The Ski and Snowboard Club Thaws Out for the Season

A photo of Watauga High School’s Ski and Snowboard Club from their social media accounts in 2023. Photo credits: Facebook

Rebecca Billette, Editor-in-Chief of The Powderhorn

As winter weather creeps upon us, and snowy streets and hanging icicles become a common sight, skiers and snowboarders alike are beginning their season on the slopes. With Appalachian Ski Mountain’s recent opening on Saturday, November 29, 2025, the Watauga High School Ski and Snowboard Club is in full swing, with plenty of big plans and exciting developments this winter season.

“The Ski and Board Club is just a collection of people that all have the same passion for skiing and snowboarding,” said Channing Jeffers, a senior who has served as President of the Ski and Snowboard Club for the past two years. “We all have a love for the snow. We just like to go out and ride together, and it's just a really good time, and it's a great community.”

Unlike most clubs, the Ski and Snowboard Club is faced with the unique dilemma of only being able to operate during the winter months. Because of this, they must make the most of their season, hosting regular events and meetings that require much planning and preparation.

“Now that the mountain is open, there's a lot more stuff that we're able to do,” Jeffers said. “We want to do more ride nights with the school to make it cheaper for high school students, and we also organize rail jams for our members. Rail jams are a competition where we get the park crew at App Ski Mountain to set up a specialized area for us so we can have our own ski board competition. And then we have local sponsors give out really good prizes. Recess is a huge one,  Edge of the World as well.”

With such a wide array of events, it can take a lot of coordination and effort from the officer team. However, the Ski and Snowboard Club’s dedication and creativity have not gone unnoticed and have attracted a large base of members.

“This season we have more interest in the club than in previous seasons,” said Jake Warren, a senior and the Social Media Manager of the club. “We also have a bigger team of officers, allowing us to have more hands on deck and hopefully get more things done.”

One big goal the club has this year is to visit Snowshoe again, a large ski mountain in West Virginia. Due to budget constraints, they have been unable to attend for the past two years, but through a lot of effort and help from supporters, they hope to be able to go again this spring.

“For the past two years, we haven't been able to go to Snowshoe, but the plans of going are in full swing right now, and we hope to get that done before March,” Jeffers said. “It's super fun. They have 60+ runs, and their park is huge. It's just an awesome mountain to go to, and they have a Snowshoe Village, which is kind of like this big shopping center. It feels like you're in Switzerland.”

The Ski and Board Club may have many fun events and trips planned for this year, but none of them could be accomplished without a dedicated and enthusiastic group of people with a real passion for their sports. Anyone can join the club, regardless of skill level, which leads to an interesting dynamic where members must support and help each other improve, with more experienced ones often taking a mentorship role.

“I personally am very excited about this season,” Warren said. “The weather is looking good, and quite a few officers and members of the club have already been out to the mountain and are showing lots of interest towards riding. I personally am excited about the varying levels of skiing and snowboarding that we have in the club. We have everything from true beginners to sponsored athletes. I truly believe that we will be able to help the newer riders progress and have a very positive environment in the club.”

The club means a lot to everyone involved in it, from dedicated four-year members who never miss a day at the slopes to rookie riders who are grateful for the opportunity to learn a new skill. For the officer team, which is mostly comprised of seniors, it has been an important part of their high school experience.

“For me, being a part of the Ski and Snowboard Club means to carry on the legacy of the best club at Watauga High and to bring a club that anyone can join and meet new people and have fun with others,” said Seth Gates, a fellow senior and the Vice Snowboard President.

Any student at Watauga High with even an inkling of interest in skiing and snowboarding should certainly give this club a try, with its welcoming community, regular events, and acceptance of inexperienced riders. 

“There's no downside to joining it,” Jeffers said. “The only thing that you're really going to do is benefit from it. We always try to have stuff going on for our members. We actually do raffles at the meetings. So, even just by showing up, you have the chance to win or get something out of the club, and then you're also contributing to good causes as well, because we like to do food drives.”