While many students used their summer break to relax, work and travel, several of the University’s clubs have been training hard for the upcoming season.
The Oregon Marching Band started their band camp on Sept. 11, and performed in the stands for the first time this season at the Oregon football game against Idaho last Saturday. University students and staff have received the band well and have been supporting of its effort, band director Todd Zimbelmann said.
The band meets several times per week and practices hard to perfect its repertoire. Funding permitting, the band will travel with the teams to some of the road games this year, Zimbelmann said.
Zimbelmann says he has high goals for the future of his band.
“We are on our way to becoming the best marching band in the Pac-10.”
There are many Oregon club sports teams that have been gearing themselves up for this fall’s action. Aikido, fencing, Tae Kwon Do, men’s and women’s rugby, archery, equestrian team, sailing, rugby, crew and dance have all put in time and sweat in the summer months.
Club sports teams are organized and coached by students who compete in various collegiate and open leagues in the Northwest throughout the school year. Most teams practice and meet according to when their seasons are.
Some groups, such as the running and cycling teams, practice year-round. They compete mainly during spring term, but try to maintain and expand their abilities during the off-season, either as a group or as individuals.
When out of season, the club alpine and Nordic ski teams practice dry land skills, ski imitation, strength and cardiovascular endurance to peak during ski season. With several strong returning athletes, the alpine ski team stands a solid chance to race at nationals this winter, alpine ski team coordinator Mark Lorincz said.
The number of clubs varies each year, and information is available at the Club Sports office in the basement of the EMU, or on the Internet at darkwing.uoregon.edu/~clbsprts, or by calling 346-3733.
There will also be an open house on Sept. 28 for those interested in any of the club sports. It will take place between 6 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. in the Fir Room of the EMU.
For those less competitive, the UO Outdoor Program provides an alternative to the traditional sports.
The Outdoor Program focuses on companionship and support, minimal environmental impact and sharing experiences and skills on trips. According to the Outdoor Program philosophy, everyone can initiate a trip given the resources and pool of experience that exists in a wilderness community.
Through the student fees, all students are members of the Outdoor Program and community members can join for only a $5 annual fee. The program holds skills and trip initiator clinics, as well as hosting equipment swaps and inviting speakers. It also houses an extensive resource library that includes equipment, vehicles and logs, as well as published outdoor material and literature.
On the event calendar this summer were numerous Friday paddle and kayak trips, overnight river excursions, overnight camping, day hikes, a mountain bike skills clinic and a paddle captain’s clinic.
For more information, call 346-4365 or check the Outdoor Program Web page at outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu.