It’s time for the Black Ski Summit, Y’all!
ِِAnyone who’s been to the National Brotherhood of Snowsports’ (NBS) Summit knows that it’s a legendary event. Held this year in Keystone from Feb. 22 to Mar. 1, the annual fundraiser will support the organization’s 52-year commitment to building a more inclusive environment on the slopes.
It’s where strangers become friends, and friends become family, united by the shared feeling of belonging in a terrain that traditionally lacks representation.
Soon, the crisp mountain air will be thick with excitement, as more than 1,200 people from around the world gather to enjoy a lineup of lively events, including a Sunday sermon and gospel concert, a sneaker ball and a horse-drawn sleigh ride through Soda Creek Valley.
On Feb. 23, an opening ceremony and parade will kick off the festivities; but more than a week-long party, the overall goal of the Summit is to promote diversity on ski teams, provide scholarships for young Black athletes and increase media representation.
A Collective Effort
NBS’ Summit is all about making an impact in the future of winter sports. The organization focuses on tangible actions and initiatives aimed at making the ski industry more inclusive. While reversing underrepresentation, the Summit paves the way for future Black Olympians and eliminates socio-economic barriers to outdoor exploration.
For nonprofit organizations with a shared mission of diversification, the Summit is an opportunity for collaboration that creates positive change.
“There’s a distinct picture people get when they think of skiers and snowboarders,” says 10-year Air Force Airman, Michael Grant. “It’s time to normalize us on the mountain.”
The former Young Adult Leaders Program manager currently serves as chair of the Colorado Springs chapter of the BIPOC Mountain Collective (BMC), an organization that strives to break the mold and defy stereotypes related to outdoor sports.
With other chapters in Denver, Seattle, Canada, Washington DC and at Howard University, its members participate in meet-ups and group rides. The Colorado Springs chapter typically meets in Breckenridge, and is planning to end the 2025 ski season with a Springfest at Loveland, A-Basin, Granby and Winter Park.
NBS is organized into over 60 clubs across the United States and internationally. In Colorado, its clubs include Ski Noir 5280, Ski Ambassadors of Colorado Springs and Slippers-n-Sliders (SnS), one of the organization’s founding clubs.
“My mom attended the first Summit, and skied until she was 84. She’s 95 now, ” says Roxanne Garlington, president of SnS. “So, I have 18 more years of skiing.”
The former ski instructor has attended 43 Summits, and oversees the Ski For Kids, Inc. program, which introduces the joy of skiing to inner city youth and families who would otherwise be limited by the expense of the sport.
“A Whole Lot of Pepper”
The idea for NBS resulted from a meeting between Ben Finley and Art Clay in 1972. Both presidents of Black ski clubs, they agreed to bring their clubs together with others around the country.
The first gathering – dubbed, “A Happening” – attracted approximately 350 skiers. Year one of the Summit was hosted in Aspen, and two years later, the Sno-Gophers Ski Club hosted over 750 skiers in Sun Valley, Idaho. The numbers kept growing each year, and in 2023, the Anniversary Summit was held in Vail, with at least 50 clubs and 2,000 people present.
In addition to club members, “Renegades” or unregistered attendees, show up to the annual events.
That’s a whole lot of pepper on the mountain…but it’s not always like that during the season.
“It’s tiring being ‘The Only,’” says Quentin Griffin, a self-proclaimed renegade who has attended the NBS Summit for the last 15 years.
Acknowledging that organized clubs and NBS tend to cater to an older generation, he points out that the cost of his favorite sport – snowboarding – can be restrictive.
“$400 to $500 is really pricey. Younger people can’t afford a whole week off; and registration; and hotels.”
To mitigate the expense, he partnered with Ski Noir 5280, a local group co-founded by Quincy Shannon, that relies on partnerships, sponsorships, membership and grassroots fundraising efforts to eliminate financial barriers and increase inclusivity.
“Last year was one of the best times I had with Ski Noir. There were about 15 Black guys – all snowboarders – riding at Vail…there was no pressure to join a club or get some fancy jacket. It was good to just hang out,” Griffin reflects.
The organization provides discounted lift tickets and season passes, inviting its nearly 100 members to “Slide Thru Saturday” trips at Colorado’s best ski resorts. It also provides free and low-cost outdoor gear donated by community members, retailers and ski resorts themselves.
Shannon, who started the ski club to qualify for discounted Summit passes and, most importantly, to further his own mission of diversifying the snowsport landscape in his home state, now serves on the NBS Board of Directors.
“It’s isolating in the mountains. It’s one of the few places where I can go days without seeing someone who looks like me, or someone who understands my reality,” Shannon states in a commercial by Verizon’s TestForce.
“Diversifying the mountains is so important because it allows people to know that this space that you see is accessible to all.”
From Bunny Slopes to Black Diamonds
The NBS Summit celebrates Black athletes and figures in the world of winter sports, showcasing role models for the next generation, with events for all ages.
“[Our founders] are in their 80s, and they should be honored as often as possible while they still ski the slopes with us,” says NBS President, Henri Rivers.
An engineer and project manager by trade, Rivers began skiing as a child, and in 2003 he became the NBS National Team Coach. From 2008 to 2016, he served as an administrator for the organization’s Olympic Scholarship Fund, helping to increase the national team to 34 athletes as a competition director.
Currently, Team NBS’ athletes represent all four of the organization’s regions. Keagen Supple, one of the top athletes, is competing at the Revolution Tour, NorAM and European Cups.
“When they say Black people don’t ski, I like to show them videos of my boys,” says his mother, Karlyn Supple.
“We got involved with NBS as my son’s competition level kept increasing, and we needed some financial assistance for training and travel to competitions.”
NBS provides scholarships to help with training, coaching, race fees and travel costs, raising approximately $200,000 annually. The funds make snow sports accessible for athletes like Lenim “LJ” Henriquez of the Eastern Regions’ Thrillseekers Ski Club of Hollis, New York.
At 16, Henriquez was the youngest competitor in the 2025 XGames, and his hard work is paying off with a Red Bull Team membership and an appearance in the latest Warren Miller film, 75.
For young people just starting out, the ability to see successful people who look like them in traditionally underrepresented spaces can be a powerful motivator, inspiring them to pursue new interests and hobbies.
NBS’ focus on inclusion in a traditionally white-dominated sport is crucial for fostering a diverse and welcoming community. According to the National Ski Areas Association, Black snowsport participants represented just 1% of skiers/snowboarders during the 2023-2024 season.
Join the Party
Keystone Resort will host the NBS Summit for the third time, with races, fundraisers, happy hour events and activities such as skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides and access to the world’s largest mountain top snow fort.. To support the organization’s mission, the resort has committed to donating to its scholarship fund,
Online registration for the 2025 NBS Summit is selling out fast, but those interested in attending may be able to secure a late registration or register onsite, with discounts available for seniors, young adults and half-week registrations.
The Black Ski Summit is the perfect mix of adventure, camaraderie and relaxation, creating moments immortalized by shared stories and inspiring all generations to embrace the chill.
Bring on the winter wonderland and snowy fun!
Editor’s note: To learn more about NBS or donate to support its programs, visit www.nbs.org.
