Sno' Fun at Weber (continued from page 2) Although some are none too skilled in the know-how of the slalom and cannot intentionally make a jump or turn a beautiful christie, even these slower ones rank high in the best-looking sitzmarkers in the state. Not all coeds are novices. Off in the upper distance one may see a figure descending the dangerous turns of Wildcat and looking much like a minute black fly whizzing over a freshly starched sheet. As it grows nearer with astonishing speed, the figure becomes some beautiful Weber college female on hickory, her cheeks ablaze with the sting of the wind and the zest of motion. One can often notice a slight but definite tilting of the nose as this skier, proud and full of style as a thoroughbred racer, eases over to the lift for another ride up Mount Ogden seated in one of the mile-long string of chairs. Besides the tow on Becker hill and the chairlift on Wildcat, there is the Becker hill ski jump. . . . strictly for experts and suicides. If he wants the full effect, the watcher must let his eyes start at the bottom of Becker and leisurely work up to the crest. Here there is a smooth-packed runway the width of a good-sized automobile driveway and not quite as long as a football field. The runway appears to travel up at a frightening ninety-degree angle, but do not kid yourself. . . It is only eighty-four degrees. Near the top is a mound of snow located in the center of the runway. This mound is the real jump, the take-off. All at once a grey bird comes winging over the curve of the hill just above. He takes off from a crouched position and leans out over the valley. Some wild thought may flash through the mind suggesting that his perfectly balanced figure will fly on right across the Basin. But he veers earthward sharply and comes down again in a crouch upon the run. He hits at unbelievable speed and then after a delayed moment there comes the sound of a re-echoing smack, impact of the extra large jumping skis upon packed snow at seventy miles an hour. This time the skier does not tumble but the spectator feels the chance is good for this catastrophe as the jumper weaves slightly then hurtles onward again, his balance recovered, to come to a gliding stop far out on the level. If the jumper should lose balance and fall, the crowd would see the king of all spills. In a mishap the jumper is hurled violently end over end, making a windmill composed of his body, arms, legs, flying snow and flashing skis. If he is lucky and maintains life and bones intact, he gets up and grins, brushes off his clothes and goes at it again. Ski team members on occasion double as instructors for the class. They are Dick Mitchell, who is captain of the daredevil unit, and Lew Holston, Bob Van Wagenen, Fred Montmorency, George Flygare and Keith Bringhurst. Coach is Corey Engen, Olympic ski team member of 1948 and director at Snow Basin. In late February all team members gained honors, winning first place for the college at the collegiate ski meet conducted at Mile High lodge in California. When team members are not busy with their own personal problems, such as making better time down Wildcat run or making a better jump, they act as part-time instructors. They show the more inexperienced members of the ski class how to make a good standing turn, how to fall correctly, and other tricks constituting good skiing. That skiing is not always fun and is often extremely dangerous is evidenced by the many students with broken and sprained limbs, seen hobbling about the halls all during the late winter and early spring. One skier, unable to fracture a leg after repeated efforts to be fashionable, found that falling on the sharp end of his ski pole is effective. He spent many tiresome and painful days in the hospital with punctured pancreas. Such accidents are taken as natural hazards of a good time and appear not to deter anyone from the sport. Not many years ago this whole winter sports area was known as Wheeler Basin. In private ownership, it was badly overgrazed and was denuded of much of its natural beauty and vegetation. Besides eroding because of loss of plants, it was further endangered as a culinary watershed for Ogden by presence of occasional dead cattle. It was purchased because of its watershed resources and not with recreation in mind. But the United States forest service took over in 1939 and the possibilities of the little valley, hung on the slope of Mount Ogden, became more and more apparent. Both Ogden chamber of commerce and Snow Basin ski club have consistently and enthusiastically foretold the great future of the basin and worked toward that time. First the rope tow and then finally the chair ski lift were constructed. This mile-long lift runs up the mountain on the north side of Wildcat run. Plans have been tentatively formulated for continuing the lift up over the top of the mountain and down the east side, where Ogden city can be viewed. This is a project which the present city commission may see fit to carry out since the project would pay for itself and be a steady source of income afterwards. The city fathers have also been interested in Snow Basin because the lift and tow are city property. Both the Weber county commission and the state have also contributed to the development of the area. The highway to the basin is a result of joint effort by these governmental units. Weber college will share more and more in the rich recreation provided at the basin. Rights have been secured to an eighty-acre lease, and the school plans to develop facilities there as a part of the college for winter and summer sports and also for a summer school. In fact the county planning commission forecasts that entire Ogden valley, which includes the picturesque communities of Huntsville, Eden and Liberty, will one day be as choice a recreation spot as there is in the land. This will take some doing, however, since it calls for blueprinting in advance and systematic development under governmental guidance according to pre-arranged plans. page four As We Go To Press Lipstick could be One of life's greatest joys If it stuck to the girls Like it sticks to the boys. -JUNE VAN DE GRAAFF I wish that I could sign my letters, "All my love, my sweet." That very pale "Sincerely" Sounds so incomplete. But I'm afraid that all our ties You'd permanently sever. How can i sign off with love When you sign yours, "As ever"? -JUNE VAN DE GRAAFF