Photo courtesy of Verelle Stuck
A: SOU's advanced snowboarding class improves technique with video analysis

Snowboarding and skiing for college credit is a mountain lover’s dream come true.

Southern Oregon University offers one-credit snowboarding and skiing classes at Mt. Ashland, conveniently only 45 minutes away, for an enjoyable winter term PE class.

"The snowboarding class gives me an excuse to go up to the mountain at least once a week," said Verelle Stuck, a junior in the advanced snowboarding class.

This winter the snow has been phenomenal, with a 95-inch snow base. Students have been able to lap up powder days. Mt. Ashland’s summit sits at 7,500 feet and offers 200 acres of skiing terrain. There are 23 runs, open bowl skiing and a terrain park. Mt. Ashland may be a small mountain, but it is full of fun runs and challenging terrain

To take the snowboarding class, students register with SOU, pay tuition and a class fee. All classes are taught by Mt. Ashland certified instructors and are offered at all levels. Whether you are a beginner and have never touched a snowboard or an advanced skier who wants to work on running moguls, there is a class to suit anyone’s ability.

Students enrolled in the class receive two lift tickets a week, one ticket to be used the day of the lesson and one ticket to use any time Monday through Friday. The college classes are taught on Wednesdays and Thursdays and meet once a week for an hour and a half. Students are free to ride before or after their lesson. Because students are given the opportunity to ride twice a week, their skill and ability can dramatically improve, and when it comes to skiing and snowboarding, practice makes perfect.

Mt. Ashland offers a rental package for an additional fee to students enrolled in the SOU snowboarding or skiing class who do not own their own equipment. The class sizes run between two to 10 students. Instructors stay with the same students for the ten-week term, which allows connections to be made and opens the door for improvement.

"As a ski instructor and a student at SOU, I find this to be a great opportunity for students to get out into nature during the winter season," said Meryn MacDougall, a third year ski instructor. Ski and snowboarding classes are offered every winter. For more information, contact the SOU Outdoor Program at 541-552-6470.