2003 Ski Challenge Wows Attendees

The attendees at the 2003 Black Enterprise/AXA Advisors Ski Challenge read like the "who's who" of prominent African Americans. Guests attending the 5th annual gathering of this event hosted by the nation's premier business magazine for African Americans included the likes of Wellington E. Webb, Mayor of the City of Denver and Herman L. Taylor, Jr., a newly elected state delegate for District 14 from Montgomery, MD. Taylor made American history by becoming the first African American to be elected into the Maryland House of Delegates in 200 years.

Held at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa in Vail, Colorado over the President's Day Weekend, Feb 12-17, the event is one of the largest annual African-American networking affairs in the United States. An impressive gathering of black professionals and entrepreneurs from across the country, this year it drew more than 700 attendees. Daily activities included financial seminars, motivational and wellness seminars, yoga and pilates classes, ski and snowboard lessons, ski races, basketball tournaments, spa treatments, an Afro-Caribbean luau, cocktail receptions, several themed parties and a shopping excursion. The event also hosted a kids' club package.

Evening activities included a fashion show hosted by Moet & Chandon, a dinner and concert presented by FedEx, cocktail receptions hosted by Pepsi and nightly parties sponsored by Grand Marnier. The DJ played not only contemporary hits but also some great musical hits from the past, which gave giving patrons a reminder of what classic dance music used to feel like. The elegance of the majestic Centennial Ballroom at the Vail Cascade where the parties were held, only served to heighten the excitement created by the positive vibes and energy of the crowd.

The parties were still in full swing when I exited the ballroom about 12:15 a.m. each night. Patrons still eager for more excitement, headed to "after" parties hosted by BET's 106 and Park co-host A.J Calloway and others. Undoubtedly, another highlight of the event was the final night performance of Grammy-nominated artist Angie Stone, who shimmied onto the stage in a gorgeous red dress. As she sang, the audience members swayed, clapped, and sang along with her. Other notable performers included legendary MC Doug E. Fresh and comedian Michael Colyar, former host of BET's Live From LA.

Since the event included everything from seminars to ski lessons and cocktail receptions, the $700 admission ticket didn't seem to deter the large turnout. In all, the participants seemed to get what they expected from the 2003 Black Enterprise/AXA Advisors Ski Challenge: a "heavy-duty, no-holds-barred, party-till-you-drop experience". Other sponsors of the event included American Airlines, AT&T, Grand Marnier, Polo Ralph Lauren, Jaguar and Pepsi.

If you missed out on this event, don't worry! Why not plan to spend the last weekend of the summer with Black Enterprise and title sponsor Pepsi in Miami, Florida at the 10th Annual Golf & Tennis Challenge? Scheduled to be held August 28-September 1, 2003 at the magnificent Doral Golf Resort and Spa, the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf and Tennis Challenge is guaranteed to be a star-studded affair. For more information about the 10th Annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf and Tennis Challenge, call 800-209-7229 or visit www.blackenterprise.com.

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