Opinion: Students hope to hit the slopes this winter

By Grace Irwin ’18

Living in the north, my friends and I love to head over to the nearest ski mountain and spend the day out on the slopes during the winter season. Whether it’s driving up to Vermont for the weekend or making the 45 minute trip to Mountain Creek, we always try to find time.

However with school during the week, work, SAT prep and other obligations, time slots become limited for us to all get together and make the trip.

In the past West Essex students of all grades partook in the school’s ski club, which unfortunately ended about eight years ago for budgeting reasons.

This club met on Fridays after school, allowing students to get involved in the sport for at least a few hours. Buses would take students, that week’s chaperone and their gear to Shawnee mountain, allowing them to spend two or three hours on the slopes. Kids could stick together in groups, hitting trails of their choice with their friends.

As the ski season is starting up again, I can’t help but wish that the school still had this club available for all students.

Yes, finding the budget for bussing and available chaperones may be a challenge to sort out, but not impossible. The club existed successfully once before, and with enough support, the club could be a great addition to the school.

Former members speak to the success of the club, expressing how it was a cool opportunity and not much trouble getting to and from the mountain.

“I loved the ski trip because it was a fun way to spend a Friday night with my friends. The drive wasn’t too long and the slopes were pretty easy for a beginner,” graduated ski club member Ed George said.

Overall, the club could be a huge success, by bringing kids from both the middle school and high school together.

“I think kids would be really into it. It would be easy to schedule around during the week and it’d be fun and different,” freshman Lindsay Fusco said.

In this day and age, kids rarely see each other outside of their homes when they aren’t in school, staring at television and computer screens for hours on end. Rebooting the school’s ski club would influence kids to get outside and have fun in the snow or even try the sport out for the first time.

“My favorite part about going skiing or snowboarding is getting to spend the day worry free with a bunch of friends at the mountain. It’s like a mini vacation for the few hours you’re on the hill,” junior Matt McCarthy said.

In the past, the club allowed many students to work on their skills and for many it was how they learned to ski.

“The school would benefit by giving students the opportunity to do something they really otherwise might not be able to do,”junior Ryan Murphy said. For all of us ski lovers, I encourage that we all band together and take action! Find a group of friends who are interested and ask your teachers if they’d be interested in advising.

We have to take advantage of the multiple local mountains around West Essex area while we still have the chance!