RIT’s Bradley Ling finishes the downhill giant slalom during the University of Rochester - Bristol Invitational on Saturday, January 31. Bradley placed 18th with a time of 1:00.67.
Evan Witek

It’s another Rochester winter:
Time to move back indoors and stick to playing basketball, badminton and racquetball in the warm gym. It’s also time to meander about the tunnels of campus and avoid as much outside activity as possible. So, unless you’re a World of Warcraft android, you may want to venture into the outdoors and hit the slopes with the RIT Alpine Ski and Snowboarding Club. Greg Longabucco, a third year Packaging Science major and president of the skiing division of the club, tells us more.

Reporter: We were hoping you could let the RIT community know what your club is like. We know it’s a skiing and snowboarding club, but could you please give us more insight?
Greg Longabucco: The ski team and snowboard team generally work separately. The ski team goes to Swain [Ski Resort] to ski and snowboard on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The race team trains slalom [SL] and giant slalom [GS], while the club just enjoys the slopes. We all have a good time and find fun things to do, whether it’s watching someone fall hard and eat it or just cracking jokes on the lift. It’s a good time.

R: Does the team compete or is it a “just for fun” thing?
GL: Both. As I said, there is a team within the club that competes. The team is part of the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA). The race team meets on the weekend for our races. We spend the nights in Cortland at the “Castle” (a.k.a. Econo Lodge). Saturday mornings consist of racing at one of the six ski slopes we compete at including Bristol, Swain, Labrador, Toggenburg, Song and Greek Peak. The races end around 2 p.m. and we have the rest of the day off to do homework back at the hotel … or just crash on the beds and watch TV. Then we race again on Sunday and head for home. So, even though we compete and want to win, we know how to have fun doing it.

R: Are there any noteworthy skiers or snowboarders who are or were ever nationally ranked in competition?
GL: The team has a diverse group of racers. Half have raced in USSA [United States Ski and Snowboard Association] and high school, and others have only just started. The men’s team last year went to regionals, competing against the top teams on the east coast ... [third year Mechanical Engineering major] William Dwyer of the snowboarding division of the club was ranked first in the nation last year and finished fourth at nationals for boarder cross. There were also three other riders who went to nationals this past year.

R: Where do you ski or board?
GL: [At Swain mountain], we train gates in SL and GS with the Swain coaches. The recreational skiers and snowboarders tear it up around the mountain or go big in the park. Some are taking private lessons with the instructors to improve their skills on the slopes. We choose Swain because the mountain is never packed, allowing us to take a lot of runs at night, and the cost is much cheaper.

R: How can someone join the club if they are interested?
GL: We’re approaching the final days of our season this year and, as such, there isn’t really much opportunity for participation the remainder of this semester. After we return from break, the club will be partaking in the Year of the Club promotion on March 9 in the SAU. Please feel free to stop by our table for more information.

Throughout the fall we have informational meetings and at the start of winter quarter anyone that wishes to join is more than welcome. The information sessions are posted on our website as well as our Facebook group.

R: When does the club go to the slopes?
GL: The club travels to Swain Mountain every Tuesday and Wednesday night during the winter. The competition teams within the club race and compete at different mountains on the weekends.

R: How many members about does the club have?
GL: We currently have 20 Skiers and 25 Snowboarders who participate in our activities.

R: Is there anything in particular that the people of RIT should know about the club?
GL: The club is organized into three sections: the Ski Team, Snowboard [SB] Team and the recreational Ski/SB club. We are an RIT-recognized club sport and, as such, participation in any of our divisions grants a wellness credit.

For more information on RIT’s Alpine Ski and Snowboarding club, visit http://rit.edu/alpine.