Simply talking about the snowfall this winter was enough to get 19-year-old UNR student Cody Kiser moving around in his seat. He said he is torn between going to class, or heading up to the mountain to ski and take advantage of the recent snowfall as many students are feeling.
Cody Kiser holds onto his skis in his dorm room, wishing he was on the mountain.
“I already ditched last week to go skiing,” Kiser said. “ It’s terrible! I know.”
Kiser said that the snow in the Tahoe area already feels like a lot more than usual which feeds his urge to grab his skis and get out of Reno. His roommate in the dorms, Cameron Chappell, has also taken the opportunity to ditch a few classes.
Senior Andrew Herr said he is having major concentration issues with graduation so close. His internship at squaw also provides for some serious temptations to ski.
Herr even took the initiative this semester to plan his classes around when he could ski. Having classes only two days a week allows him to head up to Squaw and Boreal three to four times a week. But that still doesn’t put a halt to him being distracted in class, especially when it is snowing.
“I NEVER want to be in class when it is snowing,” Herr said. “I zone out and start watching ski movies on my laptop.”
Austin Young, an on-campus resident, feels trapped on campus when it is snowing outside. As former Tahoe resident, the mountain is no longer five minutes away, and being in Reno cripples his ability to be on the mountain as much as possible.
Austin Young hits a rail outside of his house in Tahoe after a storm brought big snow.
“If it is dumping outside, I would rather be anywhere but in my room or a classroom,” Young said.
The snowfall has been providing some other benefits to the Lake Tahoe area. Young said the weather is good for the lake level and that it is going to bring on good spring skiing.
Alpine Meadows has reported 140” of snow on the upper mountain already which is keeping hopes high for the rest of the season. (http://www.skialpine.com/mountain/snow-report)
“I am definitely hoping to see some really big storms to get the snow pack and allow resorts to build super big parks,” Young said. “I feel stoked!”