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It’s that time again! The summer months are long gone and autumn is not that far behind. It’s now time to start looking forward to the cold and dreary months of winter.
But it doesn’t have to be like that! If you know where to look and where to go, winter can be even more fun than summer. Lucky for you, there are great ski and boarding clubs in Europe that will help to ensure your winter is far from boring.
In the KMC, we are fortunate to have not one, but two ski clubs offering fabulous trips to some of the greatest ski areas in Europe. If you have never skied or boarded before, you might at first write this opportunity off, but before you do, keep in mind a couple of things.
First, many of our members join simply for the camaraderie and opportunity to meet and make new friends, as well as the opportunity to travel to beautiful resort villages in the Alps.
Second, many of our members are at the early stages of skiing and boarding and are beginners themselves — it’s never too late to learn a new hobby!
Kaiserslautern-Westpfalz Ski Club
The Kaiserslautern-Westpfalz Ski Club is a small club. It is generally geared toward families with children and for people who enjoy a low key, quieter crowd. But don’t let that fool you. This club is all about having a wonderful ski experience. The president is the affable Dave Sowell.
Tannenbaum Ski Club
The Tannenbaum Ski Club is a larger club. In fact, it is the biggest ski club in Europe. It is geared toward singles and couples who enjoy a more energetic crowd. The members like to have fun, and they have an infectious spirit that can make a ski trip an unforgettable experience. The president is the lively Jennifer Spencer.
Membership to both clubs is open to any individual, military or civilian, who has a desire to be a part of a fun club, meet and make lasting friendships, and get out and enjoy Europe. Each club holds socials twice a month from September through May. The socials feature trip sign-ups, entertainment, refreshments and a chance to hobnob with fellow enthusiasts.
The beauty of ski clubs is the convenience they provide to their members. A trip captain is assigned to each trip. The captain is responsible for running and organizing all aspects of the trip, from sign-ups, payments and hotel arrangements to transportation and purchasing lift tickets.
Depending on the location of the hotel, the captain may collect lift pass money and purchase the passes for you the next day. Captains will provide you with departure times, breakfast and dinner times, and help you find the lifts. Sometimes the lifts are within walking distance from the hotel, sometimes you’ll take public transportation, and sometimes the group will use their own bus and go to the lifts together, it all depends on the location. The cost of a trip varies depending on the destination. The price for most trips includes bus transportation, hotel room, breakfast and dinner, and food and drinks on the bus. You’ll be responsible for paying for your lift ticket, lunch on the slopes, and drinks at dinner.
The Kaiserslautern-West Pfalz Ski Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Bistorante Paradox in Ramstein-Miesenbach. Complete club information can be found online at www.kwpskiclub.com.
The Tannenbaum Ski Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Ramstein Brit Cafe. Complete information can be found online at www.tannenbaumskiclub.com.
(Story and photo courtesy of the Kaiserslautern-West Pfalz Ski Club)
