Snowflakes fall gently through the air as a ski lift rises to the top of an exciting high hill. Cold wind bites the nose and turns it red as it blows the snowflakes through the air before they fall on top of the pristine snow banks below. Suddenly the ski lift tips, and you slide onto the snow bank to go careening down the suddenly mile-long hill through obstacles feeling the wind hitting your face and turning it a rosy pink. This is how it feels to some of the skiers belonging to the Maple Lake ski club before they start, including eighth-grade skier Tucker Sigler, who loves these hills. “I like that you can go down different hills,” said Sigler. “And do challenges on the hills and ski with friends.” 

Sigler joined ski club this year to go skiing with friends and hopefully learn to snowboard in the future despite some ski club challenges. “I don’t like that if you want to go to the hill next to the outback,” said Sigler. “And you take the ski lift next to Black Diamond. You have to struggle to get up that part of the hill.”

There are always negative aspects to everything in life, from steep hills to long bus rides. Still, those negatives have no effect on those that love the club for multiple reasons, including the reasoning for seventh-grade skier Alexis Kempenich.“I joined because it’s fun,” said Kempenich. “And I love skiing. I get to ski with friends, and I really enjoy it.”

This fun sport offers many routes to have fun, from going downhill at fast speeds on the Black Diamond to making exhilarating jumps on a jumping ramp. 

All in all, ski club is a fun sport that leaves some questioning if it has any faults. This list includes eighth-grade skier Alyssa Jude who has yet to find any flaws in her first year of ski club. “There is not really anything that I don’t like about ski club. I like to ski with my friends,” said Jude.

This love for skiing and having fun with her friends has brought Jude and her friends to this thrilling sport. “This is my first year in ski club,” said Jude. “My friend and I were talking about joining, so we did.” 

For these three students and all the rest in ski club that come back year after year, the fee for this club is well worth the time spent doing something you love with great friends that make the entire experience worthwhile. The activity cost is nothing compared to the ability to ski down the hills, going past the obstacles and over the jumps causing thrills on even the simplest slope. The opportunity to feel the wind against your face as you travel down a hill over the freshly powdered snow going through different settings of wonder, making up for any monetary loss. The end nearing until skidding to a stop only to begin again and again, trying new things and having a fantastic time spending time with friends new and old who share a similar love for the slopes on which you ride.