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Sisterhood on the slopes: Ski resorts are offering special lessons and clinics for women.(Morning Call, The (Allentown, PA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jan. 18--A man skis by pointing himself downhill and taking off in a flash. A woman peers over the edge and thinks. "It looks really icy," she tells herself. She worries snowboarders will knock her over. She hopes her right heel won't move around in her boot as she negotiates tough turns. Then, she cautiously pushes off. It's because of these differences that ski instructor Mary Pavitt has been coordinating special programs for women the last seven years at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township. On this unseasonably warm Thursday, when the slopes are in surprisingly good condition, Pavitt is overseeing a group of instructors about to meet with about 10 women for three hours of lessons. Participants will have the afternoon to practice what they have learned. Pavitt said lessons tailored for women address common issues that prevent many from enjoying the sport to the fullest: lack of confidence, fear, physical differences and bad equipment. "By giving them what we give them, it's almost like we're leveling the playing field," said Pavitt, an instructor since 1991. Bear Creek isn't the only resort recognizing the special needs of women. Camelback Ski Area and the sister resorts of Jack Frost Mountain and Big Boulder Park offer free, women-only clinics once a week. Blue Mountain Ski Area and Shawnee Mountain offer multi-week sessions for women. Bear Creek, Jack Frost and Elk Mountain also offer weekend-long clinics, some of which include breakfast, lunch, wine-and-cheese receptions and discount coupons to the ski shop. Troy Hawks, communications manager for the National Ski Area Association, said resorts have good reason to target women. Women make up roughly 40 percent of all participants, a number that has stubbornly held fast the last decade. Even snowboarding -- an alpine activity that is saving many a resort -- hasn't taken off with women. They still make up less than 30 percent of all boarders. Hawks said the snow-sport industry hasn't figured out why the number of female participants hasn't budged, but said, "I think what it does show is a potential for resorts to grow their participation." Keeping up with the kids Bear Creek's three-week Thursday session has attracted a group of women who show why wise resorts are reaching out to females. Among the group were friends Katherine Simon, 41 of New Oreland, Montgomery County, and Joleen Rouner, 39, of Dresher, Montgomery County. Both are mothers of two young children and have been hitting the slopes with their families. "My husband is very good and my kids are getting better," Simon said. "I want to keep up with them." Bear Creek's program mixes instruction with lunchtime discussions that address the physical and psychological challenges facing women. Physically, Pavitt said, women are at a disadvantage. Skiing requires upper body strength, yet a women's power source is located toward her hips. In addition, women have a different center of gravity. Their femurs are attached differently -- at the sides as opposed to the front -- a situation that puts more stress on the knees. Women also tend to be more knock-kneed, which makes it harder to get on and off an edge, Pavitt said. Difference in skis The gender differences for women are exacerbated when women use men's skis. Women's skis are softer, so they don't have to work so hard going through chunks of ice, and have bindings positioned farther forward to compensate for the fact that women tend to position themselves toward the back of their skis. The tops of women's ski boots are lower on the calves, because the wider portion of a woman's calf is lower than that of a man. And the heels are narrower to prevent a woman's foot from moving around. "The best of the best women's skis are probably too hard for men to ski on," Pavitt said. Unsure of abilities Psychologically, Pavitt said, women tend to be unsure of their abilities, which makes them more fearful of skiing on icy trails, on expert trails and when the slopes are crowded. They have more on their minds than men do when they stand at the top of a run. They may be worried about their young child in the resort day care or their teens in the terrain park, Pavitt said. Carolyn Freed, assistant snow sports director at Blue Mountain, said women don't like to be taken out of their comfort zone, so lessons for females involve getting them to try things bit by bit. As their skill level improves, their confidence builds and fear level decreases. Being with other women in the same situation gives them the courage to try things they might otherwise say no to. "Women like to socialize. They like to ski with their friends. It's amazing what you can get these women to do," Freed said. Opening the gates At Bear Creek on the recent Thursday, Pavitt told the group they would be working on skiing gates, weaving in and out of gates set up along a slope. The exercise would help them work on their turns, which, in turn, would improve their skills and help prevent them from falling. "Why do we ski gates?" Pavitt asked. "Because it will always be a man that will ski gates. It will never be a women." But then she told the group that anyone who was too scared to try it could certainly back out. Nobody did. [email protected] 610-770-3751 To see more of The Morning Call, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mcall.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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