The National Brotherhood of Skiers
The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) was chartered in 1974 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in Illinois in 1975. It received its 501(c)3 designation in 1978. We ae proud to be one of the founding Ski Clubs.
The NBS is federation of 84 predominately Black Ski Clubs throughout the United States. It was formed with the misssion and desire to train and teach our youth the art of skiing with the hope of having African Americans join the US Olympis Ski Team. All NBS member clubs help support this vision and mission.
At a time when African Americans on the ski slopes were a rarity and black ski clubs were an exception, Ben Finley and Art Clay were not deterred from their vision to create a national Black Summit for skiers. The two founders met in 1972 after being introduced by a mutual friend while Finley was President of the Four Seasons West Ski Club of Los Angeles and Clay was Trip Director of the Sno-Gophers Ski Club of Chicago. They moved forward with a proposal to bring together 13 black ski clubs for an event which was called “A Happening”, but was later changed to “Black Summit,” at the suggestion of a member of the Jim Dandy Ski Club of Detroit. The Black Summit would represent black skiers coming together at the summit of Ajax Mountain. The purpose was “to identify and discuss problems and subjects which were unique to the black skiing population, ski and socialize”, according to Finley.
The Annual Black Ski Summit is now one of the most recognized Premier Skiing Events in the world and is attened by thousands every year. To find out more abour the NBS click the logo above or click —> The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS).