Do you rip powder on weekends? Spend your spare time spinning and jumping on the ice? Or maybe curling is more your style. If access to winter sports in between classes is a high priority in your college search, you might consider adding these schools to your best-fit list.
Figure Skating
Whether you skate competitively or just for fun, you can combine academics and axels at many schools across the U.S.
Boston University: Boston, MA
The Boston University Figure Skating Club (BUFSC) is one of the most prominent programs in the country. From beginners to advanced competitive skaters, BUFSC members have a range of skills and train at the school’s rink at the Case Athletic Center. The club team is also one of the most competitive, qualifying for the National Intercollegiate Figure Skating Championships almost every year, and securing national titles in 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
Not just for the competitive skater, students can also hit the rink for fun during open skating hours at the Walter Brown Arena. Other intramural and club winter sports at BU include ice hockey, snowboarding, and ski racing.
BU is a large, private research university with over 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students attending from over 130 countries. Learn how to get into Boston University.
Looking for other figure skating schools to add to your list? Fortunately, you have a lot of options including Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University, Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Notre Dame, and many more. You can view U.S. Figure Skating’s full list of collegiate skating programs.
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
If hitting the slopes is more your speed, check out these schools that offer downhill skiing and snowboarding teams.
College of Idaho: Caldwell, ID
The College of Idaho, located less than an hour away from some of the state’s best skiing spots, is a great fit for competitive and recreational skiers alike. The men’s and women’s ski teams are among the best in the country, winning numerous individual and team national championships in skiing and snowboarding.
Students of all skill levels interested in recreational skiing and snowboarding can participate in school-organized trips to spots like Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain in the Sun Valley alpine ski area. Thinking of trying snowshoeing? You can rent them directly from the school!
The College of Idaho is a small, private liberal arts college located west of Boise with an enrollment of just over 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students.
Dartmouth College: Dartmouth, NH
Being near premier ski trails is great, but what if they were part of campus? The Dartmouth Skiway, just 20 minutes from Dartmouth College, is a 100-acre skiing facility spread over two mountains. The facility is owned by the college.
If you’re a beginner, learn to ski and snowboard at the Snow Sports School before hitting the powder — the Dartmouth Skiway has nearly 30 trails of varying difficulty levels. The Dartmouth Skiway is also home to the school’s NCAA men’s and women’s ski teams.
In addition to the ski facility, Dartmouth students can also enjoy an on-campus ice rink at the Thompson Arena, where the varsity and club men’s and women’s ice hockey teams play. It is also the training spot for the Dartmouth Figure Skating Club.
Dartmouth is the smallest school in the Ivy League with an enrollment of approximately 6,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Learn how to get into Dartmouth College.
Other schools offering downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities include Boston College, University of Colorado Boulder, Westminster University (Utah), and Williams College, among others. The U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association offers more information about college programs.
Cross-Country Skiing
If you prefer to glide across flatter snow-covered terrain, cross-country skiing — also known as Nordic skiing — is another sport you can find at the collegiate level.
University of Wyoming: Laramie, WY
The University of Wyoming is the place to be if you enjoy cross-country skiing. Students can participate on the Nordic Ski Team regardless of skill level. The Nordic Ski Team is divided into four groups: elite racing, competitive racing, recreational racing, and non-racing. The elite and competitive groups compete both nationally and internationally.
Additionally, students on the team have the unique opportunity to train with international students through UW’s International Nordic Ski Training Program. This international exchange brings students from China and Europe to Wyoming to train and race at an elite level.
Not a Nordic skier? No problem! Students can participate in ice hockey as a club sport and take advantage of the campus’ Outdoor Program, which offers winter activities and equipment rentals.
The University of Wyoming is a public research university with approximately 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Other schools with Nordic skiing clubs include University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Bowdoin College, College of St. Scholastica, Michigan Tech University, and more.
Curling
If you prefer sweeping to skiing, skating, or snowboarding, you’re in luck. College Curling USA oversees competitive curling at the collegiate level. Most curling schools are in the Northeast and Midwest — the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Marquette University, Butler University, and Bowling Green State University, just to name a few. So, if your idea of a fun weekend is competing in bonspiels, you might want to check out some of these schools.
For help choosing the schools that are a best fit for your interests, or if you need guidance navigating the athletic recruitment process, contact us today for more information on our comprehensive counseling services.
