While most people may look toward the winter season with a feeling of resentment for the lack of warm weather, there is a group of people at Iowa State who are always glancing out the window, waiting to see if the snow has started to fall.

The ISU Ski and Snowboard Club hopes to get out in the snow as soon as it starts flying. With as many as 200 members last year, the club will hope for just as many people to join them this year for recreational skiing and snowboarding, as well as competition in both freestyle and racing.

“This is the first time ever we are having freestyle as well as race competition,” said Reid Morris, club sponsorship chairman and competition team coordinator. “Last year we did not have anyone compete; it was more of a development year for the team. But in years past we have sent people to nationals. Traditionally, we have always had a presence at nationals.”

The year will kick off Nov. 18 at People’s Bar and Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way, with a ski and snowboard video premiere from 6 to 8 p.m.

“The premiere night has been a staple of the club every year,” Morris said. “This has been going on for as many as five years.”

Tyler Feisel, club president, said those who are just beginning either skiing or snowboarding should not be hesitant to join.

“We try and cater to beginners,” Feisel said.

“When I joined the club, I had only skied a couple times. It’s a good way for people to meet others with similar interests. That’s a main reason we have such a high number of members.”

Feisel said each year the club brings in speakers to teach beginning and advanced members about conditioning properly before skiing and about avalanche safety.

This year, the club will add a new feature, tentatively set for every Wednesday of the winter.

“In conjunction with Seven Oaks, which is 15 miles away in Boone, we will go out and give free lessons to basically anyone who wants them,” Feisel said.

The club’s first trip will be to Summit County, Colo., during Thanksgiving break.

The trip will include visits to Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone resorts.

A winter trip is scheduled for Copper Mountain, Colo., during the last week of winter break, Jan. 3-8.

Trips are also planned for Martin Luther King weekend and spring break, but destinations are still to be determined.