Many people find a primal joy in going fast down a snow-covered hill.

While skiing is a time-honored winter tradition, some students prefer to visit nearby ski resorts to hone their snowboarding skills.

Bancroft sophomore Rich Held became a regular snowboarder after taking a class at Central Michigan University last year. His class spent a weekend tearing up the slopes at Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort in Cadillac.

“I ended up buying my own board,” Held said. “It’s a really good deal to take the class.”

Constantine sophomore John Rivers enjoys hitting the slopes to get away.

“It’s good to get out with your friends and forget about what’s going on in the world,” he said.

Held and Rivers both said that over the summer and fall they looked forward to the first snow of the season.

“I was ecstatic when we got that 12 inches of snow at the beginning of the season,” Held said.

Those who prefer a less expensive rush may enjoy a trip down one of Mount Pleasant’s sledding hills.

Chris Bundy, director of recreation and sports for Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation, named Mission Creek Woodland Park, 1458 N Harris St., as the most popular place to go sledding in the city. Bundy said the park tends to draw more individuals during the winter because of the sledding hill.

Bundy also said the parks’ trails were a popular destination for walkers and cross country skiers.

“We have a lot of trails folks walk on and do winter viewing,” Bundy said. “A lot of people enjoy the natural part of the winter time.”

When doing an outdoor activity in cold weather, taking proper safety precautions is important.

While a helmet may not be an ideal fashion accessory, both Held and Rivers suggested wearing one while snowboarding, especially if the day’s run involves complex rails or jumps.

“I’ve landed and hit my head I don’t know how many times,” Rivers said.

Among other things to keep in mind during winter activities, Rivers mentioned the importance of warming up before hitting the slopes.

“You’ve got to be loose, especially in the hips,” he said. “A lot of the rotation comes from the hip area.”

Perhaps the most important tip for snowboarders is to stay aware.

“Just keep your eyes open and watch out for other people,” Held said.

news@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: defaultuser