12
SPORTS
STQRY AND PHOTOS BY VICTORIA TINKER
AD MANAGER
“I snowboard, because I literally don’t think of anything
else when I ’m snowboarding,” said Josef Willwert, a
student at Clackamas Community College? “You’re not
worried about the person that’s talking smack, you’re not
worried about work, or school, you’re just like don’t fall
on your face, and look cool and enjoy the snow.”
Finals are upon us and soon you’ll have a lot of free
time on your hands. This winter break hit the slopes and
destress with skiing, snowboarding or tubing at Mt. Hood.
If you’re new to snowboarding there are plenty of
options, tlyit can be overwhelming. Even though there
are lessons at every lodge, my favorite to learn at was
Mt. Hood Meadows.
Meadows has a very small hill with a conveyer belt, like
what they have in the airport, that will bring you back up
the hill without the fear of getting off the chair lift.
“I like to be outdoors and I like to
go fast. It’s something I grew up
with so it’skinda my happy place."
- Karissa Timm
Once you feel confident enough to try the next smallest
hill, it will be a bit intimidating, but it gets you off your
butt and onto your feet. It’s a longer hill so you can really
figure out how to carve, turn and stop before you’re back
to the bottom of the hill.
The hill will also bring you right back to the bottom at
the lodge, so there is no fear of accidentally taking a run
you’re not ready for.
If you haven’t already bought a season pass, it’s not
too late.
Night skiing is anticipated to open sometime mid
December for all the lodges, and can be the more economical
option, all while fitting into your school schedule. So you
get the best of both worlds.
Although all of the lodges have night skiing, Mt. Hood
Skibowl is probably the coolest option. They tend to have
a well populated night life on the mountain, plus the have
ladies night. Ladies can shred the gnar for only $24 every
Tuesday night for the season, excluding Dec. 19 and 26.
Skibowl hopes to open by the weekend o f Dec. 2,
weather permitting for all operations.
If you’re not into, skiing or snowboarding, Skibowl offers
another fun way to hit the slopes. By innertube.
Jim, who declined to give his last name due to
confidentiality of employees at Meadows, said the season
is anticipated to be way better than last year.
“The am ount-of snow that w e’ve had at the end of
October, wasn’t even close to what we had last year,” said
Jim. “The season is barely even started and we already have
a ton of snow out there. Last year the season ended the
first week of May, so hopefully this year we can maybe go
a little bit longer than that if the snow stays really good.”
Meadows opening day was supposed to be Nov. 24 but
warm rain hit.the mountain on Nov. 23 and derailed then
plans to open.
“I like to be outdoors and I like to go fast,” said Karissa
Timm, a student at CCC . “It’s something I grew up with,
so it’s kinda my happy place.”
Timm snowboards at Meadows, because growing up
her mother worked at the lodge, and she also got the
opportunity to work at Meadows for a season in the kitche
as an expo in one of the restaurants.
Others prefer Timberline Lodge.
“I choose Timberline, because it’s the closest lodge to
my house,” said Willwert.
His favorite run at Timberline is Jeff’s Flood. “Off of
Jeffs Flood, in the forest there is a little spot called the
bone zone, which is basically like a half pipe in the forest
and you can just rip hard, in over trees and it’s just so much
fun,” said Willwert.
Timberline was open for weekends in
October. In early November they opened
. all the lifts, but as of Nov. 25, they are
FVjK!*
only running two lifts, Bruno and Pucci.
|§L
At this point, none of the lodges
S
W knows what they are going to have
open on a day to day basis until they
get more snow.
. According to Mary Jean Williams, an
I instructor at CCC, Mother Nature is in charge
' ?
of how the season goes, so it’s not off to a
great start.
The 160- inches Timberline had at base
have rained away to about .13 inches.
“My first patrol day is supposed to be this Saturday
[Dec. 2], and they’ll let us know oh Friday whether there
is enough snow to open,” said Williams, a ski Patroler at
Mt. Hood. “I ’ve loved this service for over 10 years and
highly recommend it.”
“The apprentice year was* overwhelming, so much
training. But the skills have been so helpful. Not only
do we rescue a lot o f hurt people on the mountain, but
the skills have also come in handy during accidents and
illnesses we’ve witnessed in the normal course of life,”
said Williams.
,
Tryouts happen annually and involve an application, an
interview and ski tests for those hoping to be sled pullers.
Anyone interested can go to mthoodskipatrol.org, and click
on “Join Our Patrol.”
Background: One lonely shredder takes on a blue trait at Timberline Lodge..
Left: Two snowboarders take in the beautiful blue bird day last season at Timberline Lodge.
Right: M l Hood Meadows lodge before the rain hit on Nov. 23,
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NOVEMBER 29|2017