For some, winter can’t end soon enough. When the groundhog does not see its shadow, some are crushed by the news. But for others, the 15–18 weekends of the winter season in Westport are not sufficient. Many arrange frequent trips to Vermont, out west, or even the alps in Europe to experience a happy winter.

There are many snowboarders at Staples, but few take it to the extreme. One snowboarder at Staples is Maddy Fass ’11, who has competed in the United States of America Snowboarding Association (USASA) Nationals for three years and the U.S. Open Junior Jam a couple years in a row. Sam Hammer ’12, was 9th in the Nationals half pipe division at age 12. Casey Hausman ’13 has also taken casual snow boarding to the next level, by competing in a USASA competition for slopestyle, composed of jumps and rails.

According to Hammer, “snowboarding is a lifestyle.”

Being a competitive snowboarder is a big commitment according to Fass, especially being from Connecticut, so far away from the snowy mountains of Vermont. Being on a team requires riding with them for half the day, and training constantly. Although Hammer says he has a “hodgepodge of friends from all over that go to Vermont,” which makes the experience fun, he said that competing could be rigorous.

Having experienced both sides of snow boarding, Hausman has chosen leisurely snowboarding with his team over competing. His Mount Snow Competition offers him weekend after weekend of practicing what he loves with his friends, while competing doesn’t really compare. “It’s all for fun, so competing doesn’t really make me nervous—I’m just out there to have a good time,” said Hausman. He keeps a very clear mindset on the competing aspect of snowboarding: “You go there. You compete. You come home,” he said.

Fass and Hammer agree that while competing is an exciting twist to snow boarding, it is more fun to just do what you love because you love it, and not because you want to win.

Will Streiter ’12, who has been snow boarding ever since he finished all the levels of ski school, also agrees with this mindset, which is why he started the Snow Board Club at Staples. “There’s a ski team at Staples, but nothing for students to be a part of because they love snow boarding,” said Streiter.

Just because they aren’t competing, however, doesn’t mean these snow boarders don’t “catch mad air.”

Fass is a natural at dropping in, with boxes, (a feature of the terrain park) being her “favorite hit,”, while Hammer can do a back flip off of a jump, as well as a 720 (spinning twice around while in midair). Hausman is working on a “back blunt switch up pretzel,” which involves a rail, (a long piece of metal used to slide across and “throw tricks” from) and lots of side switching. He is also working on front side, back side, and cab 540s, all tricks that involve spinning one and a half times around.

It’s not all fun and games, though, which Hammer can attest to. He has three broken collarbones and a recent surgery all due to snowboarding. Hausman has sprained his wrist twice, and Strieter has broken his wrist once, after jumping and falling hard.

As rough as it may sound, Fass said that snowboarding is “a way to get away from Westport, and be able get outdoors in the winter,” and is also loved by most who attempt the rigorous yet rewarding sport.