Snowboard Yukon will be running the Steeps and Bumps clinic this weekend at Mt. Sima.

The clinic is for women, trans, non-binary, and 2-Spirited people, and will run Saturday and Sunday.

The start time is 10:30 a.m., in front of the Main Lodge, where they'll do intros, overview of the day and warm-ups.

The riding time is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a 45-minute lunch break.

"10:30 is usually when we do the sign-in, and meet and greet and get people a bit organized, because it can get hectic there, and now with the indoor space being limited ... then we try to be on snow by 11, until 4 o'clock," related event organizer Antje Schiebel.

According to the Snowboard Yukon website, the clinic is "suitable for intermediate to advanced riders ages 10 and up, who are looking to improve their riding and challenge themselves in terrain they would usually not ride or are nervous to ride."

Riders 18 years and older must show proof of vaccination.

Helmets are mandatory.

The fee is $60 for both days (that includes instruction for both days) and a Canada Snowboard Membership (for insurance purposes). The fee does not include a lift ticket, rental equipment or membership.

"We've been doing this event four years. It is more or less successful every year, depending on if we have the coaches and we try to run it at least two to three times throughout the season, with a beginner one, and then we build up to it," said Schiebel.

She explains why this clinic is for non-male riders.

"Snowboard Yukon is part of Canada snowboard, and they have designed these woman in snowboarding clinics a long time ago.

“This is a camp to empower women and minorities to the sport and to be part of it and have fun training and learning in a safe environment, run by women for women."

This year, Snowboard Canada named the clinic Elleboard.

"Some of our coaches that identify as either non-binary or they/ them have voiced their opinion that they cannot coach as they don't identify as such, and they are such amazing coaches and have a point, so for us as an organization as Snowboard Yukon that has implemented itself into the Yukon communities as inclusive as such, we wanna make a change and fit that criteria to welcome those that don't necessarily identify as woman, but also are not men.

"We are currently working on this to make it better and more inclusive than just women in snowboarding, and still empower people to join a fun, safe teaching environment for those that want it," stated Schiebel.

Coaches for the clinic will be female or non-binary.

"This specific on this week is basically to empower females and non-binary people to come out to shred. A lot of the people in the past, especially women, they get intimidated. They don't want to be coached by a guy. They always feel they are pushed down. They don't trust themselves. A lot of these people, they just don't trust that they can actually do these things.

“So we want to empower them to come out, to try it out, to train in a safe environment with really well-trained and good coaches that empower them to try it out, to be more open about the things they can do and cheer them on," she explained.

Schiebel said the clinic is focused on getting comfortable on challenging terrain.

"We would go into some tree runs, find some bumpy terrain – at the top of Dan's (Descent), for example, is very intimidating for a lot of people, so I'm trying to make it very interesting for them, for the people to try out new things, things they are totally capable of, usually.

“They just don't trust themselves to go in this terrain, for example, by themselves, or with a friend that is less advanced. So that is our aim for that."

"And then of course, listening to feedback of what the participants want to learn, what they are keen on sharing, what they want to improve on," she added.

According to Schiebel, Dan's Descent is kind of a racing section at the top of the chairlift and is "a very steep area right on top that a lot of people don't go on, but it's super fun."

It's hard to predict what kind of numbers they'll have this weekend.

"With COVID and the restrictions, it can be anywhere from one person to – I have limited them to 18," said Schiebel.

"I need to make it safe for the coaches ... I am alone on Saturday for coaching, for example, so I have to keep the numbers at seven, because I can't coach ... nor can I teach anything valuable if I have too many people," related Schiebel.

There is a limit of 18 participants on Sunday.

"That's because I have three coaches in total and we like to not have the numbers higher than six as a ratio, one to six, 'cause then you can actually coach properly."

Snowboard Yukon has a few more clinics planned.

"I have one more women's – one more of these clinics coming up in February, which will be a bit more park-oriented, which was a huge success last season," recalled Schiebel.

"And then spring break of course is a week up in Dawson City, where we usually run a three day camp for everyone up there and they're super-stoked already for us to come.

“And then we do a weekend, hopefully, in Watson (Lake) as well and help out and teach the kids how to do a race."