Have an itch for some untouched powder? Oregon State University has on-campus resources that can help you get your fix.
Students looking to experience winter snow sports to their fullest can look to SNOW.S.U, OSU’s resident ski and snowboard club.
The snow sport focused club holds regular events during ski season such as tailgates at local ski resorts like Willamette Pass and HooDoo, regular social events and mountain visits with varying prices for entry.
Coming up this Martin Luther King Jr. day weekend, the club will be visiting Mount Bachelor. The club is also planning on making it up to Crystal Mountain in Washington over spring break.
In the spring, the club will return to Mount Bachelor for RendezVan, a music event held at the mountain.
Students new to snow sports may be enticed by SNOW.S.U’s access to mountain safety classes. Members of the Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit have come to club meetings in the past and given lectures on avalanche safety.
Members of SNOW.S.U also receive a 15-20% discount on mountain safety courses from Black Bird Mountain Guides.
This year, according to Club President Ryan Hopkins, the club plans to do more trips than ever and is trying to get their own shuttle service. The service would charge $30 per rider.
While some services like the IKON pass — a pass for skiers and snowboarders that allows season-long access to parks and lift tickets to resorts around the globe — provide a student discount, SNOW.S.U takes it one step further.
Hopkins explained the discount system further, saying, “We have IKON discounts that are even further than the standard IKON students’ discounts.” He continued, “For HooDoo, we also have discounted day passes, which you can’t get anywhere else but through us.”
For students interested in signing up, visit snowsu.club and follow the “how to join button” found on the home page. After signing a waiver and following their Instagram, all that’s next is choosing the first meeting to go to, which are free to attend.
Looking for something a little more high-octane? Maybe the Alpine Racing Club is more your speed.
The Alpine Race Club is a team-oriented snow sport club at OSU. They participate in regional races against other collegiate teams during the winter term.
This year, the races will be taking place at Mount Spokane, Lookout Pass, Silver Mountain and Snoqualmie Pass, with regionals taking place at Bogus Basin.
According to the Alpine Race Club President Maisy Andrus, the best way for interested students to join would be by following the club’s Instagram — @osu.alpine — then directly messaging them. Students can expect to pay dues upon entry which cover lodging, travel, passes, snow training and other opportunities.
Are clubs too much of a commitment? All students can rent equipment from the Adventure Leadership Institute or participate in one of their several snow-sport-oriented classes, activities, and events.
The ALI is found in the Dixon Recreation Center and provides several resources to students on campus who are looking to stay active and connected.
Their resources include climbing centers at Dixon Recreation Center and McAlexander Fieldhouse, challenge course programs, outdoor gear rental and bike shop services.
During the winter term, the outdoor gear rental provides students with clean, and functional equipment for cross-country skiing, mountaineering and snow shoeing.
In an email exchange with Emily Abrams, ALI’s operations manager, Abrams said that the winter term sees an increase in equipment rentals.
“Once winter term hits, we recommend reserving your equipment a week or two in advance, as we often run out of snowshoes and cross-country skis quickly as the weekend gets closer,” Abrams said.
To start the gear renting process, students can visit ALI’s front desk, found at the east side of the Dixon Recreation Center, open noon until 6 p.m, Monday – Friday. There, the staff will make sure that students are fitted for the right gear for their size, skill level and scenario.
Duly located in the east-wing of the Dixon Recreation Center are the ALI and the affiliated Bike Repair Shop, who provide general tune ups, flat tire repairs, brake adjustments, gear adjustments, and wheel truing.
Off-campus trips are a big part of ALI’s mission to keep students connected and active. The majority of them require zero prerequisites for joining, further fostering ALI’s philosophy to “provide entry-level and accessible trips so we can share experiences with as many others as we can,” Abrams said.
However, some require some prior experience before students can be allowed to participate. This year’s upcoming mountaineering trip, for instance, requires students to have had some previous experience in mountaineering before participation for safety purposes.
