Alpine club focuses on athletics, struggles with numbers

Although MHCC is named after a mountain, the school just started its Alpine Racing Club (ARC) in 2009 and is still trying to build in numbers.

“The club is for anyone who is interested in the athletic aspect of skiing and riding (snowboarding),” said faculty adviser Tom McCormack.

The president of the club, Nathan Strecker, said it’s ironic that there aren’t many members considering that the mountain is so close. So far he said he is one of a handful of committed students in ARC.

“It’d be a great way to hone your skills in skiing and snowboarding. It’s completely for fun,” said Strecker. The first-year business student from Washougal said he started regularly skiing around the age of 3, but has no competition experience.

At this point, Strecker and McCormack just want to spread awareness that there is a club for skiers and riders. McCormack said that each year the club pretty much has to start from scratch because many students move on from the school.

“We kind of foresaw this problem before we formed the club,” said McCormack, who helped students form the club three years ago.

They are looking for students who have skiing or riding experience, but they do not need competition experience. Once the ski season begins, usually around the end of November, the club will have weekly training sessions every Friday afternoon either at Timberline or Ski Bowl.

A minimum of two students plus a faculty adviser must be present for travel; faculty advisers will drive the vehicle.

“We are not a ski ‘trip’ club,” emphasized McCormack. “We are interested in the athletics.”

But he also pointed out that the club is by no means serious in a “military style” way. Members can come to as many or as few training sessions as they want. It’s between being a varsity team and a recreational club, said McCormack.

The club has two coaches: McCormack who has experience in skiing, and Robert Weinman, who has snowboard competition experience. McCormack is certified as a Level-100 USAA (United States Ski and Snowboard Association) club coach and race official and raced on several teams in his 49-year ski career.

There must be at least three men or three women to compete in the Northwest Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Conference (NWSCS) which consists of 11 universities and colleges. But if there are not enough members who want to compete, members have numerous opportunities to compete individually.

McCormack recommends that members purchase the Mt. Hood Fusion Pass, which provides complete lift ticket access at Timberline and Ski Bowl through Memorial Day. The pass may be purchased online at MtHoodFusionPass.com.