Conquering the slopes: National Brotherhood of Skiers recruits thousands of Blacks

Ebony, May, 1989 by Lynn Norment

Conquering The Slopes

National Brotherhood of Skiers recruits thousands of Blacks

STEAMBOAT Springs, Colo., had never seen anything quite like it. Actually, few ski resorts in the world have ever experienced such a ski meet. During a sunny but cold winter week, 4,000 Black skiers and would-be skiers from across the country convened in the small Colorado mountain resort community (permanent population 7,000, three of whom are Black), and boosted the local economy by an estimated $3.5 million.

It is indeed difficult for many to imagine 4,000 Black people coming together with the primary focus being skiing, especially since there is a pervasive misconception that Black people can't or don't ski and have no real interest in the winter sport. However, the National Brotherhood of Skiers is doing all it can to dispel that myth.

At least 3,000 of the diverse professionals who convened in the ranching town 157 miles northwest of Denver could actually ski or were attempting to learn. Conference officials estimate that another 1,000 or so opted to enjoy the numerous other activities, such as hot-air ballooning, dog sledding, picnicking on the mountains, or relaxing in the natural hot springs, rather than conquer the snowy slopes.

The NBS conferees enjoyed days jammed with activities, starting with skiing in the morning, followed by professional development and safety seminars, more skiing in the afternoon, and ending the day with lively social gatherings. There was a Western party one night, a dirty dancing party on another, followed by a casino night and a pajama party. The nightly affairs were held in a huge indoor parking garage because the town had no other facility large enough to accommodate the crowd.

However, the National Brotherhood of Skiers has a more noble mission than to simply establish itself as the nation's premier party organization. It also seeks to identify, develop and finance the training of young skiers who have the potential to participate in national and international competitions. According to Geroge Phillips, a Berkeley, Calif., property rehabber who has been on the NBS board since it was founded, the group devotes some $100,000 annually to this purpose, much of it raised by local ski clubs. He points out that nine NBS youth members are currently being funded at ski training institutions.

One young skier among the winter revelers was Rennard Walker, a 16-year-old junior at Benedictine High School in Detroit and a member of the Jim Dandy Ski Club. Rennard says he fell in love with the sport eight years ago. Now, he spends most winter weekends on the slopes outside Detroit.

Rennard was among the 100 or so young people, from toddlers to teens, for whom special activities were planned, including races, lessons and social events. Some of the aspiring Olympic skiers could barely walk, but they were already learning to negotiate the bunny (beginners') slopes. Randy and Tina Garlington of Denver stood out among the pack, for the father had his 10-month-old daughter Christie strapped to his back as the couple expertly glided down the most difficult of Steamboat Springs' 101 slopes spread out over 2,500 acres. The Garlingtons, like a number of other couples, met at an NBS summit.

THE National Brotherhood of Skiers was formally organized in 1973 when 13 local Black ski clubs decided to form a national organization to promote skiing among urban Black professionals. The first summit was held in Aspen, Colo., in 1974 and drew more than 400 Black skiers. Today, NBS is comprised of 46 local ski clubs and some 9,000 members. The summits, held every other year, have become one of the most popular Black social events of the year.

"It is a myth that Blacks don't ski," says Dianne Hesleph, the NBS press relations director. "When given an opportunity to participate, whether it's tennis, golfing, skating, gymnastics or skiing, we do excel." Ms. Hesleph, a public schools administrator in Salt Lake City, Utah, and an avid skier for 15 years, says NBS members range from factory workers to policemen to doctors and attorneys to business executives. Steamboat Springs officials say that the NBS was the "best dressed, best-behaved group of skiers" to ever have visited the resort.

Because it is the largest ski convention in the world, the NBS is now the target of competitive bidding from the premier ski resorts across the country, though few are equipped to accommodate such a large group.

Wellington E. Webb, auditor for the City and County of Denver who enthusiastically promotes skiing in his home state, says the No. 1 industry in Colorado is tourism, and skiing comprises 40 percent of that. "The state understands how important special markets are, and Black skiers have become the No. 1 specialty market," says Webb.

Most NBS members took full advantage of Steamboat Springs' famed powdery slopes. "This is my first summit," says Atty. J. Wallace Wortham of Denver, "but I'll never miss another one." Charles Sherrell, a Chicago radio station owner, echoes Wortham's enthusiasm. Warming up after an early morning run on the slopes during the week's first snowfall, he says: "I love it! It's never too cold or snowing too hard to ski. It's an exhilarating experience!"