In efforts to educate community members and University students about snowboard and ski maintenance, the UO Outdoor Program will host its first annual Waxing Party tonight.
To prepare for the winter season, the Outdoor Program is teaming up with Boardsports, Inc. and One Ball Jay wax company for a hands-on workshop. Staffers will be present to show participants how to use their gear, as well as techniques in waxing, scraping and tuning edges. The goal is to teach basic care that can be easily done at home on an everyday basis.
“A lot of people know how to snowboard,” said Adam Tirella, wax clinic coordinator for the event. “But not a big amount of those people know how to take care of their gear.”
Frequent runs to the mountain can take a toll on equipment, Tirella said. To combat high costs of bringing equipment to a repair shop, the Waxing Party is a free opportunity to learn proper waxing methods. Festivities include wax and iron stations, music, snowboard videos and a wax demonstration by local company sponsor, Boardsports, Inc. Boardsports’ vendor, One Ball Jay, will provide an all-terrain wax that covers all weather conditions.
University student Hattie Tehan, program assistant for the Outdoor Program, said the party’s setting will be a guided experience. Tehan said she wants to avoid allowing individuals simply dropping off their gear for waxing. Rather, stand-by guidance will ease the idea of upkeep maintenance for already expensive gear.
“We are going to show you how to do this through informational sessions, so you can learn for yourself,” Tehan said.
The party will gear up registered members riding on the Bachelor Bus, the Outdoor Program’s charter bus to Mt. Bachelor. The Bachelor Bus leaving the next day marks the first organized Outdoor Program trip. Its appeal from other charter buses to mountain resorts is its availability on campus.
“We hit a demographic that wasn’t getting served,” said Dave Villalobos, trip and bike facility coordinator for the Outdoor Program, referring to the amount of student registrations.
The Bachelor Bus will feature a raffle, and those who attend the Waxing Party will have the convenience of leaving their snowboard and skiing equipment with the Outdoor Program overnight.
University senior Stella Day, a first-time Bachelor Bus rider, said the Outdoor Program’s offering is an expansion from the normal routine of students initiating trips. The bus is an opportunity for students to meet different people with similar appreciations for the outdoors and staying active, she said.
“It’s a great way to meet people outside of the formal context of class,” Day said.
Villalobos said he hopes to plan more complimentary wax parties and charter buses during the year if this first trial run is successful. With registration at capacity and a growing waiting list, chances are the Outdoor Program will party on.
“I’m hoping there is a demand and request for it,” Villalobos said. “I got my fingers crossed, but it should be a pretty good environment.”
The Waxing Party will begin at 6 p.m. at the Outdoor Program Barn, located on East 18th Avenue and University Street.
[email protected]
Outdoor Program to host waxing party
Daily Emerald
February 2, 2011
0
More to Discover