About us
who said this isn't for you*
We’re building the thing we wanted to find: a way into sport and the outdoors that doesn’t ask you to already be good at it.
What we are
a community, and a platform for leading
Asterisco* is a women-led community and umbrella organization that connects women through sport, movement, nature and shared experience.
The problem
the barriers are real, and they're rarely about fitness
For many women, access to sport, the outdoors and freedom of movement is still limited — by cultural, social, emotional and structural barriers rather than ability.
nobody to go with
Not knowing anyone who does it, and not wanting to turn up alone.
no idea how to start
No obvious entry point, no gear, and no one to ask the basic questions.
fear of judgment
The worry of being watched, or of not being “good enough” to belong there.
a persistent gap
Fewer women in sport, in the outdoors, and in the leadership roles around both.
These barriers rarely disappear on their own. They need spaces designed specifically to remove them: low-pressure, non-competitive, beginner-first, and built around relationships rather than performance.
Our vision
move without fear, and step into leading
We imagine a world in which women can freely inhabit their own bodies, move without fear, and step into leadership — of their own choices, their shared activities, and their communities. Sport becomes a tool for connection, confidence and belonging, not a performance to be judged.
Long term, we want Asterisco* to grow into a recognised international movement: a network of active local communities, connected globally, that keeps growing beyond any single event.
The umbrella model
two sides of the same empowerment
This is the structural idea that makes Asterisco* more than a series of events — and we treat both sides as one process, not two separate programmes.
leading — the event creators
Any woman with an idea can bring it to us: a sport she wants to introduce, a topic she wants to raise, an experience she wants to create.
Together we help her find partners, a venue and the practical pieces she needs. She takes care of the content, the promotion and the delivery. It’s co-creation, but the woman with the idea is the one in the lead — deciding, organising and owning the outcome.
For many, it’s a first real experience of leadership and responsibility.
taking part — the community
The second layer is everyone who comes to try, connect and grow through the events themselves.
Barriers come down by offering access and space to try something new alongside other women — somewhere to exchange knowledge, attempt a sport for the first time, or simply meet people.
It’s paired with reflection: every event is also a chance to raise a question, share what you know, or open a debate about something that matters.
Peer learning
women learning from women
Events are consistently built around a woman who already knows something — how to fix a bike, how to climb, how to think about nutrition and movement, how to play padel — sharing that knowledge directly with others in an approachable, pressure-free setting.
It is not “come learn from us.” It is “come learn from each other, with us alongside you.”
The pattern repeats: someone in the community already has the skill, we create the structure for her to lead and share it, and the whole group’s capability grows together.
Nature, bodies & resilience
the outdoors is central, not decorative
We treat time outside as more than a setting for activity — it’s part of how the community builds resilience, individually and collectively.
freedom of movement
Outdoor activities and time in nature are core community-building practices. They offer freedom of movement, a shared sense of discovery, and a setting away from performance pressure and everyday expectations.
a parallel we take seriously
We draw a deliberate parallel between the way women’s bodies are subject to control, judgment and pressure, and the way the natural world is subject to exploitation. Reconnecting women with nature — through movement and shared experience — becomes a source of care, solidarity and resilience for both.
room for real conversation
Every event is also a space for dialogue. Alongside the activity, we raise topics worth reflecting on together: the gender gap in sport and outdoor leadership, the relationship between the body and nature, self-love and accepting your own limits and desires, and what it actually takes for a woman to move from taking part to leading.
We’re explicit that we don’t claim to have the answers. The goal is to open honest conversations and support women in questioning their own routines and assumptions, together.
Movement outdoors plus open reflection on real topics — that combination is what turns a one-off activity into something that builds long-term awareness and community strength.
Who we are
three women who found each other outdoors
We came together through a shared love of the outdoors and sport, and a growing concern for what’s happening to the natural world around us. That shared conviction is what led the three of us to co-found Asterisco* together.
maria laura pinos
PArtnerships and events executive and communications
Born and raised in Ecuador, Laura is a climber and researcher working on co-creation for climate change adaptation and local development. Contact her if you are a partner looking to sponsor and organize an event. Also, if you want to write, talk about the Asterisco project to your audience.
lina skjelstad
Fundraising, business development and administration
Lina grew up on a farm in Norway, close to nature from an early age. She holds a Master’s degree in Area and Global Studies for International Cooperation, focused on environmental issues and the gender gap. She managed the admin part for Asterisco, contact her for funding applications.
natalia kurowska
Creative graphic designer and branding
Natalia is from Poland — a graphic designer, video content creator and outdoor sports enthusiast with a strong interest in visual storytelling and the relationship between people, nature and landscape. She has seven years of formal education in graphic design. Contact her for creative collaborations, merchandising of Asterisco.
What makes us different
a connective layer, not a competitor
.
We don’t treat sport as an end goal or a route to competition. We treat it as a tool for connection, confidence, exploration and leadership.
Three ways in
come with us*
01
join the community
Come to an event, meet people, try something new. No experience or equipment required.
03
partner & support
Sponsors, clubs, venues and organizations — we’d like to hear from you.