Our story

I was 21 the first time I set foot on a ski resort. Same with surfing. I did my first trail marathon aged 32. And every single time, I had the most incredible time. I felt pure freedom, the magic of pushing my limits, total joy, and… the hard reality of being “the only one”. One guy literally yelled across the road after my first surf: "I've never seen a Black surfer before!" 

When we first moved to Washington, my husband felt immediately at home on the trails. I didn't. But I really wanted to.

Black to the Outdoors started from a desire—I just wanted friends who looked like me to go snowboarding with. But as I built that community, I began asking bigger questions: Why are these spaces pretty homogeneous? What hurdles do people of colour experience when exploring nature? What stories are we told about who is “outdoorsy”? And more importantly—how do we change those stories?

Black to the Outdoors is about experiencing the joy of the outdoors in community. Through our adventures, accessible events, and community partnerships, we're not just getting outside together. We're reclaiming our connection to nature, supporting each other through new experiences, and laughing along the way. My hope is for us to know, and feel, that we belong here. On the mountain, on the trail, in the water—everywhere.

Catch you outside ;) 

Nicole 

London-born, Washington-based, Nicole splits her time between social impact work, chasing her three young kids around, and thinking about the intersection of style, culture, and community. She's a trail runner, snowboarder, and writer building a world where her children—and all of us—know we belong.