EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Organizations across the United States are actively working to diversify winter sports by introducing young people of color to activities like skiing and snowboarding, spaces where they have historically been underrepresented. Nonprofits such as the Hoods to Woods Foundation are tackling high financial and cultural barriers to create more inclusive outdoor communities.

For 16-year-old Zyshawn Gibson, learning to snowboard at the indoor Big Snow American Dream park through Hoods to Woods offered a positive alternative to urban street life. "It keeps me out of the house," Gibson said. "It’s a different thing to do, instead of being outside in the streets and being in danger."

Hoods to Woods, founded in 2009 by Omar Diaz and Brian Paupaw, provides free snowboarding lessons, gear, transportation, and meals to underserved youth in New York and New Jersey. “The representation of people that looked like me and even came from my environment was important,” Diaz said, highlighting the cultural disconnect many feel in traditionally white-dominated mountain spaces.

The diversity gap in snow sports is significant. According to a 2019-2020 study by Snowsports Industries America, 67.5% of participants were white, compared to 9.2% Black and 14% Hispanic. A National Ski Areas Association report from 2023 found that 88.1% of skiers and snowboarders were white. More than half of all participants earn over $75,000 annually, underscoring the economic barriers to entry.

Similar organizations are expanding this mission nationwide. Washington-based Edge Outdoors focuses on making snow sports visible and accessible for Black, Indigenous, and women of color, including LGBTQ+ communities. Vermont’s Unlikely Riders, founded in 2020, has hosted over 145 free events and distributed thousands of gear pieces to build a "radically inclusive space."

Beyond skill-building, these groups emphasize mentorship and community. Hoods to Woods volunteers help youth with college applications, financial literacy, and job opportunities. The impact often comes full circle: Miquan Chisholm, a participant 15 years ago, now volunteers and hopes to one day enroll his daughter. “It changed my life because it gave me a different view on life,” he said.

By removing cost and cultural obstacles, these nonprofits are not only teaching sports but also fostering confidence, opportunity, and lasting community for a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts.