Students prepare for what is coming next under the bright sky. The chilled air brushes against their faces. The sounds of poles scrape into the snow, breaking the silence. As the moments pass, the joy in the area builds.
The Kinnelon Ski Club has made a new appearance in KHS students’ lives. On Sep. 7, all students received an email introducing the club. The after-school program consists of five trips, all to Mountain Creek and spread out over a little more than a month.
The club was created a few years ago by Hannah Sappio. However, it has now started its comeback. Ski advisor and Pearl R. Miller(PRM) teacher Brian Scanlon quickly took charge of this role because of his love for the snow and his knowledge of it.
Scanlon believes that this club is a great way for students to socialize. “The winter sports community is a very close-knit community, and we foster many friendships with people from all over.” This club opens new doors for students and gives them a wider network of winter sports.
However, Scanlon is not the only person taking control of this club. There is also PRM teacher Jacquelyn Tartaglia, who is known as another advisor. Her sports involvement throughout her life serves as a unique perspective for students and can help them throughout their skiing experiences.
While skiing is typically done outside of school, the Ski Club hopes to provide an environment where students can connect with their peers. “I think that the goal for the Ski Club is to bring Kinnelon students into a fun atmosphere where they can socialize with their peers,” says Tartaglia. “Now that the club has also opened up to eighth-grade students as well, I feel like the club can also be used as a community builder to more closely mesh the relationship between eighth and ninth-grade students.”
The club currently has a good amount of members, and many are looking forward to what is coming next. One participant, freshman Carly Draudt, says, “Skiing has always been a big part of my life, and when I found out there was a club, I was all in. Skiing is an activity where you can let all your thoughts disappear and live in the moment, giving me something to look forward to.”
Despite the excitement from its current members, the Ski Club also faced challenges in attracting more students. “The only real challenge is getting a good number of kids attending, which allows us to have the most favorable pricing for our kids. We had a big interest list [but] quite a few had not followed through, which is a challenge,” Scanlon says.
While the club has drawn many, others have felt differently. “Owning my car and considering Mountain Creek’s close distance makes joining the club less inviting. It’s cheaper and easier for me to go alone, without bus schedules or specific ski days,” senior Eryk Szarlej says. Another student, freshman Erika Wang, who skis in her free time, adds, “I believe the main factor that made me decide not to join the Ski Club was simply due to my busy schedule. I was not entirely sure if I could make it to all the trips, so I ultimately chose to refrain from joining.”
Whether or not students decide to join, Tartaglia says, “I think the biggest strategy is to promote the fact that you do not need to be an expert at skiing or snowboarding to join the club. Whether students are interested in learning a new life sport completely, only started a few years ago, or have been doing this since they were a toddler, all are welcome.”
Time seems to spring back into motion, and a burst of energy pushes the students off. As they head down the mountain, laughter echoes, and everyone’s faces light up with smiles. As the slope ends, students form new friendships and experiences they will never forget.
