NBS Summit (Black Ski Summit) 2027

The slopes were never just white. For over 50 years, the NBS Summit has been proof.

Introduction

Picture a mountain village in the Rockies, thin air and blinding sun, and hundreds of Black skiers and snowboarders piled into gondolas, hotel lobbies, and après-ski dance floors — laughing loud, dressed loud, and absolutely owning the slope. That's the NBS Summit, the annual gathering of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports (formerly the National Brotherhood of Skiers), and it is one of the most joyful counter-narratives in American winter sports. Skiing has long been sold as a sport for a narrow, homogenous crowd. The NBS Summit has spent more than half a century quietly and loudly proving otherwise — turning a week on the mountain into a family reunion, a cultural celebration, and a real pipeline for Black athletes into competitive and Olympic winter sports.

Event at a Glance

• Event: NBS Summit (Black Ski Summit)
• Host Organization: National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS), formerly National Brotherhood of Skiers
• Most Recent Edition: 53rd Annual Summit, Keystone Resort, Keystone, Colorado — February 28–March 7, 2026
• 2027 Dates: Late February–early March 2027 (exact dates and host resort not yet confirmed by NBS at publication — check nbs.org for updates, as the Summit rotates between major North American ski destinations)
• City & Venue: Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO (most recent host; rotates annually)
• Best For: Black skiers and snowboarders of all levels (including first-timers), ski club members, families, young athletes, solo travelers looking for community
• Vibe: Joyful, high-energy, multigenerational, equal parts athletic competition and family reunion
• Dress Code: Ski/snowboard gear on the mountain; festive resort-casual for evening parties and galas
• Recommended Trip Length: A full week if you can swing it (the Summit traditionally runs about 7 days), or a long weekend for the core race and party days
• Registration Types: NBS club membership, individual Summit registration, race entry add-ons, banquet/gala tickets

History and Mission of the Organization

The National Brotherhood of Skiers was founded in 1972 by Art Clay and Ben Finley, formally chartered in 1974 and incorporated in 1975, growing out of a handful of predominantly Black ski clubs that wanted to ski together, race together, and support each other on mountains where they were rarely represented. The very first Summit took place in 1973 in Aspen, Colorado, drawing roughly 350 skiers from 13 founding clubs — believed to be the first known organized gathering of Black skiers in the country. It became an annual tradition almost immediately, rotating among major resorts and growing decade over decade. The 1993 Summit at Vail remains the high-water mark, with an estimated 6,000 participants, and by the late 1980s and early 1990s more than 80 clubs were active under the NBS umbrella. In more recent years the organization rebranded from the National Brotherhood of Skiers to the National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS) to reflect the growing snowboarding contingent and a broader vision of winter sports. Today NBS is a nonprofit with a two-part mission: identify, develop, and support athletes of color who can win international and Olympic winter sports competitions representing the United States, and increase Black and Brown participation in winter sports at every level, from beginner lessons to the World Cup circuit. Through its Olympic Scholarship Fund and Team NBS athlete development programs, the organization has helped launch the careers of Black ski racers and snowboarders who might otherwise never have had access to elite training.

What to Expect: Races, Parties, and Community

The Summit is built around a rhythm that repeats every year, resort after resort: mornings on the mountain, afternoons of racing and clinics, and nights that turn hotel ballrooms into full-blown celebrations. Expect NASTAR-style recreational races and more competitive divisions where club skiers post real times against each other, on-mountain clinics for beginners and intermediate skiers led by instructors and NBS members, a snowboarding contingent that has grown every year since the NBS rebrand, a welcome reception and closing awards banquet that function as the social centerpiece of the week, themed parties and step shows that turn evenings into a full nightlife scene, youth and Team NBS athlete showcases spotlighting the next generation of Black ski racers, and vendor expos and club meet-and-greets where longtime NBS members reconnect and newcomers get folded into the family. First-timers are almost always struck by the same thing: how quickly strangers become friends, and how normal it feels to see a mountain village suddenly full of Black faces in ski gear.

Where to Stay

NBS typically negotiates a host-hotel block directly at or near the summit resort, and staying in that block is worth it — it puts you inside the daily buzz, walking distance from the welcome reception and evening events, and surrounded by fellow attendees rather than commuting in from off-mountain. At Keystone, that meant slopeside lodging within the resort's village; if the 2027 host resort differs, expect NBS to announce a similar on-mountain or village-adjacent block once dates are confirmed. Budget-conscious travelers can look at condo-style rentals or nearby towns connected by resort shuttle, but be aware that ski-week pricing in host towns climbs fast once the Summit dates are announced, so booking early matters more than usual.

Getting There

Most NBS Summit hosts sit within a few hours of a major regional airport with direct or one-stop flights from major U.S. cities — for the Colorado editions, that's Denver International Airport, followed by a resort shuttle or rental car up into the mountains. Build in extra travel time for winter weather delays on both ends of the trip, and if you're flying in with ski or snowboard gear, confirm your airline's equipment policy and bag fees before you go. Many longtime NBS attendees carpool or coordinate shuttles with their local club, which is also one of the easiest ways to fold yourself into the community before you even reach the mountain.

Who Should Attend

The Summit welcomes NBS club members and total newcomers alike — you don't need to belong to a club or have raced a day in your life to register. It's a natural fit for beginner and intermediate skiers or riders who want lessons and community rather than solo intimidation on the mountain, competitive recreational racers looking for a real NASTAR-style field, families and multigenerational groups (it's genuinely one of the most kid- and elder-friendly ski weeks in the country), young athletes hoping to catch the attention of Team NBS's development pipeline, snowboarders looking for a crew that reflects them on the mountain, and solo travelers who want an instant social scene without knowing a single person going in. If you've ever felt like the only Black person on a chairlift, this is the week that flips that entirely.

BTN Insider Tips

Join or connect with a local NBS-affiliated ski club before you go — many clubs organize group travel, shared lodging, and even gear rentals for members, which can meaningfully cut your costs and guarantee you a built-in crew for the week. Register early: host-hotel blocks and race divisions fill up, and pricing tends to increase closer to the event. Pack layered gear you can dress up for both mountain days and evening events — you'll want something that transitions from the slope to the banquet without a full outfit change. Budget separately for the closing banquet and any ticketed parties, which are often the most memorable nights of the week but sell out fast. And if you're new to skiing or snowboarding entirely, say so — NBS's culture is built on mentorship, and veteran members are famous for adopting first-timers on the spot.

Mark Your Calendar

The NBS Summit runs annually in the late-February-to-early-March window, immediately following the flagship winter travel season, which makes it a great capstone to the ski calendar. The 2026 edition — the 53rd annual Summit — ran February 28 through March 7, 2026, at Keystone Resort in Colorado. NBS has not yet published confirmed dates or a host resort for 2027 at the time of this writing; the Summit has historically rotated among major North American ski destinations, so don't assume it returns to the same mountain two years running. Check nbs.org directly as the 2027 season approaches, and follow NBS and BTN for the announcement the moment it drops.

Final Takeaway

The NBS Summit is what happens when a community decides a sport wasn't built with them in mind and shows up anyway — decade after decade, resort after resort, race after race. It's a week of real athletic competition, real Olympic-pipeline development, and an unmatched party scene, but underneath all of it is something simpler: joy, visibility, and belonging on a mountain that has too often told Black skiers and snowboarders they didn't belong there at all. Whether you're chasing a race bib or just chasing good company on a chairlift, this is one of the most rewarding weeks on the Black travel calendar.

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