Alessia Korvessis | The Chronicle
Beyond cold mornings and icy roads, the winter season in Mason has sparked a surge of students going to Perfect North, turning skiing into one of the Mason High School’s (MHS) fastest‑growing winter pastimes.
Once viewed as a competitive or individual sport, skiing has now shifted into a social activity for many MHS students. Ski selfies, charter buses and lodge meet-ups have become routine, especially as students search for group activities to pass the winter months.
Founded in 2019, the MHS Ski and Board Club has seen a climb in membership as students discover the sport through friends rather than competitions. MHS junior Lillian Tant said the club has helped her make new friends and find a community.
“It gives me and my friends challenges to overcome,” Tant said. “It’s a good way to build friendships, and it’s just a fun activity to do together.”
Besides going to Ski and Board Club meetings for the sport itself, many students look forward to an immersive skiing experience. Riding the charter bus together and spending time in the lodge has become a part of the appeal. “Skiing has gotten a lot more popular recently because it’s just a fun weekend or even a school night activity,” Tant said. “It’s fun to sit and talk in the lodge with your friends, and when we’re all tired on the bus ride back.”
(Left to right) MHS juniors and Ski and Board club members Justin Paciolla, Colin Olinger,
Ben Beeching and Brett Cohen enjoy a ski lift together during their trip to Perfect North.
For senior Lincoln Shaffer, skiing is an activity for when there are not many things to fill the agenda.
“In the winter, there’s not really much to do,” Shaffer said. “So being able to go out and actually do something with your friends during the week is great.”
While some students are new to the sport, many consider skiing second-nature from years of experience.
Junior Colin Olinger started at age three, learning from his grandpa and later refining his skills with his uncle. This year, Olinger participated in Perfect North’s skiing competitions.
He said the experience changed his perspective on skiing.
“It’s really eye-opening, and it makes you realize there are levels to this,” Olinger said. “It kind of pushes you to be better and gives you that positive peer pressure to say maybe I should try something out of my comfort zone.”
As someone who has been on the slopes for a long time, Olinger has seen skiing become popular firsthand.
“Skiing, especially in the last two years, has gotten a lot more popular because skateboarding culture has gotten more popular too,” Olinger said. “The rise in 90’s style has people wanting to do more activities like that.”
Whether students are pushing themselves on the slopes like Olinger, relaxing in the lodge like Tant or using skiing as a way to bond with friends, the growing popularity of skiing at MHS reflects more than just an interest in winter sports.“[Skiing] is really fun and a good way to hang out with my friends more often,” Tant said. “Even when you wipe out, it’s really funny and a good memory to have.”
