
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