The National Brotherhood of Skier’s mission is… “To identify, develop and support athletes of color who will win International and Olympic winter sports competitions representing the United States and to increase participation in winter sports”.
For the past 50 years, they have been the world’s largest Snowsports organization, exposing people of color to winter sports. It is their continued goal to expose people, especially people of color, to the vast outdoors and Snowsports.
Under the administration of Gus Pannel (1977-1982), the Olympic scholarship fund was created and Team NBS was formed.
Team NBS has provided scholarships and funding for more than 45 athletes since it’s inception.
They have had four (4) Olympians, two (2) in the Paralympics, Bonnie St. John and Ralph Green, and two (2) in the Olympics, Seba Johnson and Errol Kerr, both representing Caribbean Nations.
The NBS x Spyder Scholarship Program commenced in spring of 2021 with the selection and acceptance of 3 winter sports skiing athletes into the program. Athletes aged 12-17 are selected by NBS based on general principles such as grades, leadership skills, abilities, dedication, goals, commitment, athletic potential, and financial need. Each season 3 applicants are awarded with a $6,000 scholarship provided by Spyder, as well as $2,500 in product allowance. Here's a look at this year's selections/winners.
2023-24 Spyder Scholarship Athletes:
Michael Bronson Culver
Discipline: Alpine Skier
Age: 17
Team: NBS Elite Team Member
NBS Club Affiliation: Eastern Region, Sno-Burners of NYC
Years skiing: 15
School/Ski Club: Stratton Mountain School
Goals: “Ski on the World Cup circuit and be a global contender in ski racing”
Pius Rogers
Discipline: Freestyle Skier
Age: 17
Team: NBS A Team Member
NBS Club Affiliation: Rocky Mountain Region, Ski Noir 5280
Years skiing: 8
School/Ski Club: Boise High School/Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation
Goals: “First Ugandan to be in the Winter Olympics in 2026”
Kennedy Hicks
Discipline: Freestyle/Moguls Skier
Age: 15
Team: NBS B Team Member
NBS Club Affiliation: Eastern Region, Sno-Burners of NY
Years skiing: 7
School/Ski Club: Carrabassett Valley Academy
Goals: “Make it to the NorAm and World Cup levels”
Every year the National Brotherhood of Skiers selects junior level athletes from their national network of clubs to their Team NBS. Spyder provides the entire team with uniforms, lifestyle and layering apparel as well as custom race suits for their alpine ski racers. These athletes are the future of the sport and compete in all ski and snowboard disciplines.
2023-24 Team NBS:
Elite TeamBrian Rice II – Age 19 – Snowboard Freestyle – Midwest
Lenim “LJ” Henriquez – Age 15 – Snowboard Freestyle – Eastern
Keagan Supple – Age 21 – Snowboard Freestyle – Eastern
Michael Bronson Culver – Age 17 – Alpine Ski Racing – Eastern
A Team
Ava Keenan – Age 13 – Freestyle/Moguls – Rocky
Fantaye Gilbertson – Age 18 – Alpine Ski Racing – Rocky
Pius Rogers – Age 17 – Freestyle Skiing – Rocky
Chelsea Charles – Age 14 – Alpine Ski Racing – Eastern
B Team
JTallulah Proulx – Age 15 – Alpine Ski Racing – Midwest
Henniyah Rivers – Age 16 – Alpine Ski Racing – Midwest
Jayna Davis – Age 16 – Alpine Ski Racing – Rocky
Rosemarie Gilkes – Age 15 – Alpine Ski Racing – Eastern
Helaina Rivers – Age 16 – Alpine Ski Racing – Midwest
Henri Rivers IV – Age 16 – Alpine Ski Racing - Midwest
Kennedy Hicks – Age 16 – Freestyle/Moguls – Eastern
Bryce D Welch – Age 17 – Snowboard Freestyle – Eastern
Elle Keenan – Age 16 – Freestyle/Moguls – Rocky
Kenna Keenan – Age 18 – Freestyle/Moguls - Rocky
Zahra-Kadi Kegode – Age 14 – Snowboard – Rocky
Cameron “CJ” Taylor – Age 14 – Alpine Ski Racing – Western
Alexis Heins – Age 16 – Alpine Ski Racing – Eastern
Bogale Giddings – Age 15 – Freestyle Skiing – Western
C Team
Jackson Fellows – Age 12 – Alpine Ski Racing – Eastern
Reggie Hicks – Age 14 – Freestyle Skiing – Eastern
Leila Loriaux – Age 13 – Alpine Ski Racing – Rocky
Julien Loriaux – Age 14 – Alpine Ski Racing - Rocky
Will Chaussignand – Age 12 – Nordic Skiing - Rocky
Christiaan Anderson – Age 10 – Snowboard – Eastern
Jonah Numbere – Age 10 Alpine Ski Racing – Midwest