Winter seems to be playing a game of peek-a-boo this year. Now you see it and now you don't as temperatures fluctuate between 30 and 70 degrees any given week.
Even in the midst of crazy weather patterns, the skiing and snowboarding physical education classes, PHYE 153 and PHYE 154, remain the most popular physical education classes the University offers.
Perhaps with the inspiration of this year's Winter Olympics, or perhaps with the goal of just trying something new or getting away from Charlottesville and stress, students flock to nearby Wintergreen Ski Resort on any night of the week. Professional instructors teach both one-credit hour night-time classes. Though the classes do cost money depending on how often one skis and whether or not one owns ski equipment; compared to a regular resort guest wanting the same deal, there is an inherent discount for students using the lift passes and gaining instruction through this program.
Overall, students agree that any night of snow fun at Wintergreen is sure to be time well spent.
"I fell a lot, but it was a lot of fun," third-year College student Becky Myers said. "I don't think I would have taken the initiative to come out and learn if it hadn't been offered."
Energy exerts itself both on and off the slope at Wintergreen. The bright lights of the Sky Pavilion, where one can get gear and purchase lift tickets, welcome guests from all areas just as the bright smiles of students and instructors laughing and joking with each other welcome fun into the evening. Music blares as students pick up ski gear, meet their instructors and make plans for their night on the mountain.
Decked out in her winter snow gear and her rented snow boots, third-year College student Emily Myers picks out skiing poles while holding skis and laughing with her roommate. Both decided to take a skiing class, though neither ever has skied before.
"I've liked it so far, they do a great job of putting you on the level you need to be on," Emily Myers said. "I've never skied before and I'm not out of place at all. I would recommend it to anyone that hasn't skied."
Beginning skiers have nothing to fear as far as being placed in the wrong group.
The first night of class involves a detailed placement process. Students are asked what level they think they are on and then head out to a mild slope to test their skills. Instructors watch the progress down the slope and place each skier into a group were the skier would feel comfortable yet challenged. Groups tend to include around four to five skiers or snowboarders.
On this particular night some students, the "Fab Four," as nicknamed by their instructor Hunter Battle, zip down the slope without their ski poles right on each others' tails looking like the end line up of the Daytona 500.
The lesson tonight consisted of dodging other skiers through a shower of man-made snow in the heroic attempt to improve form. Each run offered hilarious entertainment as everyone took turns wiping out, falling over mid-stance or running into ski lift chairs.
"We have the best instructor in the world and I would take skiing becauseit's a chance to get out of Charlottesville and it's pretty up here," said fourth-year College student Lauren Mitterer, a member of the "Fab Four" along with fellow fourth-year College student Rebecca Schneider, third-year College student Jessica Busch and second-year College student Nancy Sasser.
Only two of the girls knew each other before taking the class and now all four are good friends. Next semester, they want to try their luck at golf.
"The students should take advantage of what Wintergreen has to offer: skiing, golfing, hiking, biking. And while you are here you should make acquaintances and network," Battle said. "These guys, the 'Fab Four,' are by far the nuttiest group on the mountain."
Just around the corner, standing in a large huddle inside the Sky Pavilion, a group of four girls decked out in bright ski gear and equipped with their rented snowboards, wait patiently for their instructor to arrive. Second-year College students Melanie Mayer and Alisha Guertin, who also are roommates, are thankful they're in the program together.
"This is a joint effort, I wouldn't have taken up snowboarding if it hadn't have been offered and if it hadn't been for Melanie, I definitely wouldn't have taken it," Guertin joked as she pointed at her friend.
Snowboarding, now an Olympic sport, has soared in popularity despite the perception that it is harder than skiing and involves plenty of wipe outs. In fact, the class enrollment for snowboarding boasts much higher numbers than for skiing classes.
"I had never been skiing or snowboarding before so I decided to start with the hardest and do snowboarding," first-year College student Lauren Schiff said. "I've fallen a couple times," she added with a smile.
Though she doesn't see herself snowboarding forever, she said she values the life lesson of falling down, getting back up and taking risks.
Neither the chance of falling down, nor the drastic changes in the weather stopped second-year College student Jayme Lackore from taking a snowboarding class for beginners.
"For first time learners, they said warmer weather is actually a good condition," Lackore said. "It was nice not to freeze your face off and there was still snow."
Driving to the resort entails choosing between one of two routes, each taking around 45 minutes: a scenic trek down I-64 West and the Blue Ridge Parkway as the sun sets into rolling mountains, or a less direct but equally scenic route, traveling down Route 250 West, more back-country roads and plenty of signs directing one's path.
Either way, you'll arrive at your destination ready to face the slopes.
And once you arrive, the man behind the quality of the skiing and snowboarding classes is the Adult Programming Coordinator for Wintergreen, Brooks Tuttle. A picture of energy himself, Tuttle spends from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the pavilion making sure both customers and instructors receive necessary support while also enjoying themselves.
"Mainly, I'm the coordinator of having fun," Tuttle laughed.
While making sure programs run smoothly, Tuttle also is responsible for recruiting international ski instructors, accounting for the many Australian and British accents one hears while picking out rental equipment. He also maintains the Web site so students may register online and he is responsible for general safety precautions.
Whether taking a ski class for that last credit needed before graduating, wanting to be adventurous and feel the thrill of soaring down a mountain or just to escape the hectic pace of a regular University day, students enjoy what PHYE 153 and PHYE 154 offer and encourage other students to enroll. When asked why the programs are so successful despite a mild winter, the answer comes quickly forth.
"The people, the people that come here to have fun and the people they work with," Tuttle said.
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