Travel + Leisure

Members of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) are heading to the slopes of Vail to celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary.

The NBS is a black ski organization — with 57 clubs and over 3,500 members around the country —that raises funds to support their mission of "increasing participation in winter sports while developing and supporting athletes of color who will win international competitions.”

The group is hosting its annual summit and milestone anniversary from Feb. 4-11.

“The NBS 50th AnniversarySummit represents the culmination of an idea and the vision of its founders, Ben Finley and Art Clay, to bring together a national community of African American Snowsports enthusiasts,” David Geiger, Western Region Vice President told Travel + Leisure. “The NBS continues to develop athletic talent and promote Snowsports to underrepresented communities of color and to all that support our mission. The NBS is a testament that representation matters, a sentiment often spoken of by our President, Henri Rivers.”

The NBS anniversary also coincides with Vail’s 60th year as a ski destination. Beth Howard, Vail Mountain Chief Operating Officer told T+L.

“Here at Vail Mountain, we’re honored to host the 50th NBS Summit in conjunction with our 60th Anniversary, and we’re committed to creating more equity, inclusion and diversity at our resort and throughout the industry,” she said. “Vail is supporting all sorts of fun and exciting activities during the NBS 50th Anniversary Summit, [including] a First Tracks event, an on-mountain BBQ, a concert featuring Ne-Yo, a race series and much more.”

The summit programming also includes a diverse array of activities on and off the mountain, like ski tours, ski clinics, game nights, après parties, and parades. Travelers to Vail Mountain this ski season will be able to experience some of the thrilling 5,317 acres of terrain, Bavarian and Swiss-styled villages, as well as the popular Seven Legendary Back Bowls, the mountain’s ungroomed terrain for strong skiers.