Growing up in Florida, Bath Ski and Snowboard Club adviser John Faust had never seen snow until he went to college. Later adding the “snowboard” part of the name to the Ski and Snowboard Club, Faust said that his desire to learn how to snowboard prompted him to become an adviser for what was then known as Ski Club.

Middle School Ski and Snowboard Club adviser Ryan Lekan, a skier, participated in Ski Club at Boston Mills from 7th to 10th grade. Like Faust, Lekan referred to the importance of learning his respective snow-related sport as a major factor in his decision to become an adviser for the Ski and Snowboard Club.

The Ski and Snowboard Club continues to provide students with the opportunity to take skiing and snowboarding lessons at Boston Mills and Brandywine. Any Revere student between the ages of eight and eighteen may participate in the club. Participants pay to receive five one-hour long group lessons, rental equipment and a lift ticket. After taking the five lessons, students can ski or snowboard at Boston Mills, Brandywine or Alpine Valley from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm Saturdays for the rest of the season at no additional cost. Revere’s Ski and Snowboard Club consists of four branches, one for each of the four school buildings in the district. Head advisers Ann Dietz (RHS and Hillcrest), Lekan (RMS), Joanne Johnston (RMS) and Faust (Bath) manage these branches and promote the program in each of the schools in the district .

The advisers work together to organize the Ski and Snowboard Club for the Revere district as a whole, but each adviser also individually manages a separate branch of the club. Lekan has served as the adviser for the Revere Middle School branch of the club since 2003. He explained the dynamic that exists between the advisers.

“We all work together to communicate to our students and their families. Once the club starts, we break up into individual schools because of the volume of the participants,” Lekan said.

Lekan also explained the purpose of the club. The concept of the club mainly centers around the lessons offered at Boston Mills, which are broken up by ability. Lekan says that many students join the club to learn how to ski or snowboard for the first time.

“For most participants, the purpose [of the club] is taking the first step in learning how to ski or snowboard by taking the lessons included in the club dues,” Lekan said.

Senior Elisabeth Hair has participated in Ski and Snowboard Club and has taken the skiing lessons with the club since third grade when she learned to ski. Hair explained that the lessons range from beginner to very advanced.

“Even if you’re [at] the highest level [of skiing], you can still take the lessons,” Hair said.

Faust said that he thinks Ohio provides a good place for first-time skiers and snowboarders to learn the basics of the sports due to Ohio’s difficult weather conditions.

“I think it’s a great place to learn because if you can handle skiing and snowboarding here in Ohio, you can handle it anywhere because . . . our conditions are pretty bad and pretty icy,” Faust said.

Faust and Lekan agree that skiing and snowboarding during the winter gives students a chance to make the most of cold and snowy weather that many others dislike. Faust stated how he makes the most of the winter weather.

“If you’re going to live here and . . . put up with the weather and the climate, you might as well have some fun with it, and I think the Ski and Snowboard Club is a great way to do that,” Faust said.

Lekan expressed a similar sentiment, noting the advantage of the close proximity of Boston Mills and Brandywine.

“Winter doesn’t have to be all that bad in Ohio. The slopes are right around the corner, and people of all ages can participate,” Lekan said.

Led by advisers who themselves understand both the excitement and difficulties of learning to ski and snowboard, the Revere Ski and Snowboard Club gives students an opportunity to learn a new activity and take advantage of the winter weather. Some complain about the winter weather, but participants in the Ski and Snowboard Club, including Faust, Lekan and Hair, embrace it as an opportunity to improve at a sport.