By Colby O’Very
The BYU Snowriders Club gives students that enjoy skiing and snowboarding a chance to meet others and receive discounts on lift tickets.
Ryan Stevenson, a 24-year-old senior from Orem, majoring in marriage family and human development, has been a member of the club for three years and is now its president.
Although there are fewer members of the club this year, Stevenson said he expects the number to increase.
“This year, of people that have given us their e-mail addresses and actually paid, we have about 100,” Stevenson said. “Last year, we had about 200, but usually half sign up in the first semester and the other half later.”
Membership costs $10 and includes a T-shirt that has several discounts from sports shops around the area, including a free wax for skis or snowboards.
“Last year we had a lot of people still signing up at the very end just because they liked our T-shirt,” Stevenson said. “People like the shirts a lot and they get discounts with local stores so they still sign up even when the snow”s getting bad.”
The club has not held any activities yet this semester, but its first activity will take place on Jan. 29 in Room 111 of the Benson Building at 7:00 p.m.
“Hopefully we”re going to have some instructors come down from Park City and have an informative meeting to improve people”s riding skills,” Stevenson said. “One of the guys instructs snowboarders and has instructed pros on tricks and style.”
Stevenson said he expects a big turnout to this semester”s biggest activity, which will be held next month.
“February 26 is when we are showing the Trans-World Live video, which shows the three best snowboard videos and the three best ski videos. It”s free, so basically the first people to get there get into the show,” Stevenson said. “Last year the place we had only held 300, so we let the members in first and had to turn some away.”
Members also will be on an e-mail list that informs them of activities and groups of people that are hitting the slopes.
For liability purposes, the club can”t take ski trips, but members of the group can go together informally.
“The whole goal is to get people involved that ski or snowboard. We”ve even had sledders sign up,” Stevenson said.
The club makes this hobby more affordable for penny-pinching students.
“We did a coat drive last semester for The Canyons,” Stevenson said. “If you brought in a coat, you got a day pass for $20.”
Coupons for 2-for-1 lift tickets are often handed out at club activities.
The club”s web site, www.snowboarderz.com, provides a list of resort information and allows members that need transportation to find carpools to different resorts.
“We do all we can to help people to be involved in these sports,” Stevenson said.
