Before Olympic dreams ever take flight, someone has to learn the ropes.A ski club based near Cincinnati, Ohio, is working to make sure more kids get that chance.Corbeau Snowsports, a Black ski club founded in Cincinnati in 1985, has spent decades working to expand access to skiing and snowboarding.“Our goal is to increase minority participation in snow sports,” said John Kennedy, vice president and director of youth programs for Corbeau Snowsports.Four years ago, Corbeau partnered with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Perfect North Slopes to launch a six-week program designed to remove barriers that often keep families from participating in winter sports.The program covers gear, transportation and professional instruction.“We’ve grown the program up to close to 130 students, 100% free, with everything,” said Colin Fitzpatrick with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.For many students, the experience starts outside their comfort zone.“It really helped me step out of my comfort zone. And I did make some friends here,” said Taft High School junior Aaliyah Israel, who is in her third year in the program.But for some participants, it’s becoming more than a seasonal activity.“We were able to launch our Olympic competition pilot program,” Kennedy said. “So what that is is six to eight weeks here at Perfect North Slopes.”The pilot program continues training out west.“And then we continue that out west in Park City with 28 hours on the snow, of advanced experience, and then also nine hours of private premier instruction at the Woodward facility there in Park City,” Kennedy said.Twelve-year-old Jonathan Kennedy is part of that next step.“Yeah, I want to get as good as my dad and beat my brother,” Jonathan said with a smile.He also has advice for other kids who may be nervous to try something new.“Just be brave. Stay calm and just try it,” he said.Kennedy said the long-term goal is about more than time on the slopes.“If they have the passion, if they have that rare talent, now there’s a possibility for them to be able to follow that journey,” he said.If you’d like to learn more about Corbeau Snowsports and its youth programs, click here.
Before Olympic dreams ever take flight, someone has to learn the ropes.
A ski club based near Cincinnati, Ohio, is working to make sure more kids get that chance.
Corbeau Snowsports, a Black ski club founded in Cincinnati in 1985, has spent decades working to expand access to skiing and snowboarding.
“Our goal is to increase minority participation in snow sports,” said John Kennedy, vice president and director of youth programs for Corbeau Snowsports.
Four years ago, Corbeau partnered with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Perfect North Slopes to launch a six-week program designed to remove barriers that often keep families from participating in winter sports.
The program covers gear, transportation and professional instruction.
“We’ve grown the program up to close to 130 students, 100% free, with everything,” said Colin Fitzpatrick with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.
For many students, the experience starts outside their comfort zone.
“It really helped me step out of my comfort zone. And I did make some friends here,” said Taft High School junior Aaliyah Israel, who is in her third year in the program.
But for some participants, it’s becoming more than a seasonal activity.
“We were able to launch our Olympic competition pilot program,” Kennedy said. “So what that is is six to eight weeks here at Perfect North Slopes.”
The pilot program continues training out west.
“And then we continue that out west in Park City with 28 hours on the snow, of advanced experience, and then also nine hours of private premier instruction at the Woodward facility there in Park City,” Kennedy said.
Twelve-year-old Jonathan Kennedy is part of that next step.
“Yeah, I want to get as good as my dad and beat my brother,” Jonathan said with a smile.
He also has advice for other kids who may be nervous to try something new.
“Just be brave. Stay calm and just try it,” he said.
Kennedy said the long-term goal is about more than time on the slopes.
“If they have the passion, if they have that rare talent, now there’s a possibility for them to be able to follow that journey,” he said.
If you’d like to learn more about Corbeau Snowsports and its youth programs, click here.
