Sno Fun at Weber Search for vital statistics on the basin brought census takers back with interesting notes about its being the natural habitat of pretty girls. Background reasons for its popularity with glamor are: location, 18 miles east of Weber college through Ogden canyon; season, Dec. 15 to April 15; terrain, mountainous with patches of alpine fir and aspen but generally open slopes with north exposure; elevation, 6500 to 7900 feet; trails, beside novice slopes excellent touring terrain. For the rest, here it is. By GORDON ALLRED Any Friday afternoon of winter quarter is the time. The place is a snowy hillside rising easily to fir-covered heights. Above is pale, cloud-billowed sky, and below ... a procession of penguins perhaps, making their awkward way up the slope with the aid of waving flippers. Aping faithfully the motions of their instructor as he makes a herringbone ascent, they are as a matter of fact the ninety-six members of Milt Mecham's elementary skiing class at Weber college. The background terrain is celebrated Snow Basin. "Do it right and do it long enough and you are bound to reach the top some time," Milt tells the apple-cheeked beginners, most of them willow-waisted girls. Coming down is something else again, he points out. By mid-quarter a change has taken place in operation tow-rope and wailing calls of "Track, track, track!!" precede them as one after another the snowbirds come down in personal blizzards of spraying snow. The bystanders still think it best to scatter. Even these unathletic spectators of the joys of others begin to feel the attraction of Snow Basin and the barrel stave sport. Seeing is believing and so they find it easy enough to understand why Mecham's king size class is the most popular at the college. "Skiing is quite a sport," Mr. Mecham admits. Girls tend to learn faster than boys and have a better balance and control almost from the first. But he adds, "They don't show up as well later on when it comes to tournament competition because they lack muscle and endurance." Most of the girls lucky enough on the first few trips to reach the bottom of the hill without mishap conclude their flights in any position but the right one. Hearing the warning shout of "Snowplow!" they obey literally, falling and plowing the snow in every direction. Thus it is said in an effort to be funny that the girls enrolled in the class do not wear their skis in the right spot. But they try hard and spend long and sometimes tedious hours on the hills, apparently happy in learning the art of graceful skiing in the great outdoors in midwinter. This period is not too long drawn out for most of the girls, who by quarter's end are swooping down the mountains with the oldtimers. (continued on page 4) page two Skis point straight ahead, and from there on it's a cinch. Easier than coming down, says LaRee Maw. Then there's the ground-gripper approach, an ascent practiced by sportsmen like Bob Stone. Full length in the white stuff it happens to even the best slick slat riders. Gwen Frank knows how to do it without breaking limbs or spoiling her hair-do. page three