10 Ski Events That Make Winter Sports More Accessible for Everyone

From LGBTQ+ ski weeks to programs for disabled athletes, these ski events help everyone find a place on the slopes.

There’s a certain barrier to entry when it comes to winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. For many, that barrier is financial, as prohibitive costs pile up with rentals, lift tickets, and lodging. For others, though, the biggest barrier is cultural — a lack of accessibility and diversity. According to the National Ski Area Association, nearly 90 percent of skiers and snowboarders in the U.S. are white, with historically minuscule representation from BIPOC communities, and 62 percent of skiers and snowboarders are male, according to recent reports. While openly out LGBTQ+ professional athletes are increasingly showing up and adaptive winter sports programs are available for visitors with disabilities at some ski resorts, there’s still a long way to go to make winter sports accessible to all.

U.S. resorts have poured concerted efforts into diversifying those demographics. From BIPOC organizations and queer ski weeks to events focused on women and disabled skiers, diverse groups across the country are out to shift the paradigm and break down barriers. Here are 10 ski weeks and retreats to check out this year.

Black Ski Summit

Recent data shows that only 1.5 percent of skiers in the U.S. are Black, but the Black Ski Summit is plowing a path toward change. Run by the National Brotherhood of Skiers, it’s the largest ski convention in the world, with week-long annual events in the country’s most famed destinations; the 2023 event took place in Vail, and the 2024 summit is slated for Big Sky, Montana in February. At each summit, Black skiers and snowboarders can register to partake in races, happy hours, parties, picnics, and leisurely days on the slopes at discounted rates, all while surrounded by people who make them feel welcome

BIPOC Mountain Collective

“Never ride alone” is the mantra for the BIPOC Mountain Collective, a nationwide network of clubs striving to unify marginalized communities on the slopes. Outposts are strewn across the country, from Denver and D.C. to Seattle and Colorado Springs, with inclusive meet-ups held each winter and early spring. For a fee of $39.99, members can register for events and trips open to all ages, skill levels, and interests, like the NBS Homecoming in Frisco, Colorado, and various day trips in places like Keystone and Winter Park.

Aspen Gay Ski Week

A veritable winter Pride festival held in one of the most iconic ski destinations in the world, Aspen Gay Ski Week is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also the only nonprofit gay ski week, uniting thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes and allies for a week of snow sports and après fun. For 47 years, the long-running event has defied prejudice, stereotypes, and elitism to provide a snowy sanctuary for othered skiers. What began as a small ski club and condo party has ballooned into a world-famous spectacle with parties, events, drag shows, ski races, costume contests, and omnipresent Pride flags billowing around town. The 2024 outing, scheduled for Jan. 14-21, will see the annual tradition of a giant Pride flag carried down the mountain, along with events like the Downhill Costume Competition, the Texas-themed Electric Cowboy dance party, a DJ-driven pool party with water slides and dancing, and Talks Like These, a panel discussion on the future of the LGBTQ+ community.

Related: Aspen's Gay Ski Week Is Right Around the Corner, Here's What You Can Expect

Hartford Ski Spectacular

Skiing and snowboarding are still too often reserved for people without disabilities. But thanks to events like the Hartford Ski Spectacular, there’s more room on the slopes than ever before. The annual outing, held by Move United at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, is among the foremost sports festivals for people with disabilities, with ample equipment designed to meet all needs. Founded more than 30 years ago, annual attendance now exceeds 800, and each year includes a week-long spree of events and activations hinged on accessibility. This season’s spectacular was held Dec. 3-9, and it included ski and snowboard lessons, racing, Nordic skiing, banquets, and networking events. Check the website for details about next season’s events as they become available.

Inclusive Ski Touring

Accessibility and inclusivity are the overarching philosophies at Inclusive Ski Touring, a nonprofit in Maine that offers snowy outings that are affordable, welcoming, and diverse. For all programs and events, which include both uphill and downhill skiing, participants can use a registration code that waives entry fees, diminishing the barrier to entry for novices and experts alike. Native Mainer Zach McCarthy started Inclusive Ski Touring in 2021, seeing enough immediate demand to merit nonprofit designation and create a community of like-minded individuals. For the 2023 season, 74 percent of participants had never done a ski tour before, 69 percent were female, 18 percent were people of color, and 1 percent were non-binary. The organization hosts events tailored to specific groups, like Underrepresented Athlete Programs for BIPOC and Latino participants, and programs that are just for women and non-binary attendees.

Related: 10 Best Ski Resorts in the U.S.

Come Along on T+L’s Top U.S. Adventures

Open Slopes PDX

What started as a one-off BIPOC ski night at Mt. Hood Skibowl in 2021 has evolved into a beacon of inclusivity in the Pacific Northwest. Open Slopes PDX is an organization that orchestrates ski and snowboard outings for BIPOC individuals — including equipment rentals, lift tickets, transportation, training, and dinner — at zero cost, while also providing job opportunities for mentors. Most events take place at Mt. Hood, but the organization has branched into the Seattle area to meet demand, hosting an event at the Summit in Snoqualmie. Open Slopes also hosts Queer Shred events, mostly at terrain parks, that cost a fraction of typical prices and allow LGBTQ+ folks to find camaraderie and encouragement.

Winter Rendezvous

Every January for the past 41 years, the quaint Vermont town of Stowe becomes an oasis of queer celebration. The Winter Rendezvous, next held Jan. 17-21 with the theme “Ski Party Play,” is a winter wonderland with a side of Pride, wherein hundreds of LGBTQ+ attendees are met with a lineup of activities and entertainment. This includes cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Trapp Family Lodge, the official Nordic Center of Winter Rendezvous, plus ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowmobiles, dog sledding, hot tubs, and of course, skiing and snowboarding on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Indoors, events include daily après-ski meet-ups, drag bingo, a dance party at Alfie’s Wild Ride, and a VIP Bonfire Bash.

Alaska Ski for Women

Cross-country skiing gets inclusive at the Alaska Ski for Women event, the largest of its kind on the continent, with upwards of 1,000 women — of all ages and abilities— convening every winter to ski in the Final Frontier. Held the first Sunday of February, the 2.4-mile course allows a safe outlet for camaraderie and expression, with colorful costumes encouraged. Preceding the main event in 2024, Friends and Family Ski takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, when family members and kids are invited to ski the decorated course. This is followed by the main event on Feb. 5, when men are encouraged to volunteer and cheer and women can ski as part of a classic race or a costume parade, and funds raised go to Alaska nonprofits working to end domestic violence. Food trucks, a silent auction, drink vendors, and free massages are all standing by from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and there’s a mimosa reception from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Utah Gay Ski Week

On the heels of the Sundance Film Festival, another type of winter festival heats things up in Park City during Gay Ski Week. The 14th annual event brings the LGBTQ+ community for a few days of fun in the snow and sun, complete with a plethora of après-ski gatherings, cocktail hours, and dance parties — not to mention the ample trails at Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort. Held Feb. 28 - March 3, the next event is expected to draw more than 1,200 skiers and snowboarders, with 25 percent discounts on passes afforded to Utah residents. The event’s schedule is just as appealing as the slopes, running the gamut from wine receptions and a Flashback Friday après-ski with ‘80s music to neon dance parties at Cabin Nightclub.

Related: How to Plan a Ski Trip to Park City, Utah

Wells Fargo Ski Cup

Accessibility is front and center at the Wells Fargo Ski Cup, a timeworn sporting event that’s been platforming inclusivity for 48 years. Held at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado from Feb. 22-24, the event is a professional ski race that serves to raise awareness and funds for the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). It all starts with the World Disabled Invitational, with professional athletes with disabilities vying in a race. This is followed by subsequent events like the Kid’s Snowplow Sprint, the Corporate Challenge race, and the Grand Finale, celebrating race winners atop the mountain.

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