Comments on: 0utdoor Retailer Day 3 — Backcountry Skiing Media Harmonic Convergence

By: David Aldous

David Aldous — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:19:33 +0000

Unfortunately USU and all of the Utah schools are on a semester system which makes it harder to take the winter off. I have had semesters where I was out of class by 10:30 every day of the week or only had classes Monday Wednesday and Friday(Unfortunatley the engineering department didn’t set up the schedule of classes in a way that Tuesday Thursday only classes were an option). It could also be possible to shift classes into the afternoon or evening which would allow ski trips in the mornings. The PE department classes meet once a week at Beaver Mountain which would get you one credit. They also offer climbing and kayaking classes(the kayaking class is more of a in the pool focused on rolling type of class). If you have questions about USU or the outdoor recreation opportunities around there feel free to contact me(I’m assuming that since I enter my e-mail to submit a reply you can access that to contact me or my username is dcaldous on the couloir/Backcontry magazine forum.)

By: Lisa (the Mom)

Lisa (the Mom) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:54:27 +0000

Good points, Tom. You figured out a great approach to blend the two endeavors. Thanks so much for your input.

By: Chris (WWU)

Chris (WWU) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:38:47 +0000

It’s a simple formula of how to get to the number 12 credits (full time student status for a school on the quarter system) without failing all of your classes and having to retake them.

step 1) Online and distance learning classes are your friend. Both allow you to take real classes that can fill boring prerequisites (ie: English 101) without ever needing to attend classes. Just make sure that you don’t grab a class with too much reading or you’ll find yourself stuck in the lodge buried in the Great Gatsby.

step 2) Take classes that meet a maximum of two times a week. This helps create a 4-5 day ‘weekend’ which by senior year any competent student has usually managed to find anyway.

step 3) Fill up the remaining credits with a 2-credit skiing/snowboarding PE class. Generally this consists of showing up for a 2-3 hour ‘lesson’ which can usually be negotiated down to sharing back country stories with your jealous ‘professor’.

Step 4) Take 7 years to graduate because you flunked most of your classes every winter quarter and had to retake them in the Spring. Thankfully the government has a plethora of student loans to hand out and doesn’t mention that you can’t spend them on a season’s pass.

By: Tom G

Tom G — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:37:46 +0000

I think the best way to ski 100 days a year while in college is to not go to school near the mountains. That’s how I did it. I went to school at an in-state university in the midwest that utilizes the quarter system. Every year I was able (3 total) I took the winter quarter off and spent December through March in Colorado. Really the goal should be not to ski as many days as possible while in school, but rather to go to school in order to set yourself up to ski as many days as possible for the rest of your life. Skiing, including BC, is expensive and not every career is suitable for living in a mountain community. Ski as much as you can while in school but make sure that your college studies will allow you to find employment in the mountains and not have to spend all of your time working two or three jobs. Just my two cents, but it’s worked for me.

By: David Aldous

David Aldous — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:11:28 +0000

There is also an avalanche class offered through the forestry department that is held at Snowbasin. It didn’t do anything for my engineering degree but it was the funnest class I ever took. Unfortunately I’ve let my coursework get in the way of the 100 ski days per year. Hopefully we get more snow this season. Last winter was pretty bleak.