Press Release

Media Contact:
Lori Rowell, Director of Marketing
Pats Peak Skiing, LLC
Henniker, NH 03242
(603) 428-3245, ext. 108
lori@patspeak.com

Members of the Boston Ski Party Youth Program present an award to officials from Pats Peak Ski Area (Tony Irving photo)

THE BOSTON SKI PARTY HONORS ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH PATS PEAK SKI AREA

Henniker, NH, June 8, 2009 – During the 2008/2009 season, Pats Peak, New Hampshire's premier snowsports destination, and The Boston Ski Party, a member organization of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS), were in their third year of a partnership to introduce young athletes of color to the sport of skiing and to develop future ski racers and Olympic hopefuls. That partnership continues to be strong and has introduced a new generation of skiers and snowboarders (100+) to the slopes and dreams of Olympic Gold. Recently, the Boston Ski Party presented Pats Peak with an award to thank them for their dedication to the partnership.

While six year old Luis Barbosa is several years away, it is his exposure to a sport once seemingly inaccessible to athletes of color that has buoyed his dreams of becoming an Olympic Champion. “I like to go fast”, says Luis who has been skiing since he was three years old in a youth racing program operated by The Boston Ski Party, a partnership with Pats Peak that brings youth each Sunday during the winter months to the mountain for lessons and race training. As a result that dream is even closer for 11 year old Georgia Bell who has been turning heads on the slopes this past season with wins at the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge and the National Brotherhood of Skiers annual “Winterfest” event, which draws hundreds of African American skiers from Florida to New England that share the same goal.

While these events have been a great introduction to racing, a number of these athletes are looking forward to testing their skills in higher level competitions next season as the club begins to prepare its racers for U.S.S.A sanctioned races via a new collaboration between The Boston Ski Party and Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. Together they are building a year round training and education program that will help prepare promising athletes for race competition – a competition that will more often than not be against racers with many competitive advantages from an early introduction to the sport to easier access to the mountain.

But that doesn’t stop The Boston Ski Party. These young skiers, riders, their families and the many volunteers that support them are dedicated. Launched with 12 youth in 2006, today more than 40 youth make the hour and a half trek to Pats Peak each week to receive ski and snowboard lessons, race coaching, and the support and mentoring of the programs many volunteers.

“Dreams like Georgia’s and Luis’ are not possible without the hard work they must put in each week during the ski season – and year round. It would not also be possible without the unique partnership we have had with Pats Peak Ski Area. They have been great partners and truly understanding the importance of creating greater access and diversity on the slopes,” says Richard Ward, The Boston Ski Party’s Youth Director.

“Creating the first African American Olympic medalist will take a lot of effort,” says Richard. “It is an expensive sport which makes it difficult for many children to break into. Through our club, other NBS national affiliates and the many partnerships we have formed we are beginning to inch closer to that dream.”

Nationally, NBS clubs are moving African American skiers of color forward in the sport. Paralympic skier, Ralph Green, at 28 became the first African-American to ski an alpine event at the 2006 Paralympics Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Lauren Samuels of the NBS club Thrillseekers was just named to the USSA Alpine Development Team for the 2009-2010 seasons.

The Boston Ski Party is doing its share to build on that success by building a pipeline of athletes and budding stars that range in age from three to seventeen years old. During the off season these young skiers and riders will participate in “dry land training” activities that will improve their conditioning and build their racing skills in preparation for next season. In 2010 the club hopes to work with the National Brotherhood of Skiers Eastern Region to host the first “YouthFest” event that may draw more than 100 aspiring young racers for a weekend of intense training at Pats Peak.

Says Ward, “We have a long way to go but the first step is getting youth out there.”

Jim Wall, Pats Peak’s Director of Services says, “Supporting cultural diversity on the ski slopes is not a new thing at Pats Peak. We have been hard at work for the last eight years to reach into the inner city of Boston. It is natural for us to do this. We are the southern most ski area in NH, with Boston in our backyard. Working closely with organizations like The Boston Ski Party provides us the opportunity to earn the respect of the emerging inner city market. We are delighted with the success of these many athletes and happy to play a role in achieving the organization’s mission”.

For more information about Pats Peak visit www.patspeak.com. For information or to become involved in The Boston Ski Party Youth Program visit www.bostonskiparty.org.

Related links:
Pats Peak, New Hampshire

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PATS PEAK is in its 46th consecutive ski and snowboard season under the Patenaude family ownership. PATS PEAK has 22 well-groomed trails for all abilities, 7 gladed areas, 2 terrain parks, a snowtubing park, 9 high-capacity lifts, 100 percent snowmaking and some of the most challenging skiing in Southern New Hampshire.

PATS PEAK has a Weekday Learn to Ski and Snowboard Program for more than 8,000 kids from over 100 local schools and a Weekend Learn to Ski and Snowboard Program for adults and children, on either Saturday or Sunday for seven consecutive weeks. There are more than 70 Adult Racing teams in the Adult/Corporate Racing League. Many adults participate in the weekday Adult Ski & Snowboard Clinics, with seven consecutive weeks of half-day instruction, one day a week, for all ability levels. PATS PEAK has 100% of its trails and slopes lit for night and is one of the state's most accessible learn-to-ski-and-snowboard mountains, with three separate beginner areas.

During the "Other Season of Pats Peak", Pats Peak Banquet Center is the perfect location for wedding receptions, parties, company meetings, company outings, or any social gathering!

PATS PEAK is located in Henniker, NH, just twenty minutes from Concord, forty minutes from Manchester, and ninety minutes from Boston. The latest information, snow conditions, photos and events are available at www.patspeak.com or call 1-888-PATS PEAK (888-728-7732).

PATS PEAK can be reached:

• By telephone at 603-428-3245
• By FAX at 603-428-7821
• 24-hour snow conditions at 1-888-PATS-PEAK
• Online at www.patspeak.com

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