Each year, the Voile Scholarship for Women in the Backcountry aims to empower and elevate women who are passionate about backcountry skiing and splitboarding. This initiative is more than just a scholarship; it’s a commitment to fostering a more inclusive and representative backcountry community.​

In 2025, we received an inspiring array of applications from women across the country, each sharing their unique journeys, challenges, and aspirations in the backcountry. After careful consideration, we’re thrilled to announce Annabell Recierdo as the Grand Prize recipient and Haley Brenkmann as the Runner-Up recipient of the Voile Scholarship for Women in the Backcountry.

Continue below to read the winning essays…

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Grand Prize: Annabelle Recierdo

Philadelphia, PA • Snowboarder

About one year ago, I was watching my male-dominated ski group ski down a popular East Coast backcountry spot called Tuckerman’s Ravine. At the time, I had only ridden at resorts for about two seasons. I had zero backcountry education, equipment, and experience. While I hiked up with them, with all borrowed equipment, I did not ride down with them. Instead, I watched longingly from the bottom. I made a promise to myself I would take strides in my journey in entering the backcountry by receiving relevant education and saving up for the necessary equipment.

This year, I took an Avalanche Level 1 training course with Colorado Mountain School. For the first time, I was equipped with a splitboard rental and put it to use for two days in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park. I specifically looked for a women’s avalanche safety training, where I met fourteen like-minded women under the supervision of two incredible instructors, Eryka Thorley and Aili Farquhar. I look back on that trip fondly for the female camaraderie, my quick taking to the rhythm of skinning up, the unmatched feeling of earning my turns, and the new wealth of knowledge I accumulated.

I would like to be considered for the 24/25 Voile Scholarship for Women in the Backcountry because I aim to put my new backcountry skillset to good use. However, I still lack the equipment to do so. I’m relatively new to the winter sports community because the concept of winter sports was never attainable/accessible for me growing up, financially and physically. In short, I was raised within a single-income household with many siblings, so costly extracurricular activities were not a priority for our family (understandably so). Additionally, I was raised by a parent who was diagnosed with a disorder that disabled them in bringing us outdoors. It wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I could start financing my own extracurricular activities. I picked up snowboarding as a means to rework my relationship with the outdoors. Since then, I’ve experienced a profound level of catharsis; I trust myself and my body to do amazing things outdoors.

It is a long-term goal of mine to work in some capacity as a backcountry guide for women. Although new to the winter sports community, I share a similar vision to Voile, as I felt compelled to give back to the female winter sports community early in my journey. For the past 3 seasons, I’ve spearheaded a female ski/snowboard trip as a one-person team. I don’t make any profit from the trip. The “profit” I made was a community of 80 attendees, which grew to 100 attendees the second year, and 115 attendees the third year. We fostered a sense of community amongst ourselves and stay connected on and off the mountain. I’ve seen beautiful friendships formed, ski/snowboard skillsets improving, and a sense of leadership within me that I didn’t know I possessed. It took my passion for snowboarding and for uplifting female communities to realize there is a leader within me that is motivated to do even more. Although my trip has reached as many as 115 female attendees, not a single attendee has ever gone on a backcountry trip. I believe my community will benefit from me gaining experience in the backcountry because I will lead others in exploring the backcountry once they also receive the proper education and equipment. It would be an honor to look back and see how Voile was the catalyst in my new journey of exploring and leading in the backcountry, by granting me the vessel of a splitboard.

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Runner-Up: Haley Brenkmann

Midvale, UT • Skier

I’ve only been skiing in the backcountry for four years, but in that short time, I’ve developed a deep love and respect for these wild spaces. The backcountry has given me more than adventure—it’s given me purpose, community, and a connection to the land that I feel deeply responsible for protecting. I serve on the board of the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the human-powered experience in the Central Wasatch. Our mission is to protect access, defend the character of our terrain, and ensure these mountains remain undeveloped for future generations. In one of the most heavily trafficked ranges in the country, this work is more important than ever. Through this role, it has shown me that effective advocacy isn’t measured by years on skis—it’s about showing up with consistency and care. I’ve contributed to community outreach events, participated in land use planning discussions, and worked to elevate the voices of everyday backcountry users. I’m deeply committed to keeping the Wasatch open, inclusive, and sustainably managed so that all who seek connection in these mountains have the opportunity to find it. One of my biggest personal goals is to ski Denali. It’s a dream not just because of the mountain’s size or beauty, but because it’s one of the clearest symbols of what we’re fighting for. Denali’s glaciers are rapidly retreating. Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it’s carving through the landscapes we cherish. I want to use my journey toward that summit to advocate for awareness and action around climate change, especially the loss of our alpine glaciers. This scholarship would directly support that mission. The gear I currently use is aging, and new skis would allow me to safely pursue bigger objectives, from Denali to multi-day traverses in the Uintas. More than just equipment, these skis would be tools—enabling me to reach deeper into the mountains and bring others with me, whether through mentorship, education, or storytelling. I’ll continue to advocate for the Central Wasatch, help create space for newcomers, and speak up for policies that prioritize sustainability and access. My dream is to merge passion with purpose—to give back to the community that welcomed me, and to protect the mountains that have shaped who I am. To me, backcountry skiing isn’t about chasing ego or elite lines—it’s about community, joy, and shared stewardship. With Voile’s support, I’ll continue using my voice and my skis to fight for the future of our winters.

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The Voile Scholarship for Women in the Backcountry Recipients were selected by the sum scores from the volunteer judge panel. The Voile Scholarship for Women in the Backcountry Recipients consent to sharing their stories on the V Team blog and @voilemfg Instagram and Facebook. This scholarship is not endorsed or affiliated with Instagram.