Skiing and snowboarding are common winter-break activities for many people. However, some students were required to make a trip to the slopes.

Students of the physical education class HESS 252, spend a portion of their break  at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Boone, N.C. From Dec. 30 to Jan. 3, students of this class applied on the mountain what they studied during the semester here in Raleigh.

 For three days students take lessons on their choice of skiing and snowboarding and two days at Sugar Mountain Resort, where they ski and snowboarded on their own.

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 Marsha Lester has instructed the course for 22 years. She said there are several different costs for trips depending on how many days students have slope tickets, whether they ski or snowboard and the hotel accommodations they choose. 

According to Lester, 100 to 150 students go on the trip each year and it attracts many international students that are interested in going on their first ski trip. 

“The trip is very affordable,” Lester said. “Many students are able to get the opportunity to ski or snowboard for the first time that may not have been able to otherwise because of the amazing price.”

 Lester said she prefers to have the trip take place in Boone instead of out West because of the lower costs. Also, she is able to have more students in the course since Boone is closer and students are able to provide their own transportation.

Students with any skill level can enroll in the class.  Beginner, intermediate and advanced courses are available depending on experience. 

Appalachian has nine slopes ranging from easy to more difficult and a terrain park for free styling with three slopes. Sugar Mountain has nineteen slopes and a terrain park.

Ravi Dixit, a junior in microbiology and human biology, took the class for the second time this school year and plans on taking the course again this upcoming fall semester.

 Dixit said the weeklong trip is very affordable. For just over $300, lessons, rentals, slope tickets and hotel are included, but students do arrange transportation to the mountains themselves.

 “I love the trips and think they’re fantastic,” Dixit said. “It’s fun to be watching fireworks while going down the mountain on New Year’s Day.”

 Dixit said they also meet students from other colleges such as UNC-Chapel Hill that were on trips for a similar class. 

According to Lester, throughout the break schools from surrounding states such as Georgia and South Carolina also take trips to Boone’s mountains for their skiing and snowboarding courses. 

 Hunter Hendrick, a senior in textile engineering, said before the big trip he only meet with Lester twice in the fall semester to fill out paperwork, register for the trip and go over the itinerary.

 The first three days in Boone, students take an hour-long class at Appalachian Ski Mountain through the French-Swiss Ski College. One instructor teaches ten students at a time. On the last day students take a practical test on what they learned throughout the course. Students can choose whether they want to receive a letter grade or pass/fail.  

Students also took a written test on Moodle when they returned to campus following the break.  

After the test, students were permitted to spend their free time however they chose to. Hendrick said he choose to spend the last two days of the trip skiing down Sugar Mountain. 

 “The trip is a really good deal for what you’re getting. If you want to go on a ski trip anyway, it’s better to take it through the class because of the good deal on the prices,” said Hendrick. “I would definitely recommend other people to take it.”

  There is also a Ski and Snowboard Club meets weekly at Carmichael gym and competes against twelve other universities. The club has an annual trip to the West to ski resorts in states such as Utah, Colorado, Vermont and Wyoming.