Members of the ski and snowboard club take a break in between runs to get together for lunch. photo by Dan VandeRiet
TJ’s ski and snowboard club has once again hit the slopes at Winter Park with a new club sponsor.
TJ’s ski and snowboard club (also known as TJ Shred Club), is back once again for another season of hitting the slopes. Sunday, January 8th and Sunday, January 22nd were the club’s first two trips to Winter Park, with new and old members driving up to join the fun. With inches of fresh powder covering the mountain, the skiers and snowboarders had a fantastic start to the season and are looking forward to more trips in the future.
The club has a new teacher sponsor this year, Special Education teacher Alicia Guenthner, who is also brand new to TJ. Guenthner accompanied the club to Winter Park on the 8th and 22nd and is looking forward to going back on more trips in the near future. Guenthner elaborated, “I am looking forward to another successful day and for everyone to enjoy themselves. After two fun-filled trips to Winter Park, I encourage intermediate/advanced skiers or snowboarders to join us this season, as we have several more trips coming up!” Students are able to buy tickets through the club for only $5 each, which is significantly less than a normal day ticket which costs $119. “Thanks to Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR), TJ can take advantage of the super cheap tickets through their Denver Youth Ski Club Program. Through this opportunity, DPR’s goal is to capture a life-long interest of skiing and snowboarding to young individuals,” explained Guenthner.
Senior Erik Stolz is leading the group for his third year in a row, and he is excited for the club to visit Winter Park more times than ever this season. “I proactively take on the role of president of TJ Shred Club because I love giving students at TJ the opportunity to ski and ride with their friends,” said Stolz. So far this January, there has been a notable amount of snowfall in the mountains, resulting in great conditions in ski resorts, including Winter Park. Due to the ideal conditions, Stolz is working on planning trips for the club at least one, if not two, times a month.
CCT Magnet teacher Stacey Fornstrom will be accompanying the club this Saturday, February 4th for their third venture to Winter Park. For upcoming trips, any student with intermediate/advanced skills is welcome to join. While students must find their own way up to Winter Park or carpool with friends, there is no excuse to not take advantage of such a low-priced opportunity. “The club provides everything you love about snowboarding or skiing without the ridiculous prices for a ticket. For a mere $5 students are able to hit the slopes with their friends and have a great time!” commented Stolz. Students who would like more information or are interested in joining the club can stop by Ms. Guenthner’s classroom (Room 7) or email her at alicia_guenthner@dpsk12.org.
