National ski organization celebrates 50 years of bringing Black communities to the slopes

Image: Vail Daily

This week, over 2000 Black skiers and snowboarders traveled to Vail, Colorado to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) at their annual Black Summit that is taking place from 4 to 11 February. In 1973, founders Ben Finley and Art Clay created the inaugural Black Summit, originally called “A Happening”, bringing together around 350 people and 13 Black ski clubs in Aspen. Their goal was simply to “identify and discuss problems and subjects which were unique to the Black skiing population, ski and socialize”, Finley explains.

Fifty years later, the NBS has brought thousands of Black skiers to the slopes. With its approximately 5000 members and 57 participating clubs, it has evolved into one of the largest ski organizations in the country. Over the years the organization has developed opportunities for group ski lessons, particularly for children and beginners of all ages, mentorship and a variety of social and community fundraising activities.

Image: Vail Daily - Founders Arthur Clay and Ben Finley with members of Team NBS

With a strong focus on promoting inclusivity in the sport, the NBS is also working to cultivate professional Black athletes through its Team NBS initiative that provides training, scholarships and funding for its athletes. Team NBS has produced four Olympians, two in the Paralympics, and continues to work with its athletes to help meet the massive cost of reaching Olympic-levels of competition through its scholarship fund.

“What we’re doing for our kids, what we’re doing for athletes of color, it affects America, it affects all of us,” says Henri Rivers, the President of NBS and a certified instructor himself.

“If we can identify more talented athletes that can represent and support the United States, that’s good for the United States, that’s good for the underrepresented communities, that’s good for every community.”

Adding to their history-making legacy, founders Finley and Clay became the first Black inductees into the United States Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2019. They were recognized for their impact on the ski industry, and for exponentially increasing the population of Black skiers through decades of dedicated outreach and community building. 

​​“I am very humbled by the fact that we have basically changed thousands of people’s lives by introducing them to something that they never would have experienced on their own,” Finley said. “Out of that experience has come a large family.”

Video: Courtesy of Pesky Media (January 2021)

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