National Brotherhood of Skiers: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|African American sports non-profit}} |
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The '''National Brotherhood of Skiers''', Inc. (NBS) was founded in February 1973 in [[Aspen, Colorado]], USA and incorporated in 1975. |
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The '''National Brotherhood of Skiers''' (NBS) is a [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] focused on organizing and supporting [[African American]] skiers. The NBS comprises dozens of predominantly-black ski clubs in the [[United States]]. |
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NBS mission is to identify, develop, and support athletes of color who will win international and [[Winter Olympic Games|Olympic]] winter sports competitions representing the [[United States]]. |
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==History== |
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The current (2005) national president is Andrea Yowman. They go down hills very fast in the snow. |
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The NBS was founded by Art Clay and Ben Finley after being introduced to each other by a mutual friend in 1972. The first NBS event was a summit of members of the 13 founding associated clubs in 1973, which became an annual event.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.powder.com/stories/meet-the-national-brotherhood-of-skiers/|title=The Largest Group of Black Skiers in the U.S. Has an Uncertain Future|date=January 11, 2017}}</ref> That first summit, held at [[Aspen Mountain (ski area)|Aspen]], is the first known organized gathering of black skiers.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rei.com/blog/snowsports/rei-presents-brotherhood-of-skiing|title=REI Presents: Brotherhood of Skiing|first=Jess|last=Daddio|date=January 18, 2019}}</ref> |
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The organization was chartered in 1974 and incorporated in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-welcomes-the-national-brotherhood-of-skiers/|title=Summit welcomes the National Brotherhood of Skiers|first=Brad|last=Odekirk|website=www.summitdaily.com}}</ref> It is a member of the National Ski Council Federation, an organization formed in 1999 and composed of the largest ski clubs (and groups of ski clubs) in the United States.<ref name="auto3"/> |
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*[http://www.nbs.org NBS homepage] |
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[[REI]] published a short film about the National Brotherhood of Skiers and its history in 2019, also focusing on the outreach its member clubs do to spread snowsports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/03/new-film-charts-history-and-impact-on-skiing-of-black-ski-club/|title=Uplifting New Film Charts History and Impact of Black Ski Club|first=Katie|last=Klingsporn|date=March 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto3"/> |
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{{sport-org-stub}} |
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In 2020, co-founders Clay and Finley were set to be the first African Americans inducted into the [[National Ski Hall of Fame|U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-festival-for-black-skiers-in-idaho-became-a-coronavirus-nightmare-11585992600|title=A Festival for Black Skiers in Idaho Became a Coronavirus Nightmare|first=Dan Frosch and Ian|last=Lovett|date=April 4, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref> It was initially planned for late March, but was postponed to December of the same year due to [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/sports/outdoors/national-brotherhood-of-skiers-returns-to-sun-valley-for-annual-summit-honoring-its-founders/277-ac64092b-6ae4-4319-be29-b8d4ca48242c|title=National Brotherhood of Skiers returns to Sun Valley for annual summit to honor its founders|website=ktvb.com}}</ref> Members of NBS had twice previously submitted Clay and Finley to be inducted, both of which were unsuccessful.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-21/coronavirus-ski-trip-idaho-los-angeles-black-greater-risk-death|title=A nurse watched her father die of coronavirus in her hospital. She couldn't help him.|date=April 21, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> |
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==Summits and events== |
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The NBS had its first summit at Aspen in 1973 with 350 participants from 13 clubs.<ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/breckenridge-to-host-2008-national-brotherhood-of-skiers/|title=Breckenridge to host 2008 National Brotherhood of Skiers|first=Daily Staff|last=Report|website=www.vaildaily.com}}</ref> Before the summit, the Colorado National Guard was put on alert and remained on standby during the events.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtexpress.com/news/ketchum/the-brotherhood-comes-back-to-baldy/article_ab50e39e-59c3-11ea-909f-7f14e4916b69.html|title=The Brotherhood comes back to Baldy|first=Mark|last=Dee|website=Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper}}</ref> |
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The summits are held annually, usually lasting about a week, and the location changes from one year to the next.<ref name="auto4"/> |
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In 1993, which was one of the largest summits the NBS organized, about 6,000 participants met at [[Vail Ski Resort]] in [[Colorado]].<ref name="auto3"/> |
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===2020=== |
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The 2020 summit, held at [[Sun Valley, Idaho|Sun Valley]] from February 27 to March 7, consisted of about 600 participants from 51 clubs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/coronavirus-outbreak-rattles-black-skiers-summit-n1170366|title=Coronavirus outbreak rattles a black skiers summit|website=NBC News}}</ref><ref name="auto2"/> More than 100 of those participants, in the few weeks after the event, experienced symptoms of COVID-19.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/> Four participants, as of late April 2020, died from the virus.<ref name="auto"/> |
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Both co-founders, Art Clay and Ben Finley, were among those who tested positive for COVID-19 after the event.<ref name="auto1"/> Finley spent 3 days in the [[intensive care unit]] at [[UCLA Medical Center]] with the virus.<ref name="auto"/> |
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Sun Valley ski resort closed on March 15 due to COVID-19, following many other ski resorts in the United States.<ref name="auto1"/> |
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===Local club events=== |
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Many clubs that are affiliated with the National Brotherhood of Skiers host local events with the goal of encouraging black people to become involved in skiing and snowboarding.<ref name="auto3"/> Most affiliated clubs plan trips and events each season for their members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/2020/02/20/milwaukees-ebony-ice-ski-club-aims-get-more-people-slopes/4760858002/|title=Wisconsin's only black ski club aims to get more people on the slopes|first=Chelsey|last=Lewis|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref> |
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The Boston Ski Party, an affiliated club, hosts multiple annual events including "YouthFest", which brings 140 children to a local ski mountain to introduce them to snowsports.<ref name="auto3"/> |
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===Scholarships=== |
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On an annual basis, the NBS awards multiple scholarships to young adults in skiing in snowboarding, many of whom compete nationally or internationally.<ref name="auto3"/> Each year, the NBS runs a fundraiser for its Olympic Scholarship Fund with the goal of an African American skier or snowboarder competing in the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtexpress.com/news/sun_valley/nbs-founders-reach-skiing-s-summit/article_16afe270-5f32-11ea-8109-e7dbf3ba9cc4.html|title=NBS founders reach skiing’s summit|first=Tony|last=Evans|website=Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper}}</ref> |
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==Membership== |
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Rather than joining directly, prospective participants in events are required to be a part of a local ski organization affiliated with the NBS.<ref name="auto4"/> |
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, over 80 clubs were members of the NBS, and the 1993 summit saw 6,000 participants.<ref name="auto3"/> After that period, which REI describes as the organization's [[:wikt:heyday|heyday]], membership and participation in summits and events began to decline.<ref name="auto4"/> By 2019, club membership had declined to 53 with that year's summit's participation estimated at about 1,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/national-brotherhood-of-skiers-hosts-black-summit-at-steamboat-resort/|title=National Brotherhood of Skiers hosts Black Summit at Steamboat Resort|first=Leah|last=Vann|website=www.steamboatpilot.com}}</ref><ref name="auto3"/> However, from the period of about 2014 to 2019 membership levels continuously hovered at around 3,500 people.<ref name="auto3"/> |
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In terms of demographics, the NBS determined in 2016 that about half of members were over the age of 50.<ref name="auto4"/> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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*[https://www.nbs.org/ National Brotherhood of Skiers website] |
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[[Category:Skiing organizations]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:49, 6 July 2020
The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) is a nonprofit focused on organizing and supporting African American skiers. The NBS comprises dozens of predominantly-black ski clubs in the United States.
History
[edit]The NBS was founded by Art Clay and Ben Finley after being introduced to each other by a mutual friend in 1972. The first NBS event was a summit of members of the 13 founding associated clubs in 1973, which became an annual event.[1] That first summit, held at Aspen, is the first known organized gathering of black skiers.[2]
The organization was chartered in 1974 and incorporated in 1975.[3] It is a member of the National Ski Council Federation, an organization formed in 1999 and composed of the largest ski clubs (and groups of ski clubs) in the United States.[2]
REI published a short film about the National Brotherhood of Skiers and its history in 2019, also focusing on the outreach its member clubs do to spread snowsports.[4][2]
In 2020, co-founders Clay and Finley were set to be the first African Americans inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.[5] It was initially planned for late March, but was postponed to December of the same year due to COVID-19.[6] Members of NBS had twice previously submitted Clay and Finley to be inducted, both of which were unsuccessful.[7]
Summits and events
[edit]The NBS had its first summit at Aspen in 1973 with 350 participants from 13 clubs.[1][8] Before the summit, the Colorado National Guard was put on alert and remained on standby during the events.[5][9]
The summits are held annually, usually lasting about a week, and the location changes from one year to the next.[1]
In 1993, which was one of the largest summits the NBS organized, about 6,000 participants met at Vail Ski Resort in Colorado.[2]
2020
[edit]The 2020 summit, held at Sun Valley from February 27 to March 7, consisted of about 600 participants from 51 clubs.[10][6] More than 100 of those participants, in the few weeks after the event, experienced symptoms of COVID-19.[5][7] Four participants, as of late April 2020, died from the virus.[7]
Both co-founders, Art Clay and Ben Finley, were among those who tested positive for COVID-19 after the event.[5] Finley spent 3 days in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center with the virus.[7]
Sun Valley ski resort closed on March 15 due to COVID-19, following many other ski resorts in the United States.[5]
Local club events
[edit]Many clubs that are affiliated with the National Brotherhood of Skiers host local events with the goal of encouraging black people to become involved in skiing and snowboarding.[2] Most affiliated clubs plan trips and events each season for their members.[11]
The Boston Ski Party, an affiliated club, hosts multiple annual events including "YouthFest", which brings 140 children to a local ski mountain to introduce them to snowsports.[2]
Scholarships
[edit]On an annual basis, the NBS awards multiple scholarships to young adults in skiing in snowboarding, many of whom compete nationally or internationally.[2] Each year, the NBS runs a fundraiser for its Olympic Scholarship Fund with the goal of an African American skier or snowboarder competing in the Olympics.[12]
Membership
[edit]Rather than joining directly, prospective participants in events are required to be a part of a local ski organization affiliated with the NBS.[1]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, over 80 clubs were members of the NBS, and the 1993 summit saw 6,000 participants.[2] After that period, which REI describes as the organization's heyday, membership and participation in summits and events began to decline.[1] By 2019, club membership had declined to 53 with that year's summit's participation estimated at about 1,000.[13][2] However, from the period of about 2014 to 2019 membership levels continuously hovered at around 3,500 people.[2]
In terms of demographics, the NBS determined in 2016 that about half of members were over the age of 50.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "The Largest Group of Black Skiers in the U.S. Has an Uncertain Future". January 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Daddio, Jess (January 18, 2019). "REI Presents: Brotherhood of Skiing".
- ^ Odekirk, Brad. "Summit welcomes the National Brotherhood of Skiers". www.summitdaily.com.
- ^ Klingsporn, Katie (March 4, 2019). "Uplifting New Film Charts History and Impact of Black Ski Club".
- ^ a b c d e Lovett, Dan Frosch and Ian (April 4, 2020). "A Festival for Black Skiers in Idaho Became a Coronavirus Nightmare" – via www.wsj.com.
- ^ a b "National Brotherhood of Skiers returns to Sun Valley for annual summit to honor its founders". ktvb.com.
- ^ a b c d "A nurse watched her father die of coronavirus in her hospital. She couldn't help him". Los Angeles Times. April 21, 2020.
- ^ Report, Daily Staff. "Breckenridge to host 2008 National Brotherhood of Skiers". www.vaildaily.com.
- ^ Dee, Mark. "The Brotherhood comes back to Baldy". Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper.
- ^ "Coronavirus outbreak rattles a black skiers summit". NBC News.
- ^ Lewis, Chelsey. "Wisconsin's only black ski club aims to get more people on the slopes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Evans, Tony. "NBS founders reach skiing's summit". Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper.
- ^ Vann, Leah. "National Brotherhood of Skiers hosts Black Summit at Steamboat Resort". www.steamboatpilot.com.