Beginning in the spring of 2021, Spyder and the National Brotherhood of Skiers joined together to create a partnership and program aimed at providing resources to one of the largest underfunded groups and communities in the snow sports world. Each year NBS, through a strict set of criteria, selects 3 promising ski athletes to receive a first of its kind scholarship that will provide them with the much-needed funding and exposure to continue their journey to become professional skiers.

Spyder and NBS are committed to furthering the level of skiing in all aspects and encouraging the next generation of young athletes to set new records and change the face of skiing worldwide. By providing additional resources to new athletes each season the scholarship program allows the recipients to access world class coaching, facilities and additional time on the courses they will one day hope to claim the top podium spot at.

Scholarship Recipients

Rosemarie Gilkes

Rosemarie first started her skiing journey at three years old when her parents clicked her into a pair of bindings. Since then she has gone on to claim 1st place after 1st place in her division. As a member of the Thrill Seekers Ski Club and a Class 2 Scholarship award recipient she is looking to push her limits, ski techinically and flawlessly and attack each turn with power! Becoming a recipient of the scholarship will help Rosmarie realize her goals and push beyond her limits. The additional funding from the scholarship allows Rosemarie to take part in extra training which will bring her closer to standing atop the podiums she has her eyes on.

Ava Keenan

Ava is a Class 2 scholarship recipient and a member of the Slippers-N-Sliders Ski Club where she has achieved such feats as the 2021 Rocky Mountain Freestyle Rookie of the Year(the first black athlete to do so), be featured in Warren Miller's film 'Day Maker' and multiple 1sts in freestyle events. Being named a scholarship recipient has allowed her to train at more ski camps in the summer where she has learned countless new techniques and freestyle tricks. She has her sights set on being the first black woman to win an Olympic ski event.

Helaina Rivers

Helaina is a Class 2 scholarship recipient and a member of the Jazz-Ma-Tazz Ski Club. She currently trains and races at least 4 days a week thanks to the funding provided by the Spyder x NBS scholarship. The additional training, both on and off snow, is helping her achieve her goals of improving overal physical and mental fitness so that she can ski at her best from the first race of the season to the final podium. Along side her goals of becoming a World Cup racer and Olympian, she also wants to pursue a career in marine biology.

Jayna Davis

Jayna is a Class 1 scholarship recipient skiing with the Slippers-N-Sliders Ski Club. Over the past decade of her ski career she has seen her results improve as she continues to focus on her physical and mental training. Receiving the scholarship has allowed her to develop a more efficient training regiment that will help her on her path to regional qualifiers and beyond. In addition to her skiing goals she is also looking to become a positive influence and role model for her ski community and the next generation of skiers.

Henniyah Rivers

Henniyah is a Class 1 scholarship recipient and a member of the Jazz-Ma-Tazz Ski Club. Since recieving the scholarship she has continually reduced her race points as she strives to qualify for NHARA state and regional competitions as well as represent NBS ina. positive manner. The additional funding provided by the scholarship has allowed her to improve her training regiment by adding time to learn how to better inspect and understand race courses as well as maintain a higher level of physical health. Her journey will not be complete until she is skiing at an elite level and has qualified for US Nationals and one day, the US Ski Team.

Henri Rivers IV

Henri is a Class 1 scholarship recipient that has found his way on to the podium in several Ski Cross events. As a member of the Jazz-Ma-Tazz Ski Club, Henri makes sure to maximize the opportunities given to him from the Spyder x NBS scholarship by spending as much time on snow as possible and training with other elite college-level athletes. He has set his sights on placing in the top five of every event he enters, take 1st in at least two races and advance his academic and athletic abilities to the elite level.

*NBS scholarship program applicants are evaluated on general principles that are used in a typical selection program, including grades, leadership skills, abilities, dedication, goals, commitment, athletic potential, and financial need. Applicants must also meet or exceed the values and morals set by the NBS. To be eligible for acceptance into the scholarship program, applicants must be at least twelve years old and no more than seventeen years old at the time of acceptance into the scholarship program.

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