Disc Golf Raises Money for Nationals

On Feb. 27, the UC Santa Cruz disc golf club held a fundraiser at Woodstock’s Pizza in downtown Santa Cruz to raise money for the team’s upcoming trip to the Collegiate Disc Golf National Championships, held in Augusta, South Carolina from April 13 -15.

Sports club director Skippy Givens has been competing in disc golf since 1976. The fundraiser followed “Disc Golf Day”, where the club set up a makeshift disc golf course on the east field to teach students how to play. He said the objective of the Woodstock’s fundraiser was to increase student awareness of the disc golf club.

“We are trying to increase visibility on campus,” Givens said. “Disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports on campuses across the country.”

On March 3, the DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course will be hosting its monthly tournament. This course is considered one of the best disc golf courses in America. The proceeds from the event will go toward the national championship in South Carolina. In addition to these donations, the club was also granted $1,200 from the Student Union Assembly (SUA). Givens believes the fundraiser and SUA funding only adds to Santa Cruz’s frisbee tradition.

“In Santa Cruz, it has long been established in the community as the mecca of frisbee,” Givens said. “It is one the nicest courses in the country.”

Ski and Snowboard Club Seeks Reform

While the Santa Cruz Ski and Snowboard Club may be a well-known student organization for its parties, what students may not know is that the club offers so much more. Members in the club dislike the reputation they believe has been unfairly placed on them.

“SOAR will not let us have table at the Opers festival,” said Jeremy Rathjen, Ski and Snowboard club publicity officer. “we would the biggest sports club on campus, if they let us onto campus.”

The Club wants to better publicize its seven weekend trips up to Lake Tahoe every winter quarter. Newly-appointed club president Ian Holl said these trips are the highlight of the year.

“They are the bread and butter of our club,” Holl said.

The Club tries to keep it’s trips to Tahoe cheap. It costs $30 a night to stay at the club’s cabin. Lift tickets are $30-35. In addition, the club organizes carpools for traveling to Tahoe to limit the cost of gas.

“Our goal is to offer the cheapest way to the snow,” Holl said.

The group takes trips to South and North Lake Tahoe as well as an “all-Cal trip” in the fall, giving college students an opportunity to ski outside of California. Each morning, everyone is up at 8 a.m. for an early run on the slopes.

“We throw a party at night but never does that stop people from going skiing the next day,” Holl said.

Although skiing and snowboarding is the emphasis of the trip, Holl makes sure the club does not burn out by keeping nights available for unwinding. Holl finds that people leave satisfied with their trip experience.

Jeremy Rathjen, the Ski and Snowboard Club’s publicity officer, says his favorite part about the club is the range of experience on the team, allowing beginners to fit in comfortably. There is no required skiing or snowboarding experience level to join the club.

“I’m stoked that I can ride with people on my level,” Rathjen said. “We have people just learning and people who can do backflips.”

Both Holl and Rathjen are optimistic about the club’s future and believes it can be as successful as ever.

“We have more members than we have had in the past few years,” Rathjen said. “With the continually rising interest, the club is on the up and up.”