The 2014 Winter Olympics opened last week, and with the games comes a renewed interest in fun, and even unusual, winter sports. If proximity to the slopes or the ability to hit the ice in between classes is a high priority in your college search, check out Dr. Kat’s favorite schools for winter sports and activities.
Boston University, Boston, MA
If ice-skating is your passion, the Boston University Figure Skating Club (BUFSC) is one of the most prominent programs in the country, and has been a member of the United States Figure Skating Association since 1975.
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 consecutive national titles in 2009 and 2010.
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, ski racing, and even ice broomball.
BU is a large, private research university with over 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students attending from over 140 countries.
College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID
If hitting the slopes is your passion, 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, with 48 individual and team national championships in skiing and snowboarding. The women’s alpine ski team has advanced to 14 straight USCSA National Championships.
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 and has an undergraduate enrollment of just over 1,100.
Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, NH
Being in close proximity to premier ski trails is great, but what if they were part of campus? The Dartmouth Skiway, just 20 minutes from Dartmouth College, is a university-owned skiing facility covering 100 acres spread over two mountains.
If you’re a beginner, learn to ski and snowboard at the Snow Sports School, or if you’re more advanced, try the Terrain Park or ski the facility’s 978-foot vertical drop. 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 forDartmouth’s Figure Skating Team.
Dartmouth is a private Ivy League university boasting over 160 clubs and organizations for its more than 4,000 undergraduate students, over 50 academic majors, and opportunities for undergraduate research.
Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
For students looking to make a career out of their interest for snow sports, look no further than the ski business and resort management program at Sierra Nevada College.
The only four-year program of its kind in the US, the ski business and resort management track allows students to learn from industry professionals through guest speaker forums and gain hands-on experience with internships at some of the country’s top resorts.
When they’re not in the classroom learning about the ski resort industry, students can hit the slopes at Diamond Peak (less than 5 minutes from campus), Mt. Rose, and Northstar, to name a few.
SNC is also home to the 2012 USCSA Men’s and Women’s National Champion ski teams. The men’s and women’s Eagles ski and snowboard teams have more than 25 USCSA National Championships, with the snowboard team boasting four consecutive national titles.
SNC is a private, liberal arts college with a graduate and undergraduate enrollment of just over 1,000. Known for its commitment to incorporating environmental, social, economic, and educational sustainability themes into the core curriculum, SNC is also home to one of the country’s premier teacher education programs.
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Curling is one of the most popular and fascinating winter Olympic sports, and at Bowling Green State University, students can hone their curling skills on the BGSU Curling Club team.
Members of the curling club team practice at the school’s on-campus Ice Arena, and compete in regional and national competitions throughout the season. In addition to the curling club, BGSU’s Ice Arena offers open curling hours during the week, free curling lessons, open skate hours, figure skating lessons, club ice hockey, and broomball tournaments.
BGSU is a public university with an undergraduate enrollment of about 15,000. The school offers over 200 programs of study, including jazz studies, environmental design, and aviation studies.
Other schools that offer great winter sports and activities include University of Denver, Colby College, Montana State University, and the University of Vermont.
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.
