Last year, the unusual weather conditions in Syracuse hindered the experiences of skiers and snowboarders alike. Ice overpowered the slopes and made for an unfavorable experience.

This year is looking far better.

“There was only one trail that was sort of icy, but the rest were fine and a lot more fun to go on than last year. You have much more control without the ice,” said Zhenya Muravyova, a sophomore writing and rhetoric and English and textual studies major, of her experience at Toggenburg Mountain on Saturday.

With Song Mountain, Labrador Mountain and Toggenburg Mountain within driving distance, students are taking advantage of the slopes this winter.

Syracuse University skiers and snowboarders will take over the mountains thanks to a program offered by Recreation Services that starts this weekend.

“Snowboarding and skiing is a good way to get in shape while spending time with friends,” said Muravyova. “You don’t think about it because you are going down the mountain. Even your arms get a work out.”

Recreation Services’ six-week ski and snowboard program to Toggenburg Mountain had 250 spots available for students to sign up, but is sold out for this season. Students receive a lift ticket for Friday or Saturday night, transportation to the mountain and weekly lessons, all for $105. For an extra $90, students can rent their equipment from the mountain for the duration of the program.

This is Muravyova’s second year utilizing the Recreation Services program.

“It’s good snow for beginners to learn on. I tell everyone to try it,” Muravyova said.

A snowboarder with five years of experience, Muravyova said she enjoyed going to Labrador Mountain with her high school ski club in a suburb of Syracuse, but she found it difficult to get off campus without a car when she got to the university. 

Muravyova takes advantage of the lessons offered within the package in order to learn new tricks on the terrain park. Toggenburg Mountain offers lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. The program is intended for students of all skill levels, and students enjoy learning new skills or perfecting their technique with the weekly lessons.

“For the advanced lessons, I saw people learning to do really crazy tricks,” Muravyova said. “I started going to the terrain park last semester. I’m hoping to actually be able to land stuff because there isn’t going to be ice. I can’t wait.”

Previously a skier, Scott Catucci, assistant director of Outdoor Education at Recreation Services, said he took up snowboarding one year because he wanted to progress through the six-week lessons like a beginner would. By the end of the six weeks, Catucci said he could successfully snowboard, although he still prefers to ski.

“We try to not turn anybody away. In fact, I think the program has grown every year,” Catucci said. “We are getting to the point where we can pretty much accommodate everyone who is interested.”

Students have had positive experiences with the rental equipment and staff.

“Even if you don’t need lessons, it’s still fun to go and be with the group and actually enjoy the cold weather and get off campus,” Catucci said.

Jesper van den Bergh, a freshman political science major, snowboards with the Recreation Services program, and traveled to Canada for Snow Jam from Jan. 11-13.

Van den Bergh and about 100 other SU students traveled five hours north for a weekend of skiing and snowboarding on Mont Tremblant in Québec, Canada.

Van den Bergh, who normally snowboards on the West Coast, said he was surprised by the amount of ice in Canada and at Toggenburg Mountain.

“Snow Jam was good. It was icy and cold, but nice. I enjoyed the fresh snow on the slopes,” van den Bergh said.

The East Coast, sometimes referred to as “the beast in the East,” is known for its icy conditions.

Last year’s conditions were worse than normal due to the atypically mild winter. Freshman communication and rhetorical studies major Christopher Lane said last year the conditions were bad.

“There was slush, which is not good for skiing,” Lane said, a skier since the age of 3.

So far, conditions are looking better this year.

Skiing and snowboarding on ice takes more concentration and more accuracy with movements than when on powder. Ice can make a skier or snowboarder go a lot faster and the chunks of ice can make for a bumpy run.

These challenges are taken in stride by SU students and are all a part of the fun that accompanies skiing on the East Coast. Freshman magazine journalism major Kate Johnson said she is originally from the West Coast, so she is used to skiing on powder, not ice.

Syracuse’s famous amounts of snow could be taken positively or negatively. The icy conditions could be a reason to stay in the lodge, or they could be seen as a way to ramp up a work out experience.

Said Johnson: “I’m not dissing on East Coast skiing. It was fun to experience skiing on the East Coast with a group of friends.”

Published on January 28, 2013 at 11:29 pm

Contact Danielle: dlroth@syr.edu