3 minute read
Creating Community On The Slopes | Ebony Ice Works To Bring Ski Opportunities To All
Emma Macek
Emma Macek is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
When Ranjit Singh was younger, she never imagined herself as a skier. She didn’t see many people who looked like her out on the slopes and didn’t know where to learn.
As an adult, Singh found the perfect group to help her finally have the opportunity to ski — Ebony Ice.
A Milwaukee-based Black snow sports club, Ebony Ice focuses on increasing access for people of color and supporting them throughout their snow sports journey.
“It’s all about representation and being invited and feeling safe when you get there and feeling like you have an environment where you can flourish and where you can build your skill set,” said Singh, now the group’s president.
As temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, skiing can be a great way for all to enjoy Wisconsin’s winters. Ebony Ice offers a supportive community with learn-to-ski programs that start at age 6.
“You’re not going to have to carry the weight of learning something new by yourself because we’re going to be right by your side,” Singh said of the group.
“We’ll show you how to put the boots on. We’ll show you how to walk. We’ll show you how to carry your skis, and if you’re not ready, we’ll carry them for you until you are.”
The group also is full of cheerleaders who help encourage others along the way, Singh added.
Covering Costs
In addition to education and encouragement, Ebony Ice aims to alleviate some of the costs associated with getting started, as it can be expensive to learn how to ski and purchase equipment.
“If you don’t know if you’re going to like it, are you really going to invest hundreds of dollars to do it on the front end?” Singh said.
Members receive discounts on lift tickets and classes, access to borrowed items from a community closet and deals from partner stores like REI, Burton and Les Moise. Supporting talented athletes of color to reach the next level in snow sports competition also is part of the Ebony Ice mission, including financial support.
Year-Round Activities
Skiing and snowboarding activities with Ebony Ice don’t stop in Wisconsin. As an affiliate of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, the group plans trips to large mountain resorts to be among an even larger community.
Ebony Ice tries to make these trips as affordable as possible for interested members by sharing lodging and transportation costs. And the events don’t end in winter, either.
“We find that if you love to ski, generally speaking, you’re an outdoorsy kind of a person,” Singh said. “So we wanted to make sure we were building community year-round, not just in the wintertime.”
This past summer, Ebony Ice members watched a concert and a baseball game together and many joined for hikes and bike rides.
Whatever the recreational activity, Singh encourages people to push themselves out of their comfort zone.
“I’m such an advocate for having unlimited opportunities and never putting a stop to our potential and seeing what we might be interested in,” Singh said. “How will you know if you never try?”
Learn More
For details about Ebony Ice and how to get involved, visit ebonyice.org.
