THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR WINTER SPORTS PLAYBOOK. READ MORE HERE.
In all her years of skiing, Brenda Dillard never encountered many people who looked like her on the slopes. Now, as a member and the former president of the Milwaukee-based ski club Ebony Ice, she’s helping to change that. “Our main goal is to expose BIPOC to being on the snow so they can reap the benefits of being outdoors and the community created [by] doing these sports together,” she says.
Ebony Ice officially launched in 1989 after two local founding members attended the National Brotherhood of Snowsports, a ski summit that brings together snow athletes of color. “They were encouraged by all the African Americans they saw on snow, so they decided they needed to bring this back to Milwaukee,” says Dillard. The club, which is a local branch of the NBS, now has about 75 members.
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Membership is affordable – $40 for an individual and $80 for a family – and it includes discounted lessons, mentorship and opportunities for local, regional and national ski trips.
The club’s primary event is an annual Learn to Ski and Snowboard program at Crystal Ridge in Franklin. Participants of all ages can enroll in small-group ski and snowboard lessons taught by licensed instructors. Currently, Dillard and other Ebony Ice members are pursuing scholarships to pay for their own training and licensure, so they can teach their members for future sessions.
The group attends the annual NBS summit – the next one is at Keystone in Colorado in February. While the group also plans summer camping and bike trips, the goal is to cultivate much-needed community during the colder months. “Being outside in the winter is challenging for all of us, but there are huge mental health benefits to venturing out,” says Dillard. “We want people to know, as long as you dress properly, the cold weather doesn’t have to be an issue anymore.”
