The recent snowfall is helping members of the ISU Ski and Snowboard Club to anticipate a semester of winter fun.

Joe Miller, president of the club, said he is looking forward to an exciting semester.

“Our goal is to just have a good time,” said Miller, senior in marketing. “It’s a social club and a place to hang out. The idea is to go out and have fun.”

The Ski and Snowboard Club travels mostly in the areas of Iowa and Minnesota, but also has had the opportunity to visit the mountains of Breckenridge, Colo.

“We just got back from Breckenridge over Thanksgiving, but Sundown [in Dubuque], which is the biggest in Iowa, and Seven Oaks in Boone, are two places we visit the most,” Miller said.

Miller said the club’s members range from beginners to experts in both skiing and snowboarding.

“We have some really good snowboarders and some amazing skiers who love to just go out there and have a good time,” Miller said. “But it is always fun to see the expression of a new member’s face when you take them to the top for the first time.”

Miller said the club also holds membership for a diverse group of individuals from different countries, whom the experienced members enjoy helping learn the sport.

“Our club has approximately 120 members and is open to anyone who wants to have a good time,” Miller said.

The number of club members is expected to rise as the club gets more hyped with the competitions and trips that have been organized this semester, Miller said.

“This time of year, we’re really trying to focus on different activities for the club, including workshops in Boone, learning-to-ski clinics and weekend trips,” Miller said.

Anastasia Sprowl, secretary of the Ski and Snowboard Club, said she first joined the group two years ago because she wanted to make new friends and get involved in social activities.

“I went to a lot of clubs and found that this one was the most laid-back, but with lots of activities,” said Sprowl, junior in advertising.

Both Miller and Sprowl said the “laid-back” atmosphere and the number of activities has attracted members to the club.

Sprowl, who snowboards for the club, said she caught onto the sport in only three days with the help of the other members.

“My favorite thing about the club is just the social aspect,” Sprowl said. “Everyone is really close friends with each other and always has a good time when we hang out.”

Sprowl said the club is planning a trip to one of the newest ski resorts in Utah during spring break.

“Everyone’s really excited about that trip since no one has been there,” said Sprowl, who has attended all local and national trips. “It should be a really fun time for new and existing members.”

The club recently participated in a competition Saturday at Sundown Ski Resort. Several members of the club placed first and second in different snowboard races.

Miller said the ski and snowboard competitions are not intercollegiate, but he hopes they become so in the future. Competitions are based on age, but involve people from all different areas and experience.

More information about the ISU Ski and Snowboard Club is available by visiting the Web site at http://www.scc.iastate.edu/ski/.