Lethbridge College had its first Castle Mountain ski day on Jan. 23, giving the 68 students who attended an economical way to get to the mountain for a day of skiing or snowboarding.
A ticket for the college’s ski trips costs $50; included with the lift ticket is a charter bus that takes you to and from the mountain and a $10 meal voucher for a buffet lunch.
J.P. Gentile, Lethbridge College’s Students’ Association campus recreation co-ordinator, says the ticket is an excellent way to get to the hill and have a great day skiing for only $50.
Gentile adds the buffet lunch provides a much more inclusive offer for people attending as it gives the opportunity for students to save money as opposed to them going to the ski lodge for something to eat, where prices are higher.
Nick Kedoin, Lethbridge College’s Students’ Association campus recreation assistant, went on the day ski trip and says the day was a lot of fun.
“There was good snow, and a lot of it,” says Kedoin.
Yet he says the interest for the college’s next Feb. 6 ski day is lacking.
“We have 10 so far,” says Kedoin.
He adds that a lot of the students wait until just before the sign-up deadline to decide, as it gives students a better idea of what the weather will be like.
Kedoin says if there is not enough interest for two busses then they will just cancel the one bus. Students have until Feb. 5 to buy their ticket for the next ski day trip to Castle Mountain.
Gentile says the college has been doing to these ski trips for the past six years. Initially he says they use to go to Fernie, but he finds it’s just too expensive now. Plus, Fernie is also about a half-hour farther, he adds.
Gentile hopes to get 90 students for every ski trip the college attempts.
He says the only problem with these trips is the early morning time that the bus leaves.
This doesn’t leave much time for students who may have a hard time waking up for the 7 a.m. bus, Gentile adds.
“It leaves with or without you,” says Gentile, whose main objective is to make sure that students are back at the right time, just in case if you have work or plans.