Listen up passionate skiers, adventure sports lovers and thrill seekers or you snow lovers who delight in the sight of frosty mountain tops. Albion College’s well-established student run Ski and Snowboard Club is bound to entice and excite you.
The Albion College Ski and Snowboard Club (ACSSC), commonly known as simply the Ski Club, seeks to provide Albion College students with opportunities to participate in skiing and snowboarding activities – something outside your ordinary mid-west college experience. Club members are able and encouraged to participate in skiing adventures at alluring locations such as steeps and peaks in Colorado and parks in Utah. From these experiences, members are guaranteed to make friends who are just as obsessed with skiing and snowboarding as they are.
The club’s biggest event of the year takes place over Christmas break when they plan a week long escapade at popular skiing destinations for a relatively cheap price. A group of 15 made this once in a lifetime trip to Copper Mountain, Colo. last year.
One of the 15 who snatched that opportunity was Clarkston sophomore, Ethan Frick. He described the trip as one of the greatest experiences of his life.
“It was everything people talked about and more,” Frick said.
Like Frick said, there is more to the trip than just the adventures on the snow. Given that groups of students from other schools such as Purdue University, Michigan State University and Kansas University also make the journey over to the mountains, it is a great way to meet and interact with new people.
“It definitely brings all these young and energetic college students together,” said Chis Anderson, Bloomfield senior. “The place was like a huge college town with a fantastic party atmosphere.”
This year, the group is scheduled to visit the slopes of Telluride, Colo. from January 3 through 10.
West Bloomfield senior Ricky Atkins, the treasurer of the ACSSC, said, “the ski trips are literally open to anybody – even those who do not know how to ski. Last year I wasn’t the best skier, but I still wanted to travel with my friends. But, by the end of an amazing week I got a lot better at skiing too, which was an added bonus.”
Aside from their blockbuster winter event, the Ski Club organizes short weekend trips during the spring semester to closer destinations such as Boyne, Mich. To plan these trips and run through other executive issues, they hold at least two meetings every semester.
But despite a series of successful trips over the years and the natural appeal of skiing and snowboarding to college students, the club still seems to lack the recognition and popularity it arguably deserves.
Ben Hinks, Grand Haven senior and president of the Ski Club, explained the reason behind their anonymity.
“Unfortunately, as of now, our only outreach is Briton Bash,” Hinks said. “The lack of knowledge regarding the existence of the club is perhaps the biggest factor behind low participation.”
Although they had about 150 students sign up during Briton Bash, Hinks revealed they are not just going to rely on that.
“The club needs to advertise more – maybe hang up flyers at Wesley to reach out to first-years,” Hinks said. “Even within the club, we plan on having more events like smaller trips and mixers to boost relationships.”
Hinks said he would be more than happy to answer any further questions via email at bdh12@albion.edu to those interested.
Photo courtesy of Ben Hinks
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