Last year there was no snow — at least not where it was needed.

While the city of Eugene was shut down by a blanket of frost and ice, the mountains remained barren.

This spelled trouble for the University of Oregon alpine ski club as its usual training spot, Hoodoo Ski Area, was unable to open its lifts.

“We didn’t have any training last year,” sophomore Mackenzie Moran said. “The only time we got into the gates was at races.”

But winter is coming, and with it snow is predicted in the mountains and there are hopes for a nationals run for the team.

The alpine ski club is a competitive sport that takes part in slalom and giant slalom events around the Pacific Northwest. There are currently 12 members on the team, though that number may increase as more decide to join.

“We are getting some good kids, making some moves recruiting,” team captain Jake Railton said. “We want all of the best skiers at the University of Oregon to be on our team.”

The team already has a nice mix of talented veterans who are experienced on the slopes and passionate newcomers. Anyone can join, even someone who has little experience racing.

“It’s a fun way to push yourself,” Railton said. “We have brought in inexperienced people before and they have fun and learn.”

One of the newcomers this season is freshman Jason Agtarap, who didn’t plan on joining the team before he arrived on campus from the Seattle area. Like most freshmen, Agtarap decided he wanted to try club sports in hopes of meeting new people. He originally gravitated toward tennis, but when that didn’t work he switched to his backup plan: alpine skiing.

“I wanted to be involved in something,” Agtarap said. “Back home, there were no ski programs. I would just go with my family a couple of times in the year.”

Taking advantage of what the university offered, Agtarap is already chomping at the bit in anticipation of hitting the slopes for the first time with the team.

“Before the season starts, we are all clawing out of our cages, trying to get at the mountain,” Agtarap said.

The wait won’t be much longer, as the team has already begun dryland training. They will officially hit the slopes during winter term.

What helps incorporate new members like Agtarap is the team chemistry and camaraderie of the sport. The team spends a lot of time together, including driving long miles to the various competitions and spending the weekends together on the slopes.

“One of the awesome parts of the team is that we get to hang out with a bunch of cool people,” Moran said. “Just the all-around experience of being able to travel, be in the mountains, hang out with friends and getting to ski is awesome.”

While this team knows the importance of having fun, the goal is to perform well in regionals and make it to nationals, which are in Bend, Oregon this year.

“That’s the cool part, it would be a homecourt advantage,” Railton said. “It’s all falling together nicely right now,. This is the year that we are really looking at nationals.”
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur