Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Photo provided by Ski Club Fellow Ski Club skiers hit the slopes on one of their many winter trips.

Media Credit: Photo provided by Ski Club Ski Clubbers get ready to go downhill.

With winter rapidly approaching and as the snow prepares to fall, walking across the Quad to class may soon feel like a downhill ski race. But for those who prefer a more organized form of snow recreation, there is a local alternative.

The Bloomington-Normal Ski Club, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary, accepts members of all ages and skill levels.

"You don't even have to ski if you don't want to," Tom Crawford, President of the Bloomington-Normal Ski Club, said. Crawford was not a skier when he joined the club in 1996.

According to Crawford, the club is made up of 150 to 170 members. However, he expects the number of members to rise to over 200 this winter.

"Right now our memberships are down but once people start signing up for ski trips, it will go up," he said.

Membership costs are $20 for a single membership, $25 for a one adult family and $30 for a two adult family. Membership applications can be found on the club's website at bnski.org.

The club hosts several ski trips throughout the year. According to Crawford, the trips vary in location and duration.

"There's usually two or three big trips and a couple of Midwestern trips and some day trips," he said.

Winter trips chairman Steve Parke explained that the members do not always take the same trips each year.

"We vary our destinations every year," he said. "Last year we went to Salt Lake City. This year we're going to Whistler and Whitefish Mountain in Montana."

However, there are some trips that the club takes annually. The New Year's trip, which takes place from Dec. 28 until Jan. 1, gives the skiers four days of skiing at three different locations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

"That's another Midwest trip that we do. People can go skiing for a much more minimal cost," Parke said.

This trip has been around for at least 11 years.

"The New Year's trip has been going on since I've been in the club and it's generally a pretty good trip for beginners," Crawford said. "They're good places to learn."

According to Parke, there are several trips designed with beginners in mind. This winter, the club is sponsoring two trips for beginners. The club will be taking one-day trips to Chestnut Mountain on Jan. 7 and on February 22 to Cascade Mountain.

"We get great group rates and if you want you can get lessons and rentals included. For a minimal amount you can get a chance to try some skiing," Parke said.

On these trips, not only can new skiers take lessons, but more experienced skiers often offer assistance to those who need it.

"We do try to advertise trips for beginners that are generally places where lessons are available, but in general, the club members like to help other people," Crawford said.

Just as the locations of the trips vary, so do the prices.

"It depends on where we go," Parke said. "Colorado trips may be anywhere from $700 to $1,000. We've done a number of European trips that may be closer to $1,300 to $1,500. A couple years ago we went to Switzerland and offered a three day extension to Rome. That whole package was about $2,000."

Aside from ski trips, members of the club also enjoy various social events. Parke explained that curling has recently become popular among the members.

"It was really popular in the last Olympics," Parke said "It's where they slide heavy granite stones on the ice into a target area. It doesn't take any experience and you don't need any special equipment." There are four curling trips planned in LaSalle-Peru this year.

Other social activities that the club has hosted in the past include day trips to Chicago, sporting events, theatre trips and whitewater rafting.

"We do some summer trips," Crawford said. "Things like going down to Giant City or a state park where they have cabins and we'll rent out cabins and have weekends of hiking and canoeing."

It does not matter whether or not the members ski well or ski at all. Crawford and Parke both agree that the social aspect of the club is one of the most important reasons for being part of the club.

"The whole thing is going skiing with people you know," Crawford said. "If you don't know them right now, you will know them. The camaraderie is almost as good as the discounts on the ski packages."

Parke discussed the benefits of new skiers forming friendships with those who have skiing experience.

"If you're new to skiing you can meet other experienced skiers," he said. "It's a great way to improve on your ski skills because you can watch people who are better than you and improve." Parke also stated that ski trips give members a chance to get to know each other and socialize away from the snow.

If anyone understands the benefit of forming relationships in the ski club, Crawford does.

"The social aspect is every bit as important as the skiing," he said. "I met my wife in the ski club."

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