Clubs Facilitate Affordable Fun on Slopes

Marsha Henry got divorced four years ago and joined a ski club. The two events are not unrelated.

“I wanted to learn to ski and save money doing it, and I wanted to meet people,” said Henry, who lives in Granada Hills.

Ski clubs, which function as de facto travel agencies, make skiing easier and cheaper. The clubs arrange accommodations at group rates and do all the planning. All a member has to remember to do is show up before the bus pulls away.

“You don’t have to worry about anything,” said Henry, who has become president of Recreation Ski Club (818-893-6621), one of several public clubs in the Valley area.

While skiing is the common denominator, the clubs, which charge a small initiation fee and nominal yearly dues, also serve as social organizations--singles bars on slopes. Aside from regular meetings, the clubs also sponsor softball games, barbecues, bowling nights and other social get-togethers.

“We do things an individual doesn’t do on his own,” Henry said. “You can have a lot of fun and make good friends.”

Henry’s club has about 80 to 90 members, about half of them active, she said. This season, club members will be going to Vail, Colo., for a week at a cost to each of $595. Weekend trips to Mammoth are from $70 to $100, which includes transportation, lodging and meals but not lift tickets.

Among Valley-area clubs, the Conejo Ski Club (805-499-1445) is one of the largest with 1,000 members. The club has several trips scheduled this season, including one to Breckenridge, Colo., Jan. 26-Feb. 5 for $710 to $850.

Other active local public clubs are Tri-Network (818-566-8646) and Sun Sports Biathlon (818-782-1285).