Season's Greetings '90
BOARD
Continual from Page 3B
wasn't even permitted at most
ski resorts until 10 years later
Today, it's virtually impossi
ble to ski a run or two without
seeing a snow boarder fly by
"I think the reason it
caught on with people is be
cause you feel a lot freer,”
said Dave Skinlow. snow
boarder and coowner of Inf in
ity Snow Board Shop in
Springfield "You have no
poles and no hard shell boots
It's the same way (as skiing)
to have tun without having to
conform to all the extra equip
ment.”
about it is that people try to
tight the board instead of let
ting it do what it is supposed
to (turn on it's own).'' Skinlow
get people making good, con
trolled turns m about an
hour "
The first day of snow
'Borrow' a friend ’s board and go with someone who knows what they re
doing and who will be patient. '
-Dave Skinlow
Many people tend to shy
away from snow boarding due
to myths about it being ditfi
cult to learn, Skinlow said
"The only thing that's hard
said "Just relax and let the
board go "
"I don't think it's even
close to as hard (to learn) as
skiing is," Daluiso said "I can
boarding seems to be the
worst in terms of frustration
in learning
"It's harder to learn to start
skiing than snow boarding. I
hether they've been naughty
or nice, they'll love what
you getthem from the
UO Bookstore! "
think.'' Skmlow said. "But
once you get through that
(irst day, it's easier to ad
vance and get to a good inter
mediate stage.''
For those interested in tak
ing professional snow board
ing lessons, both Willamette
Pass and Mt Bachelor offer
lessons at moderate prices
Willamette has one and a half
hour lessons daily for $15
Bachelor offers three hour
lessons daily for $26 Snow
board rentals are also avail
able at both mountains.
The University officially
gave birth to a new Club
Sports snow boarding team
last Wednesday, openly rec
ognizing the gaining populari
ty of the sport.
The club, consisting of 53
members, plans to enter three
competitions this season, and
is even hosting one of its own
in early March at Willamette
Pass, titled the Northwest
Collegiate Snow Boarding
Competition, said club coordi
nator Lea Waymire.
The racers will compete
against four other collegiate
club teams from Oregon and
Washington
Hopefully me team wm
help a lot of people progress,"
said club member and snow
boarder of six years Chad
Barczak "Maybe next season
we will make it to the National
Collegiate Finals in Vermont."
As far as cost goes, it is
not any more expensive than
skiing, Skinlow said The ne
cessities for snow boarding
include snow board and bind
ings (about $450). goggles,
gloves, jacket, pants and
warm boots.
The closest ski resorts
from Eugene, Willamette Pass
and Mt. Bachelor, both permit
snow boarding, but Bachelor
is a definite favorite among
many boarders
"At Bachelor, any set day
you can go anywhere on the
mountain and find the terrain
you want,” Skinlow said. "You
can go on one side of the
mountain and find killer
groom or go to the other side
and you'll find powder. It
changes that fast, going to
one side of the mountain or
the other.”
Just because snow board
ers have fun with their sport
doesn't mean that they're any
different from skners, and the
general consensus is that the
two groups need to learn to
share the mountain and not
stereotype
"Snow boarders aren't )ust
kids with raging hormones
anymore," Barczak said
Skinlow said he believes
snow boarders are singled out
because they are different
from skiers
"I wish all the skiers and
ski patrol up at Bachelor
would mellow out about us,"
Skinlow said. "We get a lot of
crap up there and it's lame be
cause we pay the same
amount for lift tickets."
For those desiring to get
out this Christmas break and
sample a taste of this wild,
relatively new sport, a few tips
might be of some use
"A lot of people don't real
ize the board will turn by it
self,'' Daluiso said Relax
and don't force the board to
turn.''
"Most importantly, go out
there with a good attitude and
don't get frustrated. Just keep
trying and you'll have the best
time." - *
■Colleen Ptthlig