Spring has sprung. Now get ready to think snow (and skiing in Aspen)

IU’s School of Continuing Studies and its School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation in Bloomington has partnered with Aspen Skiing Company to create a new, three-hour, alpine downhill skiing course to be offered for the first time during the last eight weeks of the 2002 fall semester and again during the first eight weeks of the 2003 semester. The class meets once a week on the Bloomington campus and will finish with a week-long practicum in Aspen, Colo.

“Experience has shown that extended preparation results in greater success and skill acquisition during on-mountain instruction,” said R. Gerald Pugh, associate dean and professor in the School of Continuing Studies. He said IU has offered a one-hour skiing course in the past with instruction on local, artificial snow-covered ski areas, which encourages IU faculty and staff to consider enrollment.

“But skiing on natural snow is entirely different, and the intent of this class is for each student to have a terrific experience by exceeding his or her expectations and then be ready for a lifetime of recreational skiing.”

Pugh encourages all IU faculty and staff to consider enrollment in the class, which is aimed at the beginning and intermediate skier. He said students can expect to acquire the skills necessary to negotiate intermediate runs on the famous slopes of Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands or Aspen Mountain by the end of practicum week. Classroom time will be devoted to physical conditioning, appropriate apparel and equipment choice, weather variables, safety, and skiing terms, techniques and responsibilities.

Two sections will be offered each semester in the late afternoon and early evening hours on Tuesdays. The winter practicum is scheduled for the week between New Year’s and the beginning of classes, while the spring practicum will be over spring break. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Aspen. The cost of the week in Aspen is $750 and includes seven nights of lodging, equipment rental, ski instruction and lift passes.

For further information, contact Pugh, managing instructor for the course: telephone 812-855-1775 or E-mail rgpugh@indiana.edu.