Burning Man’s Dry Ski Slope Organizers Launch Urgent $25,000 Fundraiser to Return in 2026

The BRC Snow Club has launched a $25,000 fundraiser to bring back its dry ski slope to Burning Man, which offers skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. The dry slope has been a major draw at the festival the last three years, but the rising cost of storage, transportation, and safety now threatens its return. Since its debut in 2023, the fully operational slope has welcomed hundreds, if not thousands, of snowsports enthusiasts and spectators. The project is co-run by Dylan Hogan and Rachael Gingery, with support from a dedicated group of volunteer campers.

Until now, most of the financial responsibility, planning, and personal risk required to operate the slope has fallen on Hogan and Gingery.

“Burning Man is built by people giving something to the community, and for three years, this has been ours,” Gingery said in a press release. The dry slope operates as a theme camp rather than an art installation, and it is ineligible for Burning Man art grants and receives no financial support from the Burning Man organization. Its costs have instead been covered through personal investments, camp dues, fundraising events, and community contributions. The campaign must raise enough funding by Aug. 15 to cover three essential expenses: $12,000 for year-round storage, $8,000 for transportation and logistics, and $5,000 for safety upgrades, structural improvements, and repairs.

• Related: Nevada’s Burning Man Festival is Getting a Ski Slope This Summer

The team says safety remains central to the project. Trained camp staff runs the slope during all operating hours. Helmets are required for skiers and snowboarders, equipment is inspected and adjusted before each ride, and an on-site lead maintains direct radio contact with medical services. Organizers say the slope has operated for three years without a reported serious injury.

As of Aug. 7, the campaign had raised more than $10,000 toward its $25,000 goal. Supporters can help by donating, sharing the campaign, applying to camp with BRC Snow Club, or connecting the team with resources for storage, transportation, scaffolding, and construction materials. Support from over 70 donors has already come in.

“We actually just got a $3,000 donation from another camp, and I’m feeling good about the trajectory we’re on,” Gingery said in an email to SnowBrains. “Given that we’ve hit 40% of our goal, we’re heading to Home Depot to pick up the materials needed to build the transition ramps and improve the structural integrity of the slope.”

The BRC Snow Club is a community of snow-sport lovers who bring mountain culture, radical participation, and a fully operational dry ski slope to Black Rock City. Founded on the belief that Burning Man is something participants create for one another, the camp has offered free skiing, snowboarding and sledding to the community since 2023. The slope is operated by a volunteer team and includes rental equipment, trained staff, and extensive safety procedures. Burning Man will be held in the Nevada desert from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7.

Whether it’s $10, $100, or more, every donation goes directly toward storing, transporting, repairing, and operating the only dry ski slope at Burning Man–free for the entire community. For those without the means to contribute, sharing the fundraiser within one’s network goes further than one might think.