2022 - 2023 Far West Skier's Guide - 38

National
Brotherhood
of Skiers, Inc.
Celebrates
50th Golden
Anniversary
of NBS
Summit
by Bethany Collins
Public Relations Director, NBS
The National Brotherhood of Skiers, Inc.
will celebrate 50 years of bringing " Soul on
Snow " at the Annual NBS Summit in Vail,
Colorado, February 4-11, 2023. Members from
African-American ski clubs from all over the
United States and the United Kingdom will
come to celebrate, renew and create new
friendships at the 50th Golden Anniversary of
the NBS.
Various activities begin with the NBS
Parade of the ski clubs in Vail Village, Gospel
Celebration Concert on the hill, youth activities,
Race Competitions, and much more!
The National Brotherhood of Skiers, Inc.
is a non-profit organization representing African-American
snowsports enthusiasts, particularly
skiers and snowboarders across the
nation. In addition, the NBS awards multiple
scholarships to student athletes in skiing and
snowboarding, many of whom compete nationally
or internationally. The NBS mission
is " to identify, develop and support athletes of color
who will win international and Olympic winter
sports competitions representing the United States,
and to increase participation in winter sports. "
After decades of bringing together and
empowering thousands of Black snowsport enthusiasts
across the country, the ground breaking
organization continues to promote positive
change in the outdoor industry and change
perspectives about who belongs on the slopes.
The organization started after Ben Finley and
Art Clay were introduced by a mutual friend
in 1972. During that time, African Americans
on the slopes were rare, and Black ski clubs
were an exception. The first NBS event was
a gathering of members of the 13 founding associated
clubs with 414 members in 1973,
Founders of the National Brotherhood of Skiers Inc., Ben Finley and Art Clay received the
FWSA's Snowsport BuilderAward in 2015, and were inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Hall of Fame in 2019. photo provided by Trey Johnson, NBS
The intital
" Summit " NBS
Ski Week
occurred in
1973 in Aspen,
Colorado.
Fifty years
later, in 2023,
NBS will be
honoring the
50th
Anniversary
of that original
event in Vail,
Colorado.
Henri Rivers, President of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, Inc., was the
recipient of the inaugral Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Award in
2021 by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. photo provided by NBS
which became an annual event called " The
Summit, " first held in Aspen, Colorado. The
organization now has 54 clubs with over
10,000 members, and the NBS will celebrate
its 50th Anniversary in Vail, Colorado.
The National Brotherhood of Skiers
Western Region is one of 10 affiliated councils
of the Far West Ski Association, and the Council
President serves on its Board of Directors.
Ben Finley and Art Clay were honored as recipients
of the FWSA Snowsports Builder
Award in 2015, presented to an individual(s)
that has made a contribution to benefit snowsports
with an indelible impact made on the
sport. The NBS founders were also inducted
38 Far West Skier's Guide 2O22 - 2O23
into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame
in 2019, whose members represent prominent
athletes and snowsport builders whose accomplishments
showcase American skiing and
snowboarding.
Henri Rivers, NBS President, was named
by U.S. Ski & Snowboard as the inaugural recipient
of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Champion Award in 2021. The award is focused
on recognizing a person, group, organization,
or program that has contributed
significantly and sustainably to advancing diversity,
equity, and inclusion (DEI) in skiing
and snowboarding. ss
2022 - 2023 Far West Skier's Guide

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