La Salle’s ski and snowboard teams have flown under the radar for many students here at La Salle. Both teams are small, with only a handful of members on each team, but they take part in regular competitions and practice on the slopes frequently.

According to the coaches, these two teams are a great way for students to practice their ski and snowboard skills and get to use these skills to compete in a fun environment.

Skiers wanting to join the team don’t have to have any experience in ski racing or competing; however, members do need to be competent skiers and be able to manage their own gear and confidently ski down intermediate runs.

Dry-land practices for ski team take place after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the weight room and have just recently started. The ski team practices on snow at Mount Hood Skibowl or Timberline Lodge on Saturdays in December, and on Friday nights in January and February. Members are responsible for their transportation, but carpooling is available and encouraged.

“I’ve been ski racing for a very long time, and I love skiing for La Salle,” sophomore Evan Bohart said. “I like it because it is very technical and more reliant on my own self-improvement.”

Ski races begin in January and take place on Saturdays. Racers from a variety of different high schools attend, so there are many chances to meet new people. Race locations move between Mt. Hood Skibowl and Timberline. Members who qualify for the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA) State Alpine Skiing Competition will compete at Mount Bachelor in the beginning of March.

Similar to the ski team, the snowboard team provides students with another opportunity to try out a new skill or further improve their snowboarding skills.

“Snowboard team has been a great experience,” senior Gabe Rozzell said. “You are encouraged to push yourself and excel in the sport, but also have fun and make new friends.”

Practice and competition season starts up in the beginning of January for the snowboard team. There are six official practices throughout the season that take place on Wednesday nights at Mount Hood Meadows with the same transportation style as the ski team.

Photo by Eric Thornburg. Used with permission.

The team competes in many different races, such as Banked Slalom (an individual race against the clock), Boardercross (a race against 3 other riders), and Halfpipe (a competition for amplitude, style and creativity in an 18” pipe).

Throughout the season, members compete against other school teams in the Sunset League. Oregon Interscholastic Snowboard Association state competitions are in March and qualifying riders compete to win the Sato Cup, which was won by La Salle’s girls team two years ago.

You don’t need to have any prior snowboarding experience to participate and the coaches encourage anyone who is interested to join.

“Both Chris Leavitt, the head coach, and I work as snowboard instructors and are more than happy to teach beginners,” assistant coach Evy Borkan said. “The only thing we ask of you is to have a willingness to learn, make mistakes and have fun!”

Both of these team’s seasons are approaching fast, so if you are interested in signing up contact Evy Borkan ([email protected]) for snowboard team, and contact the parent coordinator for the ski team, Patrick Bohart, at 503-708-0946.