MLK Weekend in the Boat - Building Belonging On and Off the Mountain

A Call to Action

Across the ski industry, Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend has long been one of the most profitable weekends of the season, but the industry historically failed to acknowledge the reason there was a three-day weekend in the first place. In 2023, Alterra Mountain Company—Steamboat’s parent company—partnered with National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS) President Henri Rivers to challenge that norm.

Together, they asked a simple but powerful question in an OpEd penned by Rivers: what would it look like to truly honor Dr. King’s legacy in the ski industry—not just in remembrance, but through action?

“How can and will the ski industry better honor the person and the civil rights cause at the core of this holiday, every day and every year? How can and will the ski industry pay it forward, going forward? We can work together to answer these questions in earnest, not just in the form of remembrance, but also in the form of action.”—Henri Rivers,Op-Ed on MLK Weekend Significance to the Ski Industry, 2023.

Local Leaders Reconsider MLK Weekend in the Ski Industry

While Rivers was posing this challenge to the ski industry, community leaders in Steamboat Springs were asking similar questions. Maggie Taylor, who at the time was the Associate Pastor at the Heart of Steamboat Church, and local business owner Danielle Skov of Off the Beaten Path Bookstore—were working independently to create space for reflection, dialogue, and learning around Dr. King’s life and work.

Their efforts centered on bringing people together in ways that reflected Dr. King’s vision, using small gatherings, conversations, and community-focused programming to shape a more intentional recognition of the holiday in Steamboat. Skov contributed a perspective rooted in storytelling, education, and community-building, while Taylor brought experience leading thoughtful conversations around race, identity, and belonging, helping create space for meaningful dialogue.

“We asked ourselves, what happens on MLK Weekend in Steamboat? The only thing we could come up with was a gong meditation and Cowboy Downhill. So we reached out to the mountain to see if they would want to do something in conjunction with Cowboy Downhill.”—Maggie Taylor, former Associate Pastor, Heart of Steamboat Church

The resort expanding its perspective on the MLK Weekend in response to River’s call-to-action at the same time created an opportunity was emerging for a community wide commemoration.

Building Something Impactful—Together

From there, MLK Weekend in the Boat began to take shape—not as a single event, but as a collaborative movement.

Steamboat Ski Resort joined alongside local partners to create a multi-day, community-led celebration that blends art, conversation, and shared experiences—designed to honor Dr. King in ways that feel relevant, inclusive, and action-oriented. Local partners for the 25/26 season included Heart of Steamboat Church, Steamboat Creates, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, Bud Werner Memorial Library, Wildhorse Cinema, Mountain Tap Brewery, and STAND.

The result is an MLK weekend that looks and feels different in Ski Town USA®: film screenings, speaker events, community discussions, shared meals, and creative experiences that invite participation from residents and visitors alike.

Over the last three years, MLK Weekend in the ‘Boat activities have included:

• Panel discussions: How Black Skiers and Cowboys are Breaking Barriers, Black Voices in Outdoor Sports, & Stories of Black Immigrants in Steamboat
  
  • Panelists have included: Quincy Shannon, Maggie Taylor, AJ Neal, Ivan McLellan, Paul Goodloe, Malik Martin, Martinus Evans, and LJ Henriquez
    
• Sharing the Table Soul Food Dinner with celebrity chef Adrian Miller
  
• Screening of Malik Martin’s Share Tha Culture
  
• Ski with a Meteorologist with Paul Goodloe of The Weather Channel
  
• Steamboat commissioning exclusive artwork by Lamont Joseph White and partnering with the Steamboat Creates at the Depot Art Center to showcase work by White and the Young Bloods Collective

Expanding Representation—and Opportunity

At its core, the initiative is about cultivating belonging in a space where it hasn’t always been guaranteed.

That commitment shows up not only in programming, but in partnerships and impact. Through MLK Weekend in the Boat, Steamboat has deepened its relationship with the National Brotherhood of Snowsports—helping open doors for more Black skiers and riders to experience the mountains.

Since 2024, Steamboat has hosted a fundraiser that has raised over $110,000 for NBS through a pass unlock initiative tied to MLK Weekend, directly supporting scholarships and access to winter sports. Guests who have the Ikon Base or Ikon Session passes—which has blocked days over MLK Weekend—can unlock their pass by making a $100 minimum donation to NBS.

"Henri’s message prompted us to explore ways to connect mountain access with the holiday in a way that benefits NBS, Ikon Pass holders, and resort visitation. We saw an opportunity to both raise awareness of NBS’ mission and create a donation-based path for passholders to access Steamboat during restricted dates, and we’re proud to partner with NBS to help honor Dr. King’s legacy.”—Jennifer Shea, Vice President of Business Development at Steamboat

A Model for Belonging in the Mountains

What makes MLK Weekend in the ‘Boat unique isn’t just the ski resort commemorating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.—it’s how it came to life.

It began with a challenge from an industry leader. It grew through the passion and leadership of local voices like Maggie Taylor and Danielle Skov. And it continues to evolve through a network of partners committed to creating something meaningful together.

"Steamboat’s response to Henri River's call-to-action is a great example of what better honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King looks like in the industry: community-led conversations and celebrations that advance the ongoing work of the Civil Rights Movement."—Hannah Wineman, Senior Analyst of Social Responsibility for Alterra Mountain Company & Steamboat resident.

In doing so, Steamboat is helping redefine what MLK Weekend can represent in the ski industry: not just a moment of reflection, but an ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive culture—on the mountain and beyond.