Students plan ski trip for winter break

While many students have no major plans for their winter vacation, sophomore Bryan Di Matteo will be in Aspen, Colo., hitting the slopes. \n"I'm excited," he said, "But I know there will be a lot of lessons and learning."\nDi Matteo, along with about 30 other students, will be traveling to Aspen/Snowmass, home of the 2004 Winter X Games, for a lab week with other students in the Basic Alpine Skiing Class.\nIU's Schools of Continuing Education and Heath, Physical Education and Recreation partnered with Aspen Skiing Company to install a course program where students receive credit to travel to Aspen to spend a week at a renowned ski resort, receiving instruction from a professional trainer.\n"The ski company lets the University put the package in place, allowing students the opportunity to ski or perfect existing skills," said R. Gerald Pugh, instructor of the classroom portion of the course and associate dean and professor at the School of Continuing Studies. "And even though we call it Basic Alpine Skiing, it's for anybody."\nThe class, which meets once a week, covers three basic categories: skill, psychology and the historical aspect of skiing. Students are also given instruction on physical conditioning, appropriate apparel and equipment choice, weather variables, safety, skiing terms, techniques and responsibilities. \nJunior Marygrace Hartline said the work isn't bad.\n"The readings are good," she said. "They're motivational and can be applied to life." \nSenior Rocco Rinaldi said he's looking forward to the trip.\n"I'm getting excited," he said. "I have been getting on aspen.com and checking the weather. I just want to have a good time and enjoy the holiday break."\nStudents who took the class last spring said the course is well worth the time spent.\n"I took a chance ... and it was absolutely wonderful," sophomore Mohammed Mahdi said. "It was one of the most wonderful experiences in my life ...You get to learn a new skill and have fun doing it. It's a whole new life experience."\nJunior Matt Kubal, who also took the class last spring, agreed.\n"It was an awesome opportunity even though I already knew how (to ski)," he said. "There's some work involved, but it's not too intensive. You're getting a hell of a deal skiing. I couldn't think of a better way to learn. It's an ideal situation."\nKubal enjoyed the class so much, in fact, he is taking the follow-up course this semester, offered to those who want to continue to advance their skiing skills.\n"Last semester I (already) knew how to ski. Now we're starting out at a higher level. I (want to) challenge myself and see how I can do," he said. "It's kind of my winter vacation, and I'm getting credit for it."\nThe initial class size is around 30 students, but once in Colorado, they are divided by ability levels into groups of about four or five.\nThe eight-week, three credit-hour course is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. The class meets once a week to prepare for the trip. \n"(There are) certain skills required to be an effective skier," Pugh said of learning the skills before hitting the slopes. "To be successful you have to know what's going to happen."\nThe school has offered a one-credit-hour skiing course in past years with the instruction at local, artificially snow-covered ski areas.\nPugh said going to Colorado is the real thing. \n"Skiing on natural snow is entirely different, and the intent of this class is for each student to have a terrific experience by exceeding his or her expectations and then be ready for a lifetime of recreational skiing," Pugh said. "They (the instructors) show you the best snow on earth in the real mountains."\nThe lab week in Aspen involves six days of practice and instruction from 8:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. \nPugh said students learn about skiing for lifelong fitness, pleasure and family activities. \n"The first person I introduce students to at Aspen is a 76-year-old ski instructor," he said. "I let him give a demonstration to show how the sport can be with you a very long period of time."\nStudents in the course are required to keep a "ski journal," logging their thoughts and progress each day. \nThose who took the course said they were impressed with the results of the class. Many have even volunteered to help with the course in the future. \n"I try to recommend that class to everyone," Mahdi said. "After I took it, it's my new passion. I love to ski; it's almost like flying." \nKubal plans to take the course even further, and hopes to become a ski instructor in Aspen after graduation.\n"I'd like to be a ski instructor for two years before I go to law school," he said. "And maybe when I come back here for law school, I can be a (teacher's assistant) in the (skiing) class."\nPugh said one of the greatest things as instructor of the class is seeing the appreciation students acquire for the sport.\n"Satisfaction as an instructor is seeing the new world opened up to people with something that will be with them for life," Pugh said of teaching the class. \nBasic Alpine Skiing is offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Students can still sign up for next semester's course. For more information contact Pugh at 855-1775 or rgpugh@indiana.edu.\n-- Contact staff writer Brittany Hite at bhite@indiana.edu.