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Club ski team sets high hopes for upcoming season |
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Thursday, 18 January 2007 |
by ED RABIN
Intern Sports Reporter
Appalachian State University students don’t have to travel more than 30 minutes to enjoy one of the four ski resorts around Boone.
A couple of times a week, students make the short trek to partake in the powder.
But for members of the Appalachian State University club alpine ski team, that would not be enough.
The team consists of 13 members and competes in the Southeastern
Conference of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard
Administration.
Usually participating in four race events per season, the ASU club ski team races slalom and grand slalom events.
The team hopes to compete well throughout the season before heading into regionals, where a bid to nationals is on the line.
The first event is scheduled for this weekend at Bryce Mountain, Va.
Senior team captain E. Stephen Daniel said he expects great success this season in conference competition.
“I think first is definitely not out of the question,” he said. “We’re a whole lot stronger this year.”
With seven years race experience, Daniel placed in the top-10 five times last season.
Another returning skier, senior Lawson Fields, finished first in the conference in 2005.
He will be competing this season after an injury kept him out all of 2006.
With such close proximity to Sugar Mountain, ASU has an advantage over many other experienced conference teams in training.
Even though competition is tight, the relationships between most teams in the conference are very congenial.
“Our conference is really close, we’re all really good friends,” Daniel said.
Club alpine skiing requires a great deal of time and dedication.
The team members practice three hours a day and up to four days a week on their home slope of Sugar Mountain.
They even take the opportunity to ski when slopes are closed to the public for grooming.
Although, with many hours spent on the slopes, time conflicts become a problem.
“Its really hard scheduling practice and classes,” club president Carrie Clark said.
Clark has only three years race experience, but during those three
years, has become a strong skier, finishing in the top-15 six times
last year.
However, club dues are among the highest of all club sports causing many to decide not to join the team.
“We may pay a lot, but once you pay the dues, everything is paid for except your food,” Clark said.
“We get you there, we get you a place to stay, we get you a lift ticket
and we pay your race fees. We get to go to these mountains and ski
them. When everybody else is here, we’re out skiing at Snowshoe
[Mountain, W.Va.]”
For members of the club ski team, the high costs are well worth it.
“I loved to ski before, that’s one of the big reasons I came to school up here,” team vice-president Jamison Evans said.
Despite the time, money and distance, which can sometimes be up to six hours, Daniel believes it is small price to pay.
”The cost is high,” he said. “But as far as if you want to be a better skier, it’s worth it”.
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