Interview with Geri Tumbasz, Cold Candy
For many women, the biggest barrier to becoming a better skier isn’t fitness or ability, it’s confidence. Whether it’s tackling steeper terrain, venturing off the familiar blue run or simply feeling comfortable asking questions in a lesson, confidence plays a significant role in how quickly we progress on snow. It’s this understanding that led the team at Cold Candy to create a coaching experience designed specifically for women.
“We created the Cold Candy Women’s Camps because most ski lessons are designed for the general public rather than specifically for women,” explains the founder. “Women can have different physical realities, including differences in centre of mass, movement patterns and confidence on skis. We wanted to create a camp that recognises those differences rather than expecting everyone to learn the same way.”
Rather than simply offering another group lesson, the camps have been built around a coaching philosophy that combines technical improvement with confidence, movement awareness and a supportive learning environment.
More Than Just Ski Lessons
One of the misconceptions surrounding women’s camps is that they’re only for advanced skiers. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Cold Candy welcomes everyone from complete beginners through to experienced skiers, with groups carefully divided by ability so participants ski with others at a similar level.
“You don’t have to arrive as an expert,” says the founder. “You simply need curiosity and a willingness to improve.” Whether the goal is smoother turns on groomed pistes, greater confidence on steeper terrain or taking those first steps into more adventurous skiing, coaching is tailored to meet each participant where she is.
The Confidence Difference
Perhaps the greatest advantage of a women-only environment is something that’s difficult to measure but impossible to ignore. “When women ski together, something special happens,” the founder says. “People relax. They ask questions, laugh at mistakes and try again without feeling judged.”
That psychological safety often becomes the catalyst for rapid improvement.
Instead of worrying about holding others back or comparing themselves with stronger skiers, participants focus on their own progress. The atmosphere quickly shifts from self-consciousness to encouragement, with every breakthrough celebrated by the group. “It starts feeling less like a ski lesson and more like a fantastic week in the mountains with new friends who also happen to improve your skiing.”
Learning From Women Who Understand
Another point of difference is the coaching team itself. At the highest levels of ski instruction, female coaches remain underrepresented across much of the industry. Cold Candy deliberately works with experienced female professionals who understand both the technical and psychological aspects of how many women learn.
There are practical advantages too. Watching another woman demonstrate technique means participants are observing movement from someone with similar body proportions, centre of mass and balance points, making it easier to translate what they see into their own skiing.
“It’s not just about having female coaches,” the founder explains. “It’s about learning from people whose movements often make more intuitive sense for women.”
A Week That Balances Progress and Wellbeing
The experience extends well beyond the slopes. Each morning begins over breakfast, where the group discusses the day’s goals before heading onto the mountain for structured coaching, personalised feedback, video analysis and plenty of skiing.
Lunch becomes another opportunity to connect before afternoons wind down with après, spa sessions or quiet reflection. Twice-weekly yoga classes complement the physical demands of skiing while reinforcing mobility, recovery and wellbeing.
The result feels less like an intensive training camp and more like a mountain retreat where improvement happens naturally alongside friendship and relaxation.
Why Kaprun Works So Well
The camps are based in Kaprun and Zell am See, with extensive time spent exploring the glacier terrain of Kitzsteinhorn. It’s a destination well suited to progressive coaching. Dependable snow, varied terrain and beautifully groomed pistes allow participants to steadily build confidence while always having the next challenge within reach.
Off the mountain, Kaprun offers welcoming alpine accommodation, wellness facilities and a relaxed village atmosphere that perfectly complements the week’s coaching.
The Transformation That Matters Most
While stronger technique is an obvious outcome, the biggest transformation is often less visible. Many women arrive quietly questioning whether they’re capable of skiing certain terrain. By the end of the week, those same skiers are tackling runs they once avoided, trusting their instincts and skiing with noticeably greater commitment.
“My favourite moments are always the quiet breakthroughs,” the founder reflects. “A woman who started the week nervous about one particular run finishes her final day smiling and saying, ‘I never thought I could do that.’”
For Cold Candy, that’s the real measure of success. Because skiing isn’t simply about mastering another turn. Sometimes it’s about discovering what becomes possible when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Get in touch
Dates for your diary
12th to 19th December .2026 (7days)
12th to-16th December.2026 (4days)
15th to 19th December 2026 (4days)
and
13th to 20th March.2027 (7days)
13th to 17th March 2027 (4days)
16th to 20th March 2027 (4days)
Words and Photos: Cold Candy
