Building connections and surmounting barriers on a cross-country ski excursion with Brown Girl Outdoor World. Words :: Demiesha Dennis // photos :: Dave Coulson.
We’re standing at the side of Concession 10, arms flailing. Acting as human flares, trying to stay visible, we’re begging cars to slow down. Questioning stares hide smirks as drivers whiz by in the opposite lane. But we’re stuck. Our tires are spinning on thin layers of ice, digging into ruts that grow deeper with every rotation. I’m trying to calm the anxiety building in my chest as the line of cars behind us now forms a honking conga line. Who knew the hardest part of cross-country skiing would be making it home?
As the founder of Brown Girl Outdoor World (BGOW) and a self-professed expert of all things thrill-seeking, cross-country skiing was just another item on the growing list of activities that called out to me when planning our winter season. What could be so hard about strapping on boots, stepping onto skis and sliding across snow? After all, every image or video I’d seen of cross-country skiing showed smiling faces of athletic people on a sunny, forested trail. A quick YouTube search confirmed all you really need to do is glide across the groomed tracks and voilà, you’re a skier! Never one to turn down an opportunity to try something new, this was the year I would introduce my community to the sport.
With BGOW, what started as a passion project has turned into one of the most fulfilling endeavours I’ve taken on in life. A personal dream of exploring the outdoors as a way to create connection to Canada as a new home, BGOW grew over time to be a place where Black, Indigenous and racialized women of colour now come to build community, enjoy new adventures and create a sense of belonging that was missing from the way we navigated the outdoors.
I could get into the history of colonization, racism and the deep exclusionary practices that have kept people of colour from fully engaging in outdoor spaces. Instead, think of the quintessential Canadian sports or pastimes you know—snowshoeing, alpine skiing or snowboarding. I bet when you think of those sports, you’re picturing a homogenous image of a person doing that activity. Changing that narrative meant creating a space where Black, Indigenous and women of colour felt safe to explore those activities in areas they were not typically noticed. Thus, BGOW was born.
It’s not every day we get to experience the newness of the outdoors as a community. A group of 16 women coordinating their lives to meet and experience cross-country skiing at Highlands Nordic, some for the first time, was monumental. For some this event was a stone’s throw away, while others drove more than two hours to get here. This effort reaffirmed the importance of community and of creating spaces where challenges seem less intimidating. (Falling, and performing acrobatic manoeuvres to get back up, are part of the fun when folks are cheering you on.)
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Before the drive to Highlands Nordic I was bombarded with questions, the most common being about clothing and gear. Trying a new activity is nerve-wracking. But the staff put our minds at ease by setting us up with an instructor and rentals. Through a partnership with Salomon and Highlands, we were able to keep the fees lower, which is another barrier to participation for many in the BGOW community.
The day was full of laughs and life lessons. A few of the participants quickly learned they had overdressed—I think we were all surprised to realize cross-country skiing is a workout! After yet another fall, lying on my back, face to sky, I knew for sure that YouTube had lied to me! After patient and helpful instruction, some of us were ready to complete laps on green loops while others became experts and wanted to push themselves further. What really made the experience fun was the ability to keep gliding while bursts of -20 C winds threw snow in our faces. You know, perfect content for the ‘gram.
After yet another fall, lying on my back, face to sky, I knew for sure that YouTube had lied to me!
A big part of Brown Girl Outdoor World’s story is the joy we experience each time we get folks outdoors, engaging in an activity they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. At the end of our day, the laughter continued to ring throughout the base lodge as folks enjoyed warmth and conversations. We were now connected through this new experience and made plans to return to Highlands Nordic.
We were eventually able to get that car up the hill, out of danger—and opted for a less challenging route home. In the end, it turned out to be a day of problem-solving, both on and off our feet, through teamwork and community-building that would help us navigate these slippery, challenging, yet hilarious situations. The outing reminded us of exactly why BGOW feels like a welcome hug for the perfect group of strangers who will walk away as friends. This is why we continue to show up. This is why we take up space.
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