While there is not officially a Ski Club currently in place, this year’s many added trips and overall transformation of skiing at the school has provided a step in reaching that goal of becoming a club.

Ski trips typically occur on a couple of Fridays every month. Mr. Rolly Landeros, chief information officer and organizer for the ski trips, sends out emails in which students can sign up for a visit to Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg. With a few trips available to students , it is easy for prospective skiers to become involved.

Landeros’ role with the ski trips has varied shifted over the years. Originally, Dr. Tom Greer would typically attend Perfect North with Landeros but would stay inside and act more of an overseer while Landeros would ski. Now, Landeros has somewhat inherited the role Greer once had, as Mr. Adam Hibshman, a physics teacher, will now typically actually ski more with the students. However, no matter what position of authority Landeros has been in, he maintains a certain passion that allows him to continue to be involved with these trips.

Landeros explained that the students are an essential reason for his participation. “One reason is I like to ski. But second of all, it’s great to be with students who like to try and be a little bit adventurous. I can identify with those kids who really try and take advantage of their athletic ability. Also, knowing that these trips create long-lasting memories, it’s great to be part of that,” said Landeros.

However, Landeros explained that ski trips were less frequent in previous years. “In the past we only did two trips a year: one to Perfect North and one to Boyne, Michigan. But every single year more and more kids have approached us saying, ‘Hey, can we do this more than just twice a year?’ It got to the point last year where there were finally enough students who said they absolutely wanted to do this more than twice a year,” he said.

Landeros said that now there are about 18 students that he would consider to be consistent members of the group. “(Senior)Fares Fallouh really was the main student to approach me and tell me that there are a lot of kids that want to ski more than we are already. Now, there is definitely a core group of kids that go every single time, so I would say that there really is a beginning or genesis of a club because of that,” he said.

Fallouh explained why he thinks the club is trending upward for the future. “There’s a lot of freshmen that are signed up. There’s not that many upperclassmen mostly because it’s new and they’re not used to it. But the freshman will have seen it as normal since they came to Cathedral, so I feel like there will continue to be more students joining over the years because more people will know about it,” he said.

These ski trips provide an opportunity for students to try skiing for the first time.  At Perfect North, there are ski lessons every hour that can completely teach students the basics of skiing in a relatively quick fashion. Additionally, Perfect North provides three different slopes that are solely made for new skiers. Landeros said, “The first two are very, very slight slopes and are a very gentle speed. And the third one is just a little bit longer, so you get used to skiing for longer distances. And most of the time, they train you on how to ski without poles because the most important thing about learning how to ski is keeping your balance.”

The trip to Boyne, Michigan is the most important and lengthy trip of the year. This evening, many students will gather around 11 p.m. on campus and be bused through the night so everybody can ski the entire next day. Landeros said, “The trip is neat because it’s a pretty big ski resort. It has 55 slopes and double dive black diamonds, so if you’re a good, avid skier you’re going to enjoy going there.”

Over the course of the school year, the number of students attending these Friday ski trips has increased. On the first trip there were 14 students, then 18, then 27. Landeros also said that on two of the most recent trips, there have been more than 30 students attending. Additionally, Landeros expects a large turnout of students for the trip to Michigan. “Quite honestly, I think we may have 60 to 80 kids attending the Boyne trip,” said Landeros.

The biggest benefit of attending one of the ski trips is likely the bond that students create. Landeros explained that while people aren’t necessarily talking as much on the bus ride to the slopes, there is such a good energy on the return to Cathedral that cannot really be replicated. “By the end of the ski trip and on the way back, the entire conversation is students asking, “What did you learn, what tricks did you do, and how’d you do on the slopes?” There’s so many stories and that just brings kids together because of one common thing: we all like to ski and we are all having a great time.”

Fallouh explained that reason he continues to be involved is because of the relationships he’s made along the way. “The ski trips really just bring people together in a way. You get to meet new people on the bus rides and the chair lift, and that is really the best part about these trips.”