Skiing's "secret societies" and how to join them
My confession: I've belonged to an exclusive skiing club now for 20 years, and it's opened up the skiing world for me in ways I never imagined.
I have a constant pool of new and longtime ski buddies to draw on, I've scored cat skiing and heli trips, got tip-offs to some of the best skiing I've ever had in places I never would have imagined and learned more than I ever expected about all kinds of wild niche ski trivia.
The "secret" to it all is this: joining ski or snowboard groups IRL will change your life, and your riding.
Youth snowboard club at Hudson Bay Mountain Resort.
If you're looking to find your tribe and immerse yourself deeper into the sport you love, here are some groups and clubs you might want to consider joining,
Canadian Ski Patrol
OK, it's not exactly a secret society, but what a lot of people don't know about the volunteer ski patrol experience is how enriching it is beyond the simple perk of skiing for "free."
Being a nation-wide organization, we have connections coast to coast—over 4000 members at more than 200 ski areas across Canada!—and beyond that with other volunteer patrols around the world. And we're all stoked to ski.
(See my "confession" above for some of the perks I've scored though the patrol.)
New ski patrollers at Marmot Basin participate in a "swearing in" ceremony for the Roadrunner roster weekend (2022)..
Most of all, though, we are a community of skiers and snowboarders bonded by common experience and passion. And that makes every ski day better.
How to join: skipatrol.ca/join
Order of Red Tomatoes
Until last year, I had never heard of the Order. But in exploring some of RED Mountain's story here at SnowSeekers, we stumbled across this little gem.
RED Mountain's Red Tomatoes are all about more days on snow, at RED.
Joining this exclusive club isn't easy; you've got to amass as many ski days as your age plus seven.
The challenge gets harder as you get older, keeping you accountable for committing to the lifestyle at RED. Talk about earning a badge of honour.
How to join: ask around at RED mountain (This one fits the "secret society" bill; ya gotta be there.)
Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club
Aging never looked so good. You have to be 55+ to join and pay whopping annual dues of $50/year, but from there your access to ski community across Western Canada opens up, with over 1000 members and eight to 10 mid-week ski trips ranging across BC and Alberta annually.
Photo:
Alex Mickelson / Snow Valley
Muriel Watterworth, right, one of many members of the Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club.
The club's regular weekly haunt is Snow Valley in Edmonton.
My aunt skis with RMSSC, as well as our family friend Muriel Watterworth (pictured above), the 100-year-old Edmonton skier featured here.
How to join: https://www.seniorsski.com/
Alpine Club of Canada
Again, not "secret society" per se, but one of the best ways to learn alpine skills and find ready backcountry touring partners.
Your annual membership gets you access to book remote backcountry lodges across western Canada, as well as to your local chapter's events, including guided trips (fees apply).
Make backcountry connections through the Alpine Club of Canada, to find other keen ski touring and adventure buddies.
Next to getting your AST courses, this is one of the best possible ways to get familiar with backcountry alpine pursuits, whether ski touring or climbing.
How to join: alpineclubofcanada.ca/membership/
Riders on Board
Canada's longest running snowboard club for young riders, at 24 years and running. With both a recreational and competitive program, the club trains athletes up to age 17 to ride at a higher level and potentially to compete.
How to join: ridersonboard.com/
Masters racing
So you still have a pair of long sticks and yearn for the days of crashing gates? Then Masters racing is for you.
How to join: https://alpinecanadamasters.racing/
Volunteering at local ski hills
Your local ski hill is a club full of avid winter sports lovers. SnowSeekers' own Madeline Williams, who invests time at her local Phoenix Mountain in Grand Forks, puts it like this:
"Local ski hills are a great place to find and build community.
Photo:
Marty Clemens
"Whether you join volunteer ski patrol, help run the kids' racing club, volunteer your time to build park features, help with events or even join the volunteer board of directors, these small ski areas are what they are because of the community around them, and you can be a part of that too.
Everyone knows each other and we come together because of the sports we love."
At Phoenix Mountain, you'll find friends on powder days. Volunteer positions help make community connections.
If you ask me? The real secret to growing your community in the ski scene is to get involved where it feels right to you.
Sure you could lonewolf it, but skiing is more fun with friends… even, or especially, on powder days.
More ways to grow your ski community
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