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Blazing Trails

By Marcus Charleston

You stand at the top of a mountain on a clear, cold winter’s day. The air is crisp, the sky bright blue and before you is a vista of snow covered mountains as far as the eye can see. This last moment before pushing off contains the mixture of anticipation and excitement comparable to waiting for the signal to begin a race. You take one last look before adjusting your goggles and gripping your ski poles, as you stand ready to make a run down the hill. The exhilaration you feel as you speed down hill with the wind in your face and the snow flying reminds you it’s great to be alive.

Anyone who enjoys skiing has experienced the thrill and excitement of that opening scene many times over. It’s especially true of the Blazers Ski Club. In addition to the joy of skiing, the Blazers Ski Club provides African Americans the opportunity to learn the sport of skiing. With a membership of over 200 Delaware Valley skiers, the Blazers Ski Club is one of the charter members of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS). Founded in 1979, the NBS is comprised of 84 African American ski clubs across the country.

“I heard about this black ski club that meets at the African American Museum and I went out and met them and fell in love right then and there,” says Courtland Gee. Gee’s involvement with the Blazer’s Ski Club began with trip planing and has resulted in his current appointment as club president. In this capacity, Gee is, “Making sure the Blazers Ski Club name gets out in the Philadelphia community and surrounding areas.”

In addition to community recognition, Gee was instrumental in creating the ski club’s adult development program. “What we basically do is take beginning skiers or people who are returning to skiing and help them improve their skills,” according to Beverly Booker, chairperson of the Blazers adult development program which takes place over six inconsecutive weeks between January and March.

While some people might prefer to sit on a warm beach instead of skiing down a cold mountain during the winter months, Blazers Ski Club member John Lockette says, “I think if people were to try skiing at a beginner level they would enjoy it. Don’t let the cold dissuade you.”

While the development program is for adults, there is a component of the Blazers Ski Club for children ranging in age from 4 to 17. The Jr. Blazers, under the direction of Judy Harris, teaches African American youth about skiing and snowboarding. “Initially the purpose was to train African American youth to participate and compete in the Olympics,” says Harris, who points out some Jr. Blazers have become competitive skiers. Whether they aspire to the Olympics or just recreational skiing, involvement in the Jr. Blazers can instill a lifelong love of skiing.

Scott Lynch used to ski with the Jr. Blazers program when it was just starting twenty years ago. Lynch, who stopped skiing after high school but resumed after college, is impressed with how far the Jr. Blazers have come. According to Lynch, “It’s a good program and a lot of the Jr. Blazers today are in development programs in the Poconos and national programs racing against some of the best kids in the country.”

When the winter is all but a memory, some of the Blazers put away their skis, roll out their bikes and hit the road. The Biking Blazers is an auxiliary of the Blazers Ski Club. Their riding season extends from April to October. “We have organized rides as well as weekend rides and some of us ride during the morning as well as the evening,” says Belinda McGlone of the Biking Blazers.

With three levels of riders – leisure, fitness and rabid, the Biking Blazers are able to accommodate the riding skills of whoever would like to join them. At the close of their season in October the Biking Blazers drive to Salisbury , Maryland to take part in the Sea Gull Century ride where bikers can ride at various levels up to 100 miles.

Whether you ski or bike, the Blazers hope to increase awareness of their clubs and invite those who might be interested to join them for a ski lesson or a bike ride.

For more information on the Blazers Ski Club visit their website at WWW.BLAZERSSKICLUB.ORG.