Preparing for the slopes
With the winter season approaching, some locals dread the temperature change while others look forward to it. The latter are often skiers and snowboarders.
People can be weary of snow and the tasks associated with it, like shoveling, scraping off windows and moisture. Skiers and snowboarders might see it as an opportunity to pursue their hobby.
Austin Jensen, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, has skied since he was 5 years old. He switched to snowboarding at 8 years old because he said he got too cool for skis.
Jensen comes from a family of skiers and snowboarders. His parents taught him how to ski and his older brother helped him transition to snowboarding. Jensen said he doesn’t consider snowboarding or skiing as a sport, unless it is a competition.
“Seeing myself progress and constantly pushing my limits are the reasons I enjoy riding,” he said.
Josh Phillips, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, has snowboarded for three years. Phillips is from Alabama and was stationed in Utah for the military, but he said he stayed for the snowboarding. Growing up surfing, Phillips said his transition to snowboarding was easier since he is familiar with a board beneath his feet.
“Now all I think about all year is snowboarding,” Phillips said. “It’s my escape. I don’t have to worry about anything: It’s just me and the mountain.”
Jensen said she has been on the mountain for most of her life. She said she has been skiing since she was shorter than the snowpack. Turley used to have her mother carry her up the steps to Powder Mountain because the snow was taller than she was.
Skiing for ten years and boarding for the last five, Turley said she has always loved being on the mountain because she loves the smell of fresh air.
“Being able to escape the pollution is one of the reasons I ride,” she said. “You just realize how lucky you are, even if you are paying a lot of money to be up there”
Tanner Hale, a Logan resident, has skied since he was 8 years old. Taught by his father, Hale used to go with his family multiple times a year.
“The adrenaline is one of the main reasons I still ski,” he said. “I still get scared sometimes on the mountain because some of the terrain is really steep. I tried snowboarding, but it wasn’t for me. Skiing is just what I do”
While skiing and snowboarding can be investments of time and money, there are
options for first timers or college students.
Students can look for gear at Deseret Industries, the KSL Classifieds and the Outdoor Recreation Program. At the ORP, students can rent cross country, alpine-touring or telemark skis.
Cross country skis are used for flat surface touring. Alpine-touring skis are usually downhill skis used with specialized equipment to help a skier to hike up slopes without ski lifts. Snowboards are also available at the ORP, as are split boards, which are a type of snowboard that is cut in vertically in half so someone can use them like alpine-touring skis when going uphill, but can be fitted back together to board downhill.
Backcountry is terrain accessible via hiking or going out of resort boundaries. Backcountry will generally have a higher level of difficulty.
“I won’t board without a helmet” Phillips said.
Injuries can be prevalent in skiing and snowboarding. Jensen tore his ACL at the end of the 2009 season while snowboarding and said he couldn’t wait to get back out. Turley said she tore her MCL her first season of snowboarding and has since broken her tailbone.
“My injury just made me want to ride that much more,” Jensen said. “It just made me realize how much I love boarding.”
Riding is a family sport for many, and the bonding experience can be a huge factor.
“My family taught me how to ride and that is what makes it fun still,” Hale said. “Thinking about all the old memories or still riding with my siblings makes me just stoked.”
– travis.c.williams@aggiemail.usu.edu