Hellllllooooooo lady friends and Wild Rye lovers! I’m Lexi, a lifelong skier who likes to paint, ride bikes, embark on road trips, and assemble impeccable musical playlists. I taught myself how to watercolor paint in 2020 and often incorporate snow that I collect on the mountain into my paintings as snowmelt. I live for winter and cold weather but I do not like ice cream.

Where do you live and what’s your day job?

I live in Salt Lake City with my 6-toed cat, Darwin, and spend most of my days in the Wasatch Mountains working as Alta Ski Area’s PR & Communications Manager. I hail from Freelance World so I also have a healthy amount of side gigs. I enjoy writing and have spun yarns for Powder Magazine, The Ski Journal, Cycle West Magazine, SKI Magazine and Ski Utah. I also manage the social channels for famed ski area trail map painters, Jim Niehues and Rad Smith.

What are three words your best friends would use to describe you?
My lady pal group text responded with: Sexy, plexi, flexi, witty, interior decorating chionophile. Sorry, they love extra credit.

What are 3 passions you have outside of work?
Crafting puns
Collecting vintage ski paraphernalia
Cold weather

Biggest “send it” moment—on the mountain or in life?
With the March 2020 Covid-19 shutdown, I abruptly transitioned from 50 to 0 working hours when I was running the administration for the IFSA Freeride Tour. There was very little work or money coming in so I decided to teach myself how to paint with watercolors. I didn’t know much about it, but I watched a lot of YouTube and painted for 100 days straight.

Five years later it still surprises me to see my art out in the world. It’s WILD. To think if I didn’t pick up that paintbrush just to see what I was capable of…

Who’s someone that has inspired you to get after it in the mountains?
To be honest, I don’t much “get after it.” I prefer to just show up and be in the mountains, preferably with friends and sharing my favorite places, lines, hikes or special spots. I think my pal and professional women’s sports photographer Re Wikstrom taught me that. She’s bullish about women being included and represented in outdoor spaces. She taught me to take up space and claim my feeling of belonging.  

What’s one piece of gear you swear by?
How are you all out there even SURVIVING without the Remi Shirt? I’ve got both colors. The fabric is phenomenal, lightweight, and comfy. I’ve used it biking, hiking, dating, river running; it’s so versatile and flattering. Oooh the detail of the flower embroidered on the collar points, I could go on and on…

What do you do when you're not skiing/riding/biking?
I’m reading books—big book nerd here—I don’t own a television. Scrolling eBay, I’m legit addicted to finding vintage ski stuff and bolo ties. You might find me being a foodie, watercolor painting, taking long baths, or caring for my beloved plants. I trained some garden vines to create an outdoor, leafy “living room” around my patio. I propagate cactus, grow lotus seeds for fun, and build terrariums. NERD! 

How do you encourage more women to step into outdoor spaces?
By banding together and getting ourselves out there. The safety and community women create when trying something new or pushing one another is something special indeed. You can unlock your inner Goddess in the presence of other women. LFG! 

Why Wild Rye?I’ve always admired the spirit and ethos of Wild Rye but when their new brand video dropped earlier this year I got a little teary and shouted “WILD RYE *GETS* US!!!” The woman-owned and led operations lead to better business decisions and practices, superior fit, and undeniable moxie. Their commitment to sustainability and giving gear a 2nd life just makes me (and mamma earth) happy. Plus, at the end of the day, as a friend of mine always says, “Look good, ski good.” Wild Rye gives women confidence and when you’re confident, amazing things can happen. 

Follow along on Lexi's adventures: @kapowder