There is no doubt that the mountains around the Yampa Valley have some of the best snow in Colorado. 

No matter your winter passion, the quantity and nature of the snow hold a mystic allure to all who recreate on it. The diversity of the terrain also allows thrill-seekers of any sort to find their niche in terms of challenge and ability. 

Snowmobiling, or snowmachining as some enthusiasts often call it, is a genre of snowsports that has always been part of the Yampa Valley heritage. Owing to the depth of the snowpack and easy access to trailheads, residents and non-residents alike have flocked to the southern end of the Park Range Mountains to push their thumbs deep into the throttle of winter-bliss. 

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The sport of snowmobiling is experiencing a transition within itself and local riders and guides are taking note. Following the trend in many outdoor action sports, the female presence in the snowmobiling industry, both as participants and as leaders, is blossoming. 

One local female-owned and operated company, Savage Sledderz, stands at the forefront as they seek to support the involvement of women on snowmobiles in the mountains.

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Aleah Hockin, who owns and operates Savage Sledderz, has lived in the Yampa Valley her entire life. She had a deep passion for snowmobiles since she was a child and has turned that passion into a business that supports other women becoming involved in the sport. 

In addition to having clinics for females, they also have tours, clinics, and avalanche courses for men as well.

 “I have always, from the time I was a little girl, wanted to be a snowmobiler,” Hockin said. “When I turned 16, I made enough money working for my dad and bought my first sled.”

When Hockin began riding, snowmobiles were not as technologically advanced as they are today and required more effort and skill to operate. Since she was riding with men quite a bit of the time, she often received advice on how to broaden her abilities in the mountains. 

“I didn’t want other women to have to go through the pain that I did with the boys just telling me ‘come on, put your thumb in it, throw your weight around, and ride’,” Hockin said. “That is how Savage Sledderz began.” 

She went on to explain that she seeks to coach women of all ability levels. Hockin’s goals are also to ensure that their 3-1 ratio of guides to clients features experienced female coaches as often as possible. They also do 1-1 lessons as well so that skill sets can be developed as quickly as possible. 

Their clinics focus first on safety, particularly avalanche conditions and training. They also work with their female clientele on sled setup, as some are using snowmobiles that are borrowed from their male significant others and need to be set up properly for them. They then assess skills and shift to working on throttle and brake control before progressing to edges, pop-ups and u-turns. Once a rider has gained the necessary skills, they venture into more technical terrain and tree riding. 

“We try to go from very basic to advanced and try to get girls there as quickly as possible,” Hockin explained. 

According to Hockin, the female presence in snowmobiling has “exploded” since she started riding in 2018. That has led to a change in the industry and in the approach that snowmobile related companies are taking to meet the needs of women riders. 

“Since then, it has been an ever progressing process of women getting into the sport and women being acknowledged and coming up in the industry at a more professional level,” Hockin said. 

She pointed to a recent trip to Rev It Up Girls, a non-profit that is based in Wyoming, as being inspirational to her and her work in the Yampa Valley. Rev It Up Girls’ mission is to “strive to promote women and young ladies to explore and thrive in the backcountry, emphasizing year-round safety and awareness while providing an atmosphere of friendship and fun!” 

Hockin stated that the goals of Savage Sledderz mirror those of Rev It Up Girls. 

“There are a lot of women and a lot of organizations out there that are really helping push the sport and making it more accessible,” said Hockin. 

Regarding the foundations of increased female involvement, Hockin said she feels that women are taking a more active stance in promoting their health and well-being through fun and adrenaline-filled outdoor sports like snowmobiling. 

“I think it is just women becoming more aware that we can get out and do this and that there are women out there that are showing them it is possible,” Hockin explained. 

More information on Savage Sledderz can be found on their website SavageSledderz.com.