Winter gets long in Minnesota. Finding an outdoor activity makes the winter more enjoyable. Over 250 (the largest group at Powder Ridge this year!) Becker kids are involved with the ski club Friday nights at Powder Ridge in Kimball. 

 

Growing up, my church youth group from South Santiago (Luther League) visited Powder Ridge once a year. The first time I went, my snow pants got caught on the j-bar and I held up the chair lift getting untangled. When I finally did ski down the hill, I was going so fast I couldn’t stop. I remembered I was supposed to turn my skiis, but turned them a little too far and crossed them and wiped out alarmingly close to the chalet. My glasses went flying and I crawled around in search of them since I’m almost legally blind without them. Good times.

 

I don’t think I would walk again if I went skiing now.

 

Becker teacher Cindy Welinski and her husband Jerry, started the ski club in Becker 18 years ago.  All four of their children have enjoyed participating. Ben (24), Hannah (23), Nick (20)  and Grace (15). Grace is not involved in ski club this year, mainly because she is too involved with other activities (robotics).

 

Becker teacher Jill Benda and her husband Jeff, have also been very involved with ski club until this past year. Jill was on the ski team in high school and has been skiing since she was three years old. Jill shared how ski club provides a great way to get through the winter and stay active. She especially enjoyed how family oriented the activity is. Jill and Jeffs daughter Haley was a member of the ski club from kindergarten through 8th grade. Sydney (a senior at Becker High School), shared: “I have been in ski club for as long as I can remember. It's fun being able to snowboard every Friday with friends and meet new people. It makes Minnesota winters better. I work at Becker Furniture World now, so it's harder for me to get out there, but I still try to go when I can!”

 

Sara Fritsch and Nancy Buntrock, of Becker, are the the current ski club coordinators. Sarah said: “One of my favorite parts about ski club is that it is a time for kids to be free from organized sports and they are still getting much needed physical activity in the winter. They also get time to socialize with friends while pushing each other to better themselves at skiing/snowboarding. I also love the fact that skiing/snowboarding is a lifelong recreational activity that they can carry into adulthood.”

 

A resounding theme from everyone I talked to was what a wonderful family activity the ski club is. Instead of riding a bus to the ski hill in Kimball, the parents serve as chaperones and carpool to Powder Ridge Friday nights. They often play board games and do crafts and describe it as a great time for famiies.

 

Nathanael Nelson, of Becker, is in his fourth year of snow boarding and snow skating with a season pass at Powder Ridge. Nathanael told me: “I like to go to Powder Ridge Friday nights because all the kids from ski club and many of my friends are there. I have been a member of the ski club in the past, but not now. I love having a small hill and knowing so many of the people there.” He is also an amateur team rider at Hovland Snowskates. He was asked to be a part of their team after participating in a demonstration at Spirit Mountain. He participates in a couple events per month with Hovland Snowskates. 

 

Nathanael’s mother (Anne Nelson) said: “Ski Club is a really good program. It allows your children to "test the waters" without having to make such a big financial commitment without knowing if either skiing or snowboarding is something your child likes to do.”

 

Tristan Gallagher is an eighth grader from Becker in his third year of snow boarding and skiing. He shared these thoughts about snow boarding: “I am not in ski club but I do have a season pass. I enjoy everything about snowboarding from just cruising around and lapping the terrain parks. Powder Ridge has great people working there. It's a great place.”

 

I think we all want our children to put down their gadgets, shut off the television and get outside and enjoy each other. Ski Club is a wonderful opportunity for Becker kids and parents to do just that.