If there is one student organization on Grand Valley State University’s campus that is itching for the first significant snowfall of the season, it has to be the ski and snowboard team.

The team will be hitting the slopes next semester with a larger-than-anticipated membership. New changes this year have brought a much more social aspect to the team in addition to its already competitive camaraderie.

“(Students) can just go and hang out with us all weekend,” said vice president Stacey Knapp. “You get your ski passes and can stay with us, but don’t have to compete.”

In recent years, members were part of the team that competed in five conference races, with one in Kalamazoo Township at the Otsego Ski Club, three in Northern Lower Michigan at Crystal and Schuss Mountain resorts and one in the Upper Peninsula in Marquette. The team typically participates in slalom events but may be adding snowboard cross and skier cross competitions this season.

“This year we decided to do something different … a lot of people have been asking if they can just come and ski for fun,” said team president Ryan Malinoski.

Malinoski said the team adopted the idea from GVSU’s cycling club, which competes in various races in the midwest but welcomes student and faculty members for easy social rides.

“There are 15-20 people that were like, ‘Hey, that’s me, I have no interest in racing whatsoever,’” Malinoski
said.

Team financial officer Eric Grabijas said that they decided to make changes based on input and as a means to expand the team.

“The racing can get competitive at times, and some people aren’t at the same skill levels as others … they were more there go up a few weekends to go free skiing or snowboarding,” Grabijas said. “We decided to add (social memberships) to hopefully boost membership. We think it worked – we do have more people this year than I think we’ve ever had.”

All three team members anticipated memberships to number between 40 and 50 this year. Grabijas indicated
that the appeal may be from the reduced cost of social memberships.

“This year they are $400 a person if you are racing, with $350 if you are not racing,” Grabijas said. “There are five weekends and a $10 racing fee each weekend, so obviously social members won’t be paying that.”

The team will soon be finalizing reservations for accommodations for the five weekends beginning in January. Grabijas said that they have closed the racing roster for this year, but encourages anyone interested in social memberships
to contact one of the officers. The team’s information may be found on the GVSU Student Life list of organizations and on their Facebook page.