Chill out, stay active with winter sports

When the snow starts falling in western Pennsylvania, most of us bundle below layers of clothing, waiting for spring to show its face again. 

Even if we have lived in the snow before, we despise the cold and stay indoors at all costs. However, there are some chomping at the bit, waiting to experience the multiple feet of snow Pennsylvania can see each year.  

Nick Rossello (senior, marketing) likes to ski and snowboard, and says he most enjoys going on his own time with friends.

“I make time to ski, hit the slopes at least twice a week in the winter,” Rossello said. “My friends and I have season passes so we can go when works best for us.” 

The IUP Ski Club has a Facebook page where club meetings and dates of trips to the mountains are often posted. But some students, like the snow so much they just cannot wait for the club to go. 

Rossello says he enjoys going to Blue Knob All Seasons Resorts in Claysburg PA. Blue Knob has been known to have a great variety of slopes at a reasonable price. If he cannot go there he travels south to Seven Springs Mountain Resort near Somerset. 

Riley Mehaffey (sophomore, College of Natural Science and Math) is an avid skier, also. Mehaffey is western Pennsylvania and is no stranger to intense winters.  He does not believe in transforming his dorm room into a bunker when it’s cold.

“I like to ski at least once a week,” Mehaffey said. “That is, when I can manage not to fall and hurt myself too often.” 

SSMR is where Mehaffey and his frigid, fervent friends go to ski. He mentioned that, even when you cannot ski, there is always something to do at the resort.

Mehaffey placed special emphasis on how much more fun can be had when you spend the entire day on the mountain with your friends, rather than alone. 

“You can ski a lot more when you’re alone, but nothing beats falling and laughing with your closest friends,” Mehaffey said.