While most Binghamton University students dread the winter weather, the snow can’t come soon enough for BU’s SnoCats Ski and Snowboard Club.
SnoCats is the brainchild of four friends: juniors Justin Wohl — president of the SnoCats — Aaron Cohn, Eric Rogers and Joe Digregorio, who all share the same passion for the slopes.
According to the group’s Web page through the Student Association, SnoCats was created to “organize and provide Binghamton students with recreational ski trips that are affordable, accessible and in a social atmosphere.” Now in its third season, the organization has provided trips for over 500 students.
“I helped start the SnoCats because skiing has been a part of every winter I can remember and three of my close friends and I were getting frustrated with how expensive and difficult it was for us to get out and do what we do best,” Digregorio said.
Though it started as transportation to nearby slopes, SnoCats blossomed into an organization that now hosts adventures throughout upstate New York and Vermont.
“We’ve been bringing people … to the biggest mountains available in a five-hour radius to Binghamton,” Wohl said.
To kick off this season the SnoCats held their first event, a screening of the film “Refresh” on Saturday. During the event, supplies for the season were raffled off.
The SnoCats welcome skiers and snowboarders of any skill level, from beginners to experts.
“As for the new people, we’re very welcoming to them because we want to see them enjoy it as much as we do. We have some trips that are specifically set up for beginners,” Wohl said.
The next official one-day ski trip is set to take place Dec. 6 at Okemo, located in Vermont.
“This season we’re hitting some of the best mountains in all of the Northeast,” Digregorio said. “With snowfall expected to be up to 200 percent better than average, this is definitely going to be a season to remember.”
An incentive for this trip is that aside from the cost of transportation, it is absolutely free. Food and drink are also provided.
“Anybody, any skill level, can get a free lift ticket, a free rental package and a free lesson from certified instructors from Okemo,” Wohl said.
Tickets are usually sold at the box office in the Old University Union two weeks prior to departure. However, those who are interested must act fast because seats fill up fairly quickly, Wohl said.
“The whole snow sports culture is such a large part of the lives of many students,” Digregorio said. “A club like the SnoCats is an important gateway that everyone who loves to ski or board should take advantage of.”
There are no weekly meetings or get-togethers because SnoCats acts as a travel agency that does all of the work and planning for single-day or weekend skiing trips.
“We would like to see the club grow even beyond what it has reached so far,” Wohl said. “I’d like to know that when I graduate, and my co-founders graduate as well, there will be a future for the SnoCats with sustainability for generations and generations to come.”
For more information about the group itself visit facebook.com/snocats or search the word “SNOCATS” on paws.binghamton.edu.