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January 13th, 2010 Archives

Student skiers: Going downhill, but only literally

By Michael Amann

I think the fact that Ski Club has over 500 members and ski team might have 50 says enough about which one to join....
8 Comments + Add Yours

Winter has arrived and no one is more keenly aware of the season than the folks in Ohio State's winter sports groups - the Ski and Snowboard Club and the Alpine Ski & Board Team. Despite their similar names, they are actually two very different organizations.

The Ski and Board Club is a massive 500-plus student group that liberally mixes the social aspects of winter sports with actual participation in them. Founded in 1978, the OSU Ski Club prides itself in being an open and fun group for all levels of skiing expertise, while also providing social opportunities.

The Alpine Ski &Board Team, on the other hand, gears itself more toward the ski enthusiast. "I've gone out on the slopes 18 of the 27 days of the season," said team president Nick Hill. Hill mentioned, with regret, the obligations that kept him from going out those other nine days.

Even though the group describes itself as a team, aptitude is not a requirement for membership.

"You don't have to compete to be on the team," Hill said. Instead, the group's main goal is to facilitate those with an enthusiastic interest in skiing and snowboarding. "We try to get people out on the slopes literally every day out of the week," Hill said. The team's discounted season passes are a big draw for students looking to hit the slopes "three or four times a week" like Hill does. The OSU Alpine Ski Team is also instrumental in the efforts to bring collegiate freestyle competition skiing to Ohio.

With their contrasting styles and close proximity in the Involvement Fair, the two ski and snowboard groups are bound to have some sort of a rivalry.

"Oh, we don't like them," Ski Club vice president Susan Dean jokes. However there doesn't seem to be any official enmity between the Ski Club and Ski Team. Both presidents seem content to satisfy two different kinds of skiers.

"That's a totally different club than what we are," said Ski Club president Phil Stovall. "Some people want to be on the more competitive side, and they'll go to [the Alpine Ski & Board Team]. Some people just want to hang out and have a good time, and they'll come to us."

Hill concurred, "Every year we get people who join [Alpine] because they joined Ski Club thinking if they do that they get season passes," he said.

Stovall and Dean bill their club as one that is perfect for beginners. Skiing experience is not required for membership. In fact, Stovall said he only hit the slopes about two or three times a year before joining the Ski Club in his freshman year. Prospective members need not be intimidated or worried about their lack of skill.

"Everywhere we go always offers lessons," said Dean. "There are people who go on the [winter break] trip and the spring break trip who have never skied before." Even if a student doesn't find the slopes to be all they thought they would be, there is still a chance to enjoy the trip through Ski Club's vaunted social perks. "Some people that go out with us will ski for two days and then look for the social aspect of hanging out in the bars and the hot tubs after the slopes."

The Ski and Board Club also likes to partake in activities that aren't exactly skiing. Weekend trips have included whitewater rafting, and the upcoming spring break trip will take the Ski Club to a decidedly snowless Lake Havasu, Arizona. (They will also be going to Big Bear Mountain to ski in California.)

Plus, a club membership gets you free pitchers at 9 p.m. every Thursday at the Sloopy Donkey.

President Stovall said that spaces are still available for the epic spring break trip, while president Hill said that anyone interested in getting discounted Snow Trails season passes should e-mail him (hill.1199).

Originally Published: January 13, 2010

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Comments

  1. OSU Ski Team also goes places where lessons can be arranged. In fact, I would say the vast majority of ski resorts in the US offer lessons. However, people on the team are not opposed to giving pointers to beginner skiers. We have people that have never before skied or snowboarded on the team and that went on our winter break trip.

    Also, there is no shortage of social events either. We go on weekly trips around Ohio where many of the members compete. When we aren’t skiing we also try to throw parties for the team so that people can get to know each other better. I know all the active members on the team. It is a much more personal experience vs. something you would get with 500+ people.

    Social Chair,
    Michael Kusold

    Michael Kusold | 2010-01-13 - 07:20:49 PM (CDT)

  2. Here is a small teaser of the OSU Ski and Board TEAM from last year. It entails some of the spring break trip to Lake Tahoe, skiing around and competing! No experience is required to come out and have a good time for us and plenty of social activites are hosted once we’re off the slopes!

    http://vimeo.com/7967865

    Theodore Smith | 2010-01-15 - 02:10:53 PM (CDT)

  3. i’ve been in ski club for two years. As the article points out, it’s much more of a social club. With socials every week (w/ free bev for members) you constantly get the chance to meet new people!

    Basically, it comes down to this: join ski CLUB if you want a great social atmosphere and also enjoy skiing/boarding. Join ski TEAM if you can ski 5 out of 7 days a week and aspire to eventually compete in the X-games and attend a party once a year.

    Joe K. | 2010-01-17 - 07:35:33 PM (CDT)

  4. Joe K, I’m not sure where you heard about one party a year but that is incorrect. The ski team attempts to throw a big house party once or twice every quarter, and then during winter quarter we have parties weekly for those who compete. These parties actually take a lot of work to throw because they are not hosted at a bar that provides everything. We are however looking into having a weekly bar special for those who are 21+ (as your bar specials currently are with Sloppy Donkey going 21+).

    Michael Kusold | 2010-01-19 - 12:03:49 PM (CDT)

  5. In regards to Joe K and in addition to Michael’s response, as a 3 year member of Ski Team, I have never once aspired to one day compete in the X-Games, but I do strive to progress every time I am on the slopes because snowboarding/skiing is something I have a passion for and love doing. Ski team is full of people who can offer help and encouragement for you to improve, but first and foremost it is a group full of people who simply like to have fun and enjoy being on the slopes. For me, the best thing about ski team however, is the friendship and camaraderie that it creates by bringing together a diverse group of people through this similar interest in snowsports.

    Ross Krieg,
    Ski Team Treasurer

    Ross Krieg | 2010-01-20 - 04:03:39 PM (CDT)

  6. OSU SKI CLUB WEEKEND TRIPS (WINTER QUARTER 2010):

    Holiday Valley Trip (January 22-24, 2010)
    Snowshoe Trip #1 (February 19-21)
    Snowshoe Trip #2 (March 5-7)

    -----------------------------

    AND DONT FORGET OUR KICK-ASS SPRING TRIP THIS YEAR:

    Big Bear Mountain, California & Lake Havasu, Arizona

    -----------------------------

    SOCIALS EVERY THURSDAY AT SLOPPY DONKEY @ 9PM. FREE DRINKS FOR MEMBERS! MEET NEW PEOPLE EACH WEEK - SO GET INVOLVED! CHECK OUT THE HOTTEST CLUB ON CAMPUS::: OSU SKI CLUB!!

    http://www.osuskiclub.com for plenty of details.

    M | 2010-01-20 - 06:24:39 PM (CDT)

  7. Joe K clearly doesn’t know what he is talking about, learn your facts about ski team buddy.

    the bob | 2010-02-02 - 11:14:11 PM (CDT)

  8. I think the fact that Ski Club has over 500 members and ski team might have 50 says enough about which one to join....

    Ross Krieg | 2010-02-27 - 06:41:16 PM (CDT)
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