‘Radically inclusive’ outdoor space for LGBTQ+ and people of colour

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — For 16-year-old Jishaun Gibson, snowboarding at Big Snow American Dream indoor ski slopes in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was a welcome change of pace.

Gibson’s involvement at the slopes came about through the Hood to Woods Foundation, a New York- and New Jersey-based nonprofit that “inspires urban kids to get outdoors through snowboarding,” according to its website. Over its 15-year history, Hood to Woods co-founder Omar Diaz estimates that it has helped hundreds of underprivileged young people like Gibson discover new interests and outlets through snowboarding.

“It keeps me from having to leave my house,” Gibson told CNBC in a lounge room at the Big Snow complex. “This is different than being out on the street and being in danger.”

Hoods to Woods, the brainchild of Diaz and co-founder Brian Poepoe, is dedicated to creating new opportunities for teens and young adults from backgrounds like theirs, and hosts weeks-long programs in urban areas in both states.

The organization is just one of many working across the country to get people of color involved in winter sports and other outdoor activities, areas where they tend to be marginalized and underrepresented.

According to Snowsports Industries America’s 2019-2020 Participation Survey, only 67.5% of white Americans participated, compared to 7.7% of Asian participants, 9.2% of Black participants, and 14% of Hispanics.

Similarly, the National Ski Areas Association’s updated 2023 demographic survey found that white participants make up 88.1% of guests.

Part of the disparity is the high barrier to entry for these winter sports, given the average cost of equipment and travel. The same Snow Sports Industries America survey revealed that more than half of those who participated in winter sports in 2019-2020 made more than $75,000 per year.

But organizations like Hood to Woods are on a mission to break down those barriers.

The non-profit organization was founded in 2009 by veteran snowboarders Paupau and Diaz, who wanted to contribute to the local community by introducing young people to the outdoors through snowboarding.

“It was really important to me to have representation of people who look like me and come from the same environment as me, because when I go out in the mountains and hear people talking, they don’t sound like me,” Diaz says. “When you grow up in the city, in the mountains, everyone around you speaks completely differently.”

The entire program, including snowboarding lessons, transportation and meals, is free for youth participants, and PawPaw and Diaz are raising funds to cover the costs of transportation and meals.

The organization also accepts donations of equipment and gifts, and Big Snow has been lending its facilities to nonprofit organizations at no charge for many years.

In addition to Hoods to Woods, there are other nonprofit organizations across the United States that work toward similar goals.

For example, Edge Outdoors in Washington state says:[address] “We’re here to end the visibility of Black, Indigenous and women of color in snow sports,” founder Annette Diggs told CNBC, adding that the organization is inclusive of women from the LGBTQ+ community, including participants who identify as transgender and queer.

“One of the unique things about Edge is that we work with the community. A lot of our participants are mentored by people from the Black and Brown community,” she said.

Ciara Young, who is Black and has multiple sclerosis, learned disability skiing through an Edge scholarship.

“I’m so grateful that my instructor listened to me and said, ‘I want to help you ski the way you want to ski and be confident,'” she said. “It was a great experience being with other people of color.”

Meanwhile, Unlikely Riders, a Vermont-based nonprofit founded in 2020, plans to build an outdoor community center managed by people of color, which co-founder Abby Crisostomo envisions as a “radically inclusive space” in the future.

Crisostomo estimates that in the four years since its founding, Unlikely Riders has hosted more than 145 events, donated 2,500 pieces of winter gear, and provided free instruction to more than 570 local residents. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the group introduces people of color and the LGBTQ+ community to mountain biking, fostering a welcoming environment.

Small businesses like Skida and ToughCutie, which are owned by people of color, have played a vital role in supporting Unlikely Riders’ efforts by donating equipment and hosting events.

In addition to the mission of inclusivity, the Hoods to Woods co-founders also emphasized the importance of mentorship within the program, including reaching out to participants in the community and assisting with financial literacy, college applications and job offers.

“I’ve seen kids who were behaving badly at school or at home do a complete 180-degree turn when they’re in an environment where they can think freely and be themselves,” Po-Paw said. “To me, that’s one of the most moving things I’ve witnessed as a person and as a co-founder of this program.”

Through Hoods to Woods, Diaz, PauPau and the volunteers have built many relationships with participants, some of whom return as volunteers after completing the program.

“It’s the perfect combination,” Diaz told CNBC. “Giving back to young people and changing their lives and doing it in a place that I love. I’m happy. I can’t think of a better way to give back.”

Miquan Chisholm, 27, was one of the first to participate in the program 15 years ago. He is now an active volunteer, and although his daughter is only three years old, he envisions her joining the community one day.

“Snowboarding changed my life because it changed my perspective. I never thought I’d be snowboarding as a black man, and I fell in love with it,” he said. “Hoods to Woods gave me the confidence to try new things, to be open-minded in life, and made me realize there are so many opportunities out there.”