Hitting the Slopes: Rutgers Ski & Snowboard Team Creates Campus Connections
A sense of community can be hard to come by at Rutgers University’s busy campus, where students must frequently navigate a sea of faces. Club sports, however, like the Rutgers Competitive Ski and Snowboard Team, unite students from all backgrounds under a shared love of skiing and snowboarding.
Affiliated with the team, the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) stands as the leading national sports organization for collegiate snowboarding and ski racing. Joining the Rutgers Ski and Board Team offers students the exciting opportunity to participate in and compete at the organization’s seasonal competitions.
Caitlin Spafford, a lifetime skier, has been leading the team’s efforts as president for two years, embodying the attitude of commitment. Reflecting on her journey within the team, she recalled the welcoming atmosphere and companionship she first encountered.
“I joined the team two years ago as a freshman at the involvement fair,” Spafford said. “Everyone at the table was super nice and welcoming, and it seemed like a really great time, so I knew I wanted to join.”
Spafford’s role as president not only provided her with a sense of community, but it also introduced her to a number of responsibilities she was formerly unfamiliar with.
“Being president of a student-run team gave me a lot of great experience with communication, keeping calm, [and] working under pressure,” Spafford said. “I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
That year, there was a huge spike in membership, jumping from 11 people during COVID to 78 members. Ever since, the team has maintained around 50–60 members, which the executive board, or e-board, hopes to keep up.
Ben Fife’s journey, however, as the team’s current vice president and former freestyle captain, illustrates the evolving possibilities for club sports at Rutgers. His path from being an avid snowboarder to becoming one of the team’s most successful members highlights the transformative power of community and togetherness.
In addition to securing a spot in the 2022 USCSA National Championships during his first year on the team, Fife achieved another remarkable milestone last year and distinguished himself as one of the select few members to participate in the men’s snowboard freestyle event.
The 2023 competition, held at Mammoth Mountain in California, marked a huge milestone for both the snowboarder and Rutgers’ competitive team.
“My time at Nationals was definitely one of the best trips [of] my life,” Fife said. “Just being there was a great feeling.”
Fife placed 10th out of 50 male competitors in slopestyle with a best score of 57.33. The Rutgers University Team, overall, took 4th place out of 16 colleges.
“I felt a sense of pride a little bit because the [other] competitors were from [places] like Sierra Nevada University, Colorado, and Tahoe,” Fife said. “It was quite extraordinary to watch, almost like I was at the X Games.”
Despite his successes, Fife noted his feelings of inspiration from watching the other contestants.
“[I could] tell that those guys have an immense amount of training and that they really dedicate themselves and their bodies to the park and the mountain, and it kind of made me realize that I had a lot of room for improvement.”
Since then, Fife has devoted ample time to snowboarding, refining his skills by practicing runs in the park to improve his abilities.
Other members have emphasized how the Ski and Board Team worked to create a sense of belonging and purpose.
Shannon Austin, a former vice president and alpine race captain, described how the team has assisted her in various skillsets over her remarkable ten years as a ski racer.
“Being on the team has given me a really great leadership opportunity,” Austin said. “The e-board really fostered me for the whole year [in showing] me how to guide a sports team, especially as an underclassman while working with all upperclassmen.”
Recalling the moment she realized the team was looking for a new captain, Austin shared how her initial introduction to the team also helped to alleviate some of her inner doubts regarding her leadership abilities.
“I remember when they announced that, all my friends turned their heads and looked at me, and I was like, ‘Oh, im not good enough, im not good enough,’” Austin said. “I was [then] voted in as captain.”
By upholding inclusivity and lowering the bar for entry, the Ski and Board Team has inspired a greater number of members who have been able to foster a well-rounded community.
Katia Cabrera, the current alpine race captain and ski racer for five years, described her experience and underscored the many advantages of becoming a team member.
“You definitely get close to your teammates after spending lots of weekends together before the [next] season,” said Cabrera. “We also do lots of fundraising and other events, team-bonding activities, even during [the] postseason. It definitely helps maintain our friendships.”
Former treasurer Max Brushaber highlighted the inclusive environment that the competitive team strives to maintain.
“We’re just college kids looking to have a good time and enjoy a sport we all love together,” Brushaber said. “We don’t expect everyone to be ski masters —we're just looking for people who are confident and want to have a good time.”
Although the snowboarder’s previous role as treasurer had its moments of stress, Brushaber noted joining the e-board as an effective way for building deeper connections and acquiring leadership experience.
“The hardest part [as treasurer] is putting together a budget,” said Brushaber. “[But] I think if you join e-board, you’ll be glad you did it, and it’ll give you an experience that you can’t get anywhere else.”
Adam Shanley, coordinator in the Rutgers Sports Clubs department, offered his perspective on the significant influence that club sports have on creating a sense of connectedness among students.
“Rutgers is such a large place that having smaller communities within the larger community is extremely important for students to feel a sense of belonging and connectedness,” Shanley said. “So that’s what club sports provide: a common interest [and] passion that students can identify with and connect over.”
As the team prepares for another season, their dedication to fostering inclusivity, leadership, and personal growth serves as a shining example of the positive impact of club sports on campus.
Students who are interested in joining the fun and excitement of the Ski and Snowboard Team can do so at Rutgers University’s next involvement fair in the fall of 2024. It’s a great opportunity to get to know current team members, learn more about their backgrounds, and express your interest in becoming a part of the community. For those who are interested in learning more about Rutgers Ski and Board, additional details are available on the university’s GetInvolved webpage and on the team’s Instagram account, @ruskiandsnowboard.
