Reimagining the History of Skiing, One Photo at a Time
In a ‘A New Winter,’ Colombian American photographer Sofía Jaramillo confronts leisure skiing’s inequitable beginnings by recreating historic images at Sun Valley Resort
While visiting the lodge at Idaho’s Sun Valley Resort a few years ago, Colombian-American photographer noticed something disconcerting about the pictures lining the walls. In the images, which date back to the ski hill’s opening in 1936, nearly everyone was white. “That’s when I got the idea—how cool would it be to re-create these, except centering people of color?” Jaramillo says.
With the support of the resort and a grant from the nonprofit , Jaramillo began work on a project called , tapping a team of other creatives to source clothing and props to reshoot 13 of the original photographs. Models included friends who are snow-sports athletes, Colour the Trails founder , and Indigenous activist Quannah ChasingHorse. “We wanted people who are living the mission of this project,” Jaramillo says. She hopes that A New Winter, which goes on display at the Sun Valley Museum of Art in January, inspires a broader conversation about diversifying the slopes. “I believe that art directly influences culture,” she says. “I’m doing this for all the young Black and brown girls and boys out there who don’t see themselves when they walk into a ski resort.”
Surfer and activist Farmata Dia in Sun Valley
The model Quannah ChasingHorse advocates for Native sovereignty and inclusion in outdoor sports.
Rizki Nugraha, a snowboarder and model born in Indonesia
From left: Emilé Zynobia, Autumn Kitchens, Farmata Dia, and Yasmeen “Yaz” Wilkerson near the Roundhouse Restaurant. Zynobia, a snowboarder who rides for Burton, is one of only a few Black women to be featured in snow-sports films, with credits including The Approach and Ascend. She also helps brands create goals to combat climate change. Kitchens, Dia, and Wilkerson work with the nonprofit Laru Beya Collective, which uses surfing to empower youth from historically marginalized groups in Queens, New York. In addition, Wilkerson devotes time to the Chill Foundation, an organization that seeks to inspire young people through board sports and build a more equitable outdoor community.
This is a re-creation of a photo of the 1948 U.S. women’s Olympic ski team. It’s dedicated to Seba Johnson, who in 1988 became the first Black woman to ski at the Games. At 14, Johnson was also the youngest alpine ski racer in Olympic history.
Juju Milay, founder of Colour the Trails, a Canadian business that improves outdoor access and inclusion for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through events, mentorship, and content.
Mallory Duncan, Kitchens, Dia, and Wilkerson outside the Roundhouse, mimicking the above photo, shot in 1947. Growing up, Duncan raced with the support of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, a U.S. organization that identifies and develops athletes of color for Olympic and other international winter-sports events.
ChasingHorse at ease riding to the top. The model and her mother, Jody Potts-Joseph, run Native Youth Outdoors, which provides free outdoor recreation clinics for Indigenous youth.
Puerto Rican snowboarder, food-justice advocate, and model Iván Jiménez
Produced by Shandi Kano and David Klayton
Casting and Styling by Terumi Murao
Director of Photography: Aaron Rodriguez
Hair by Endo Robinson
Makeup by Chelsea Luckett