Why You Need to Join a Ski Club

Skiers and boarders of all ages can enhance their on snow enjoyment by joining a local ski club

By Pat Moore

You love to ski but it can be an expensive sport.  Buying lift tickets produces sticker shock and lodging puts a real strain on the budget.  There is a solution and it’s simpler than you realized.  Join a ski club.

You’ve heard about ski clubs.  Undoubtedly you have some preconceived notions of what they’re all about.  Maybe joining a social organization isn’t very high on your list of priorities.  Ski clubs don’t fit a cookie cutter approach; they’re so diverse you’re bound to find one that fits your needs.  Before we get into the differences, let’s take a look at the benefits of membership. 

Saving Money! 

Lift Tickets - Some Colorado resorts were the first in the nation to top the $100 daily ticket rate.  Top Eastern resorts will hit you up for eighty bucks or more.  Joining a ski club can take a big bite out of that expense especially when the club is part of a large council.  The Connecticut Ski Council has over 40 member clubs and purchases well over a million dollars of discounted lift tickets from New England ski areas each year.  The council passes the savings on to skiers and boarders who belong to member clubs.  The savings can be substantial.  In addition, the CSC implemented a program of “Council Awareness Days” a number of years ago.  This hugely popular effort will target a specific day at a specific mountain with even greater savings. 

Lodging – Many clubs own or lease lodges near major ski areas.  Consider New Britain, CT based Mt. Laurel Skiers.  Their lodge is minutes from Southern Vermont’s popular Okemo Mountain, sleeps 38 in bunks, and has seven bathrooms – six with showers.  There’s even a free WiFi network included.  Buying vouchers in advance will secure you a bunk for the weekend for only $45 and that includes breakfast!

Lessons – Maybe your skiing ability isn’t at the level you’d like.  Many clubs offer free lessons from certified instructors.  These lessons encompass recreational downhill skiing, racing, snowboarding, and cross country.

Trips – Many clubs arrange daily bus trips to ski areas and most clubs arrange for at least one week long ski trip per season.  Mt. Laurel has an annual Drive Trip whose destinations in recent years have been to Maine, Canada, and New York.  They also travel to more distant ski areas in the Rockies and Europe.  These trips sell out quickly. 

Racing – A popular activity with many clubs is racing.  Not just for the speed junkies, racing can be fun for everyone.  Monday Nights in the winter see a couple hundred racers negotiating the gates at Mt. Southington just west of Hartford, CT.  Each racer takes two runs and earns points within, his/her age group.  At the end of the season, individual and club awards are made.  In addition, a series of state races is held during the season.  Many racers participate in NASTAR, the largest recreational race program in the world.  Each year, the CSC sends a contingent to the NASTAR National Championships.

Social Life – For many, the clubs are the focus of their social lives.  Lifelong friendships are formed and regular meetings keep you in contact.  I personally joined Mt. Laurel in 1996 following the dissolution of a 24 year marriage and met my future wife there.  Each November, the CSC kicks off the new season with a Snowball – a fundraiser dance that regularly draws over 700 attendees.  Individual clubs frequently hold dances and special events.  Mt. Laurel’s annual LipSync in April has been drawing record crowds for a quarter of a century.  Not just a winter focused club, they host a Lobster Roast, Pig Roast, Summer Barbecue, Summer Bike Weekend, Fall Hike, and Golf Tournament.

Other activities – When the summer wax is applied to the skis and snowboards, many clubs continue to be active.  Mt. Laurel has very active programs in kayaking, hiking, and biking throughout the year.  It’s a true four-season organization.  Check out this video capturing a “year in the life” of the club.  The song, Get Out (Live a Little, Live a Lot), was written and performed by Phil Ayoub and is from his album Arrivals and Departures. 

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Pat Moore directs online sales of ski and bike gear for SuburbanSkiAndBike.com in Berlin, CT. In 2008 he was the first NASTAR racer to become age group National Champion in both skiing and snowboarding at the same time.