NBS athletes prepare for a day on the mountain. Photo: National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS)

PARK CITY, Utah. — U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced a new four-year partnership with the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS). Founded in 1973, the NBS promotes winter sports among minorities and seeks to develop minority winter sports athletes. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NBS will work together to increase the participation of minorities in elite-level skiing and snowboarding competition.

“We are extremely pleased to partner and work hand in hand with U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said National Brotherhood of Skiers President Henri Rivers. “Their goal and the goals of the National Brotherhood of Skiers clearly focus on the same path of being the best in the world and making snowsports and elite-level competition more inclusive to African Americans and people of color. Elevating an African American to a World Cup podium in skiing and snowboarding would bring the United States to a new level of being the best in the world.”

The mission of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) is to identify, develop, and support athletes of color who will win Olympic and international winter sports competitions representing the United States and to increase participation in winter sports. Photo: NBS

U.S. Ski & Snowboard will provide NBS coaches access to its Sport Education programs as well as provide training opportunities to NBS athletes commensurate with their level of athletic accomplishment and qualifications. Both organizations will facilitate access to resources for minority athletes who have experienced economic barriers to entry into and continued participation in winter sports.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard recognizes the opportunity it has in fostering, cultivating, and maintaining a culture of inclusion and diversity in the mountains. In working with NBS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard hopes to grow the visibility of winter sports in underrepresented communities, as well as increase engagement with those populations.

Over the next four years, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NBS will work together on efforts to dismantle stereotypes and discrimination and promote racial inclusion and equity throughout the winter sports industry.