As summer comes to a close, many ski enthusiasts will count the days until they are flying down snow-covered mountains in Vermont, Maine, or even Europe.
The Hoboken Ski Club, with members from throughout New Jersey and New York, offers a place for ski and snowboard enthusiasts to organize and plan trips to hit the slopes. This ski season marks the 20th anniversary of the club, which continues to provide members with a much-needed opportunity to escape the rush of the city and head to the mountains.
History of the club
“Hoboken has changed a lot over the last 20 years, but we’re proud that the ski club is still here,” said Scott Konzelmann, president.
The club began when a ski enthusiast, Bob McDonald, wanted to share his passion for the sport with other enthusiasts in the area.
“I’ve never seen a person after skiing who doesn’t have a smile on their face.” – Ski Club President Scott Konzelmann
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According to Konzelmann, the group currently has around 400 members.
“It fluctuates because of the economy,” Weissman said. “There were years when we’ve had 600 or 700 people.”
The base age for the group is 21 years old, because the club considers itself an “adult club” that likes to party on their trips.
All kinds of members
The average member is in their late 20s and early 30s, according to Weissman. But the group is not limited to members in that age range. Konzelmann noted that there is one man in the club who is approximately 70 years old.
Members come from various financial backgrounds, and accommodating them all is a challenge.
“We provide a wide variety of trips that try to cater to everyone,” Weissman said. “We have weekend trips, extended weekend trips, and even week-long trips.”
The weekend trips cost approximately $350-$450, the longer weekend trips cost between $450 and $550, and the week-long prices depend on the specific destination.
Sometimes, a member who has never skied before decides to join the club for a chance to meet people and pick up a new skill.
“We had a girl from Alabama who moved to New York, and never skied in her life,” Weissman said. “We went to Jackson Hole [Wyoming]. They have a beautiful beginner’s area set up. She borrowed some stuff from friends and had a fantastic time.”
However, advanced skiers will have no problem finding fellow skilled skiers among the members. The average skill level is intermediate to advanced, according to Weissman.
“People always find someone to ski with,” Konzelmann said. “I’ve never been on a trip where people can’t find someone near their ability.”
Club discounts offer bargain getaways
On some trips, the club departs on different excursions in addition to the traditional skiing.
“In France we went tobogganing,” Konzelmann said. “It was a mile and a half downhill, at night. It was awesome.”
The big crowds begin to come back to Hoboken ski club meetings in September, because that is when the trips begin to go on sale.
Some members come not only for the skiing, but also because of the discounts that the club receives, which provide a cheap getaway for travelers. According to Konzelmann, the weeklong Europe trips have cost under $2,000 in the past.
Konzelmann believes that the challenge of skiing, when completed, offers a feeling of accomplishment for the members.
“I’ve never seen a person after skiing who doesn’t have a smile on their face,” Konzelmann said.
It’s a social club, too
Along with travel to different ski resorts, the Hoboken Ski Club meets on a year-round basis. The club fields a softball team, travels to baseball games, and competes in pick-up volleyball at Stevens Institute of Technology.
The group has also travelled to football games at West Point, holds a “happy hour” twice a month, and occasionally organizes a day of mountain biking.
The club is a volunteer organization, and Weissman says if anyone wants to do a certain trip or event, and there’s interest, the ski club will help organize it.
“One year we had a girl who said, ‘I want to go skydiving,’” Weissman said. “We’ve also done a paintball trip, whitewater rafting, and I’m trying to organize a Habitat for Humanity trip.”
“A lot of people can’t make a commitment to all the events,” Konzelmann said. “But we have other events just as a way to have members hang out with their friends.”
Friendships that form on the slopes have even gone on to more serious relationships.
“I’ve been to two or three weddings recently, from people who have met through the ski club,” Weissman said.
Snowboarders welcome
Though its name is the Hoboken Ski Club, the two group officials say they also invite snowboarders to enjoy the slopes with members of the club.
The club meets on Tuesdays at Willie McBride’s at 8:30 p.m. in the backroom.
“If the door is closed, just come on right in,” Weissman said.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com.