A group of Sanford Middle School students took to the slopes this winter as part of the school's new ski and snowboard club. Over four Tuesday evenings, students of varying skill levels enjoyed the conditions at Pleasant Mountain, where they practiced their skiing and snowboarding techniques under the guidance of dedicated SMS staff members.
The program welcomed students of all ability levels, with beginners progressing quickly to successfully navigate the chairlift. When asked about their experiences, participants highlighted the social aspects as a key benefit of the club.
"It's definitely better skiing with friends... It's fun going with people at your level," student Alex St. Jean said.
Classmate Connor Fitch described the magical evening atmosphere: "When it's at night, it's all lit up. It's nice... it's just fun skiing with your friends down the mountain."
Derek Pichette, who has been skiing most of his life, added: "I didn't like going to the top because the line was always terrible. So I usually just took Riley's run," referring to one of the popular trails at Pleasant Mountain.
Connor mentioned how bringing equipment presented its own challenges: "For students that bring their equipment, it's kind of hard because usually I park out the line to walk right in, but with all my stuff, I have to walk all the way over there."
The students' behavior caught the attention of Pleasant Mountain staff, who specifically commended Principal Crosby on the group's conduct. Based on the overwhelmingly positive experience this season, Crosby is already looking ahead to expand the program.
“We look forward to continuing this club and may even extend it to five trips,” Crosby said. “A huge thank you to Mrs. Christie for her passion in getting this started.”