Black skiers gather to enjoy the slopes, encourage young people in the sport

WHISTLER, B.C. — Jackie Roberts rips down Whistler mountain in a hot-pink ski suit, with the confidence of a pro. Any other day, and things might be different. The Mercer Island woman is a high-level skier, but it is easy to lose your self-esteem in the white world of skiing, she says, even if it is your favorite sport.

On this sunny day, she is surrounded by thousands of brothers and sisters. Camaraderie is thick. The white slopes of Whistler have changed complexion, and fair skin and rosy cheeks are harder to find.

Skiing has never been considered an African-American sport. But the small minority became the vast majority earlier this month in Whistler, when thousands of black skiers united in the Canadian town for the 30th anniversary and summit of the National Brotherhood of Skiers — an umbrella organization for black ski clubs across the country — which formed in 1973 and now boasts 20,000 members.

For many, an NBS summit is a much-needed escape, a chance to ski and socialize in a supportive environment. For others, socializing is the only goal. Organizers estimate there were at least 1,000 renegades in Whistler, in addition to the 3,400 members who registered and actually skied.

"Rarely do you get a chance to spend a week surrounded by thousands of black professionals," said Leslie Jones, communications director for the NBS. "That's an attraction even if you don't ski."

Roberts, who recently retired from Boeing, said she is "usually the only black woman everywhere."

She has just started her first term as president of Four Seasons Northwest, a black ski club based in Seattle, and says she is loving the chance to expose area youths to the joys of skiing and the NBS.

"It is so nice to get around your own people, to enjoy yourself in a stress-free environment," said Roberts, 55, taking a break for a bowl of soup in a restaurant atop Whistler.

"In the Northwest, I am always a minority. At a summit, I can be myself. People aren't concerned with who you are and what you do. The only important thing is how to get down the mountain."

Others say partying and fashion are equally as important as skiing. Whistler's resorts, bars, restaurants and boutiques catered to the horde of NBS skiers. The various ski clubs also hosted their own potlucks, happy hours and parties with big-name entertainment. Sinbad did two comedy shows for NBS members, and Jonathan Butler played a concert.

Fliers tout awesome snow, exceptional skiing, and off-the-hook après with hip-hop, R&B and reggae.

The bars in Whistler's pedestrian-friendly village switched from Madonna and Dave Matthews to Nelly and George Clinton. And after skiing, NBS members switched from Gore-Tex and clunky boots to stylish fur hats, leather pants and full-length mink coats.

Although skiing and socializing can dominate at summits, the NBS' main mission is to raise money for the training, coaching and development of Olympic-caliber athletes, with the goal of getting a young black skier on the U.S. Olympic Team. Every event is a fund-raiser for the NBS Olympic Scholarship Fund.

"Financial burden can prevent some promising athletes from achieving their goals," Jones said. "We provide encouragement and support so that our youth can attend elite ski academies and training programs."

Whistler/Blackcomb donated 5 percent of all pre-booked revenue to the NBS Olympic Scholarship Fund.

All the clubs have the goal of getting broader ethnic representation on the winter-sports teams. Each club identifies members with the potential to be pros, who then try out for Youth Team NBS, which has 11 members.

Andre and Suki Horton of Anchorage are the most noted young skiers. The brother and sister train and race the entire season. Their parents are schoolteachers and without the NBS would never be able to afford their full-time training.

Andre, 23, is a member of the U.S. Ski Team's development program and is determined to race in the 2006 Olympics. He had no ski role model — but hopes to become one. Suki, 19, skis for the Western Elite Ski Team of the USSA Western Region.

African Americans' access to skiing can be limited by geography, demographics and economics. But the biggest barrier, many say, are stereotypes. People often think skiing is too expensive for blacks.

"It is an affluent market, and people don't look at us as being affluent," Jones said. "So they don't advertise in our magazines or on our radio stations."

The idea for the NBS started after a meeting between Ben Finley and Art Clay in 1972. Both were presidents of black ski clubs during a time when it was rare to see African Americans on the slopes. They proposed bringing together clubs nationwide for a summit. The first gathering was in Aspen, Colo., in 1973, with 350 skiers.

Much has changed since the first event, when black skiers were greeted with stares. Though there was not much overt racism, the group did encounter naiveté. People asked if they were the entertainment or if a basketball event was happening in town. The Aspen City Council asked for the Colorado National Guard to be on alert for that first event, Finley said.

There are now 84 NBS clubs in 75 cities. Members are 40 percent male, 60 percent female and range in age from 6 to 65. The NBS is the largest ski organization of any type, said Jones.

Roberts went to her first summit in 1979 in Sun Valley, Idaho, after taking lessons from Seattle resident Joe Jones, who ran a ski school.

Jones, now president emeritus of Four Seasons, got into skiing by a fluke. He did a regular sports commentary for an African-American radio show. During a program on sports that people of color didn't participate in, he asked anyone interested in skiing to call the station. The phone rang 85 times.

So Jones raised some money, got two instructors, found sponsors, bought a yellow school bus and started a program at The Summit at Snoqualmie.

"You could say I fell into it," Jones said. "I had a director's badge but tumbled down the mountain as much as everyone else."

Jones later trained and got certified, then he molded the ski school into a club and began networking.

Every ski season, Four Seasons (www.fsnw.org) brings two busloads of kids from the Central District to Snoqualmie for six weeks of classes. Some of the kids have never been out of Seattle.

"They get on those skis and you see their self-esteem go way up," Roberts said. "It's expensive, so people think it's elitist. But we are getting inner-city kids exposed."

Roberts urges white parents with adopted African-American kids and black families that live in white neighborhoods to join, so their kids can meet other black children.

"It's a culture connection," she said. "These kids establish and maintain relationships."

About 80 percent of those who ski with the NBS return, Jones said. "The social support and bonding keeps them."

The ski industry is starting to take notice. Ski areas have not seen growth since the 1980s, as baby boomers age and drop out. But minority populations are growing and skew younger.

"They are starting to wake up and see our economic power," Jones said. "Resorts are sending us e-mails saying they love our group, that we are spirited and fun."

Larry Smith of Puyallup has been an NBS member since 1993, when a friend talked him into attending a summit in Vail. Now, he skis at least 15 days a year.

"I'm hooked, not only because of the skiing but the people," Smith said. "Four thousand African Americans come together and have a great time. It's all about fellowship."

Leslie Fulbright: 206-515-5637 or lfulbright@seattletimes.com