Meet the Collective Making Skiing More Inclusive
Meet the Collective Making Skiing More Inclusive
Image: @MOUNTNOIRE
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Meet the Collective Making Skiing More Inclusive

In the past, Black skiers have been a rare sight on the slopes – but Mount Noire is here to change that. Co-founded by Wenona Barnieh, the ski trip collective aims to make the sport more inclusive, accessible and fun. We caught up with Wenona to talk all things skiing – from the best spots for beginners to the wildest après-ski parties and why representation matters.
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Image: @MOUNTNOIRE

Mount Noire started with a group of friends who just fell in love with skiing at medical school. But we quickly realised we were always the only Black women on the mountain. For me, it started on a dry slope in London, and then I went on my first ski trip to Slovakia with Adeola Omotade. In 2019, we planned a girls trip to Chamonix and, honestly, we had the best time – falling over together, dancing at après-ski and eating all the good food. But again, we noticed we were the only Black skiers around. That’s when we thought, why not create a space where more of us can experience this? 

If you don’t see people who look like you doing something, you might not think it’s for you. Our goal is to change that by making skiing feel more accessible, welcoming and fun. Skiing is such an incredible experience, but for a lot of people in the Black community, it can feel intimidating or just completely off the radar. We run all-inclusive group trips, so people don’t have to stress about the logistics, and we also use social media to showcase Black skiers and snowboarders. Since 2020, we’ve helped loads of beginners hit the slopes for the first time, and now we have regulars who come back year after year. It’s been amazing to watch our community grow.

We make it as easy and stress free as possible. Just book your flight, and we’ll take care of the rest. We create helpful pre-trip guides – packing lists, ski outfit inspiration and all the info you need. Next, we organise lessons with friendly instructors – they’re super patient and make learning way less scary. We sort out welcome dinners, games nights and après-ski fun, so everyone bonds straight away. Then, of course, we are all about the amazing locations – great slopes, stunning views and plenty of good food and drinks. Next up: Morzine in March.

@Mountnoire

@Mountnoire

If you come solo, you’ll leave with a whole new crew. We’ve had people from all over the UK, the US, Belgium and Switzerland join our trips and leave with lifelong friendships. We’ve had people meet business partners, travel buddies and even flatmates. Honestly, it’s like a big ski holiday with friends. From the moment you book, we keep you in the loop with all the details. Then, when you arrive, we kick things off with a welcome dinner so that by the time you hit the slopes, you’ll feel totally at ease. Après-ski is always a laugh, and we mix things up with other fun activities like sledging, spa days or just chilling with a drink after a long ski day. It’s all about having a great time, both on and off the slopes.

I love seeing first timers go from nervous to absolutely loving it. One of my favourite moments was when a guest managed to ski their first full blue run – at the bottom, everyone was cheering like it was the Olympics. The joy on their face was everything. That’s what Mount Noire is about – supporting each other and celebrating every win.

We can’t forget about ski fashion. The whole team love putting together stylish ski looks because when you look good, you feel good. Whether it’s sleek monochrome, bright colours or a statement onesie, we’re all about bringing the style to the slopes. Expect ski outfit inspiration, fun group photos and a whole lot of compliments on your gear.

@Mountnoire

I have a few tips for first-time skiers. First, go with a group – planning everything yourself can be overwhelming. Let someone else handle the details. Get proper lessons too. Don’t let your mate teach you; a proper instructor makes all the difference. Borrow or rent your gear – ski stuff can be pricey, so check out places like EcoSki, Blanqo or even Vinted/eBay for second-hand finds. Prepare physically – skiing is more demanding than it looks, so a bit of cardio and strength training beforehand helps. Finally, take lessons at an indoor slope before your trip. It’ll make you feel way more confident.

For beginners, Morzine is super popular and has a great après-ski scene. Then there’s Val d’Isère and Alpe d’Huez, both of which have a good mix of easy runs and buzzing nightlife. Then there’s Bulgaria and Andorra – both are more affordable and perfect for first timers. 

If you’ve got the basics down and want a bit more of a challenge, I would recommend Chamonix. You’ll feel like a pro skiing with Mont Blanc in the background. Val d’Isère has endless intermediate runs and you can ski into Tignes. Then, there’s Portes du Soleil – there’s so much variety, but I’ll personally be avoiding the Swiss Wall, which is way too steep for me.

For the best après-ski, it has to be La Folie Douce – I’ve had too many epic parties there. Val d’Isère is my favourite because there’s a gondola back into town, and trust me, skiing back after après with beginners is not for the faint-hearted. Val Thorens, Chamonix, Alpe d’Huez and Avoriaz are also a great time. If you love a festival vibe, Tomorrowland Winter in Alpe d’Huez is an experience like no other. It has the best DJs, insane stage set-ups and the energy is unreal. Après-ski is a big part of the experience, whether it’s dancing on tables in your ski boots or just enjoying a relaxed drink with the group. 

Next on my ski bucket list is a North American resort – maybe Whistler or Aspen. And I’ve heard amazing things about Japan’s powder snow, so that’s definitely on my list too.

@Mountnoire

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