The Ski and Snowboard Club at Michigan Tech is taking the stage as winter rolls in, focusing on bringing an inclusive and active community to the sport. With a brand new executive board taking the reins this year, the club is planning on rebuilding the structure of the club, increasing engagement, and providing more opportunities for members to connect. “Its kind of a big adjustment period right now,” said President Spencer Cobb, “Just trying to figure out how to manage the club with this brand new eboard.”
An opportunity that’s right around the corner is the club’s annual Rail Jam event. Rail Jam is usually an indicator of the season change, and is a large pull for new members looking to find other skiers and snowboarders to get in touch with. The event will be held Oct. 25 on Walker Lawn and feature obstacles of all kinds. Beyond this upcoming event, there are plans to incorporate weekly group rides on Mt. Ripley, beginner-friendly ski days, and a November Snow Show for winter recreation.
In terms of membership, the club plans on holding monthly meetings that will be more interactive and not just information-based. “I feel like there were a lot of unnecessary meetings last year and people are busy. So that’s why I am trying to make them really fun, like a fun event to come to,” Cobb said. The rest of the logistics are still in the works as the new eboard settles into their positions.
Being a member of the club requires payment of dues, which grants access to a GroupMe that is used for ride sharing and coordinating trips, specifically to Mt. Bohemia. These dues help the club cover any sort of costs that may come up for events, including Rail Jam or transportation. As of now, the club does not receive university funding, and so these events are tricky to get up and running. “So that’s another one of my projects for the semester. I don’t know if we’ll eventually provide equipment. That could be something that we’ll look into,” Cobb said.
The Ski and Snowboard club has recently revamped its socials and can be found on Instagram @mtu.skiandsnowboard or on Michigan Tech’s involvement link. There, those interested can learn more about what the club is all about. Cobb said, “I want it to be an inclusive process just for the appreciation of the sport, because it’s not competitive. So I mean, like, I just want it to be kind of a spot to meet people who also appreciate skiing, make it inclusive.”
