This Week: 4 - MOBILE HOMES 5 - BIGHORN SHEEP 6 - SEED PEACE 12-13 - CALENDAR 14-15 - GOVERNMENT Your nonprofit
community newspaper
Volume 17, Number 9 | April 17-23, 2025
The future is Boot Tan Fest KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent
Sun, vibes and glitter sparkled at the fifth anniversary of Boot Tan Fest, hosted at Sunlight Mountain Resort April 10 to 12. Founded in 2021 by Carbondale resident Jenny Verrochi, Boot Tan Fest is the world’s largest ski and snowboard festival for women and nonbinary folks. Presented by Kari Traa, Boot Tan Fest doubled as a music festival complete with a vendor village. Inclusivity, laughter and naked skiing abound, Boot Tan Fest 2025 was one for herstory. Photo by Kersten Vasey
To know Boot Tan Fest (BTF) is to experience it — first-hand, surrounded by an outrageously beautiful constellation of women and nonbinary participants. It’s a community that shines from every facet of a disco ball, swoops you up with love and cheers on the most authentic version of you. In short, BTF is a microcosm of humanity’s full potential. Jenny Verrochi, BTF and Buck Wild Coffee founder, once had a radical idea: shredding naked in the woods. Twenty-six women joined her noble quest. This year, over 600 people danced, skied and laughed at Sunlight Mountain Resort. A true evolution. “It’s become so much bigger than we could imagine,” shared Verrochi in a pre-event interview. “It truly is for everybody and we couldn’t have pulled it off without everybody participating and spreading the joy.” Joy was apparent the moment I pulled into Sunlight on Friday, April 11. At 9am, the camping area was already swirling with positive vibes and creatively decorated tailgates. I missed the first night that included live music, a talent show and tattooing, so I quickly grabbed my ski gear, some snacks and headed to the vendor village. With a cup of Buck Wild Coffee in hand, I perused over 30 of the country’s most inclusive nonprofits and outdoor brands. Each organization — like Coalition Snow and Roam Fest — was a clear nod to BTF’s mission to cultivate recreation for everyone. After briefly reconnecting with the lovely Anna Tedström of Hoohah, a local upcycled apparel company, I ogled some sweet fleece overalls by California-based ROWDYalls — not grabbing a pair is my only continued on page 11