December 6, 2007 (Boise, ID) – The Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (OIWC) is in their second call for Nominations for women leaders in the snow industry for the Pioneering Woman Award, as well as the First Ascent Award for new emerging leaders in snow sports.

This year OIWC will offer both recipients a monetary scholarship for which they can apply toward a national leadership program that will support their goals and ambitions. The OIWC has sourced leadership programs that match their overall mission, or the recipient may provide a program to be approved by the board. Details are listed on the OIWC website, www.oiwc.org.

About the Awards
OIWC has served women in the outdoor industries by providing networking, education and mentoring opportunities since 1996. In 2002, OIWC introduced the Pioneering Woman Award to honor women in the Outdoor industries who have furthered the vision of the OIWC by demonstrating an outstanding commitment to mentoring female colleagues. In 2006, OIWC created the perfect complement to the Pioneering Woman Award with its First Ascent Award, and introduced the award at SIA in 2007. This award recognizes a woman new to the industry who demonstrates strong potential for leadership.

New Search – Submit a Nomination for 2008 Awards
For the Pioneering Woman Award, OIWC is searching for courageous women that have made a difference for other women, as both mentors and leaders. For the First Ascent Award, the nominees should include women new to the snow industry that are making fast and creative inroads in their a respective categories.

Please submit your nomination for the awards online at www.oiwc.org/awards. The deadline to submit a nomination is December 15th, 2007.

Last years recipients included: Anne-Marie Boissonnault, Co-Publisher of Ski Press, winner of the 2007 Pioneering Woman Award, and Amber Stackhouse, Quik Silver Team, Snow sports film producer and director for Misschieff films, winner of the 2007 First Ascent Award. The first SIA Pioneering Woman award was presented in 2006 to Donna Carpenter of Burton.

Award Ceremony
The ceremony will be held at the SIA Mandalay Bay Conference hall. This year’s theme is “The Snow Lounge,” the First OIWC evening Gathering to honor the recipients. This gathering is an opportunity for women in the snow industry to mingle, network, and learn about OIWC’s programs aimed at equipping women for success.

The Snow Lounge sponsors
We are pleased to announce our team of sponsors in the snow industry: SIA, Burton, Tubbs, CamelBak and more.

The OIWC will be seeking industry wide support, sponsorships and involvement for this inspirational and unique mentoring evening. Please share this announcement with powder enthusiasts, outdoor winter lovers, manufactures, businesses owners, companies with women’s specific categories, writers, athletes and promoters and great women making a difference.