Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Ski clubs have been around as long as organized skiing. They run trips, teach members to ski and snowboard, promote safety, operate racing programs and, in some cases, own ski lodges open to members and their guests.

Some are open to individuals and families, like the Ski Club of Washington D.C.  and the Eastern Tennessee Mogul Mashers. Others, such as the New Jersey Ski Council and the Eastern Pennsylvania Ski Council, are clubs for clubs.

Many reasons exist to join a ski club, but the two biggest seem to be camaraderie and lower-cost skiing. Members always have someone to ski or ride with, and the play costs less because of discounted lift tickets areas make available to clubs.

Membership dues vary, but are usually lower than the cost of a weekend adult lift ticket. The cost of dues is recovered after a few outings because of the discount cards that many areas offer to skiers as a way to drive loyalty.

The Atlanta Ski Club for example, is open to residents of metro Atlanta, with dues starting at $40. The club has trips planned this winter to Taos, Steamboat, Big Sky, Vail, Panorama BC, Aspen, and Sun Valley.

Regional clubs for clubs - usually called councils - have become major players on the ski scene.

The New Jersey Ski Council has an annual ski expo for club members to meet with ski resort reps and make plans for the winter ahead. This year's Ski Jamboree is 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with free admission and parking.

The New Jersey Ski Council was formed in 1939 to promote skiing, assist in the development of new clubs, run races, and generally to promote club activity. Membership is open  to any active organized ski or snow sports club in New Jersey and adjacent areas.

The Crescent Ski Council of West Virinia has 22 ski clubs and nearly 5,000 members. The council is running trips to Steamboat, Big Sky and Keystone this winter.

The Western Pennsylvania Ski Council, a coalition of 17 clubs, is running 18 trips this winter, some of them already sold out.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Ski Council has 37 member clubs, runs a menu of trips, and offers discounted lift tickets.

Clubs for individuals and families also are popular in large metropolitan areas.

The Ski Club of Washington DC has more than 2,000 members. Dues are $45 for individuals, $73 for families. Club President Bill Johnston says, "For 70 years, the Ski Club of Washington, DC (SCWDC) has been one of the most successful ski clubs in the U.S. We are one of the largest ski clubs and we hope one of the best. Our club is run mostly by volunteers, including me.

"First and foremost, we are a club of skiers and boarders. We offer more than 40 trips each year to most of the world's premier destination resorts, including East Coast destinations. For all level of skiers and boarders, we have our own ski and snowboard school certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and a complete schedule of affordable one-day ski and snowboard performance enhancement trips to local areas as well as weekend trips to resorts in West Virginia."

Some, like the Garden City Ski Club own or rent a ski lodge. Garden City's lodge is near Mad River Glen.

Other clubs include the Richmond Ski Club, the Raleigh Ski And Outing Club, the Eastern Tennessee Mogul Mashers, and  the Ohio Valley Ski Club.