I am sorry you feel that way, Mel. I only stated that because I did not like seeing so many women, women I know and respect, posing in a calendar in such a way that was against everything I believe in. While I commend the dedication and commitment of all the women and men involved in making the calendar and still believe that FOBP is a good organization, I believe the calendar should have focused on the women skiing and their accomplishments, rather than having these talented women posing like Playboy models. I know I am not alone in feeling this way, but many women are afraid to speak up on this due to something that has been termed “women’s lib”, which you mentioned in earlier comments. But, I don’t think that that posing nude or near-nude helps the women’s lib movement, in many cases. I think it hurts it. Historically, most of a woman’s power was only in her sexual prowess (except in a few very exceptional cases). I believe that women’s lib is defined as women gaining power based on their skills and intelligence, not by appearance or sexual prowess. Having women pose nude or partially nude in such a way that causes them to be objectified only sends the women’s lib movement back in time. Now, this also doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t be proud of who they are or how they look. It’s about how they use it. Others may disagree with me. But, that’s what I believe.

What’s done is done. The calendar can’t be changed. I only ask, that in the future, people consider the larger impact of their actions in cases similar to those mentioned in this blog post. Thanks for your contributions Mel. I honor your opinions.

There are sick pics of women skier’s hucking off cliffs, skiing breath taking lines – and there are these – I guess when it comes to choosing which you want to look at or participate in – to each their own. Women are women and men are men and to think that men aren’t going to look at good looking women athletes for all that they are (including good looking), I believe goes against human nature. To that end, most women I know look at similar pics of men just as much. I have had many lift conversations in my life about “good looking guy skiers – married one even ;)) I also think that the guys checking out the women pro skier bikini shots also know, that woman can mostly likely out ski them- I don’t think their skills are overlooked just because they show their mid-drift. There are a lot of women pro skiers these days who also list “model” as a second or equal profession – what about those ladies?

I would say that as women come up in the sports world both in the actual sports and sports media – we will see more cliff hucks and less bikini shots, but as Mike says it was women behind that FOBP calendar, so I would bet there will still be the bikini shots. Some women like to show it, some do not. Everyone knows nothing in sports is equal across the gender line, but the nearly naked pics don’t bother me. In my opinion, it could be looked at that women are trying to take advantage of their beauty and using it as a strength against men’s weaknesses for good looking women. I believe in using all advantages in life, if one of those advantages is using some “sexy” to get something done, so be it. I have never felt once in sports or in my career that my skills have been overlooked because of it.